NIP-uhl
/ˈnɪpəl/
nipple is pronounced NIP-uhl (/ˈnɪpəl/). A common noun referring primarily to the small projection on the breast that supplies milk in mammals; also used as a slang term. In standard usage it denotes the childhood and medical contexts of the mammary gland, and in everyday speech it can be a neutral anatomical term or a casual, occasionally mischievous reference depending on register.
A common noun referring primarily to the small projection on the breast that supplies milk in mammals; also used as a slang term. In standard usage it denotes the childhood and medical contexts of the mammary gland, and in everyday speech it can be a neutral anatomical term or a casual, occasionally mischievous reference depending on register.
- You’ll often hear people overemphasize the second syllable, making it ‘nip-puhl’ instead of the lighter /ˈnɪ.pəl/. Keep the second syllable short and schwa-like. - Some pronounce it with a strong final /l/ or with an extra vowel, producing /ˈnɪp.əl/ with a clear /ə/; aim for a quick, almost unnoticed /əl/. - Another frequent error is turning /ˈnɪ/ into a long vowel (as in ‘peel’); keep it short, focused, like the syllable in ‘nick’.
"The nurse checked the newborn’s bottle feed and observed the nipple."
"Her infant began to latch, and she felt a sharp sting on her nipple."
"We discussed nipple piercing in a medical illustration class, noting safety considerations."
/ˈnɪ.pəl/ (US) or /ˈnɪ.pəl/ (UK/AU). The main stress is on the first syllable. Start with a short, lax n- onset, then a short “ih” vowel in the first syllable, ending with a light plosive followed by a schwa-like /ə/ or a reduced /əl/ in the second syllable. Keep the second syllable unstressed and quick. Tip: avoid pronouncing as ‘nip-pel’ with a strong velar release; go for a clipped first syllable and a softer final syllable. IPA: US /ˈnɪ.pəl/, UK /ˈnɪp.əl/, AU /ˈnɪ.pəl/.
Common errors include: 1) Overemphasizing the second syllable or turning it into a full ‘pəl’ with a heavy /p/ and /l/; keep it short and light. 2) Inserting a tensed /t/ or adding an extra vowel between /ˈnɪ/ and /pəl/. 3) Misplacing the vowel in the first syllable (pronouncing ‘ni’ as in ‘nick’). Correction: use a quick, clipped /ˈnɪ/ + relaxed /pəl/ with a brief /ə/ or schwar between /p/ and /l/; avoid vowel elongation in the second syllable.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈnɪ/; the difference lies mainly in the final syllable: US tends to reduce to /-əl/ with a softer /l/; UK often realizes /-əl/ with a schwa-quality vowel and clear /l/; AU typically mirrors US but may be slightly more clipped with a relaxed final /əl/ due to Australian vowel reductions. Rhoticity has minimal impact here since the word ends in an /l/. All share the /n/ onset and /p/ plosive before the final /əl/.
The difficulty centers on the final consonant cluster /pəl/ after the /ɪ/ vowel in stressed syllable. Achieve a clean, quick transition from /n/ to /ɪ/ to /p/ and then glide into /əl/ without inserting extra vowels or lengthening the second syllable. The second syllable should be light and reduced; many speakers insert a hard /l/ or prolong the vowel, which muddles the rhythm. Practice with minimal pairs and slow tempo to stabilize timing.
Nipple is a single-stressed word with primary stress on the first syllable; there is no secondary stress in standard American/British vocalization. The challenge is keeping the second syllable light and unstressed while maintaining a natural flow. You’ll notice listeners expect a quick, clipped second syllable; lengthening it can sound awkward. For practice, emphasize the first syllable, then relax the jaw and lips for the /əl/.
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- US: Rhotic but this word ends with /l/, so the 'r' quality is not involved; you should keep the final /l/ light and clear but not dark. - UK: Similar structure; can be slightly more clipped with a shorter /ɪ/ vowel; aim for /ˈnɪ.pəl/ with a crisp, non-rhotic airflow in the first syllable. - AU: Tends to be a bit more clipped overall; reduce the second vowel slightly and let the /l/ be softly pronounced. Keep the stress on the first syllable and avoid over-enunciating the final consonant. - General IPA references: US /ˈnɪ.pəl/, UK /ˈnɪp.əl/, AU /ˈnɪ.pəl/.
Nipple derives from Middle English nipple, from Old English nipp (nip, pinch) with the diminutive suffix -el; related to the Proto-Germanic root *nipjaną meaning pinch or nip. Historically, the term referred to a small projection that can be grasped or pinched. Over time, its use became specialized to human and animal mammary papillae, especially in anatomical and medical contexts. The word has maintained a relatively stable semantic core (small projection capable of nursing) while expanding into colloquial and even slang domains, where it may carry humorous, erotic, or vulgar connotations depending on context and audience. First known use attested in Middle English medical writings around the 13th century, with later appearances in anatomical treatises and popular literature. By the modern era, nipple is firmly established as the standard anatomical term across medical, educational, and everyday discourse, even as slang variants and euphemisms persist in informal speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "nipple" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "nipple"
-ple sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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