One syllable: Mumps.
muhmps
/mʌmps/
Mumps is pronounced muhmps (/mʌmps/). It has one syllable (Mumps), with the stress on "Mumps". Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotids, leading to puffy cheeks and jaw. It can present with fever, headache, and fatigue, and may affect other organs. In adults it can be more severe, so vaccination and early recognition are important for management and prevention.
nounMumps is a contagious viral infection that causes swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotids, leading to puffy cheeks and jaw. It can present with fever, headache, and fatigue, and may affect other organs. In adults it can be more severe, so vaccination and early recognition are important for management and prevention.
"The child came down with mumps and had visibly swollen cheeks."
"Public health campaigns emphasize vaccination to prevent mumps outbreaks."
"He missed work for several days while recovering from mumps."
Pronounced /mʌmps/. It’s a one-syllable word with the initial /m/ bilabial nasal followed by a short /ʌ/ as in 'cup', and ending with /mps/, a cluster combining /m/ and /p/ with a final /s/. Keep the lips closed briefly for the /m/ and release into a clean /p/ before voicing the final /s/. Try saying 'mmm-pz' quickly, then lock the /ɪ/ sound out; the correct flow is /mʌmps/.
Common errors include turning the final cluster /mps/ into a simpler /m/ or /ps/ without the full /mp/ onset, or adding an extra vowel after the /m/ making it /ˈmʌməs/. Another pitfall is treating the /ʌ/ too long, sounding like 'mumpes'. To correct, practice the exact sequence: start with /m/, immediately move to /m/ again, then gently release into /p/ and finish with /s/, keeping the tongue at the alveolar ridge for the /s/.
In US, UK, and AU accents, /mʌmps/ remains largely the same in vowel quality, but rhoticity can affect surrounding words rather than the nucleus. AU English may show a slightly more centralized /ʌ/ and quicker transition into /p/ with a clipped /s/. The major audible difference is the surrounding vowel context rather than the /mumps/ itself; the main consonants stay consistent, with shorter vowel duration in fast speech. IPA: US /mʌmps/; UK /mʌmps/; AU /mʌmps/.
The difficulty lies in the final consonant cluster /mp/ followed by /s/, which requires precise timing and a quick jaw and tongue transition. The /ʌ/ vowel also sits in a neutral, mid position that can vary between speakers, affecting the perceived clarity of the cluster. Misplacing the tongue for /p/ or delaying the release before /s/ can blur the word. Focus on a clean stop from /m/ into /p/ and a crisp /s/ release.
Uniquely, 'mumps' combines a bilabial nasal, a mid-central to low vowel, and a voiceless alveolar sibilant in a single, rapid consonant cluster. People commonly search for guidance on the /mp/ transition and whether the /s/ should be whispered or released. The correct form is a tight /m/ + /p/ release followed by a clear /s/ with active tongue tip at the alveolar ridge. IPA reference remains /mʌmps/.
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Mumps originates from Middle English mumpen, likely imitative of the swollen, dull-cheeked appearance associated with the illness. The term first appears in English around the 15th century. The root may be related to the Old Norse mumpa, meaning to moult or to mutter, though the precise origin is uncertain. The word became specialized to describe the viral parotitis we now know as mumps, differentiating it from other swollen glands or illnesses. The disease name entered medical usage as microbiology and virology advanced in the 18th and 19th centuries, with 'mumps' consistently used in English-language medical literature and public health communications. The term has remained stable in modern usage, though the clinical understanding (parotitis due to mumps virus) now clarifies the condition beyond the colloquial sense of swelling in the cheeks.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mumps" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Mumps"
-mps sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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