/slɪps/
Say it backSlips is the third-person singular present tense of slip, or a plural noun referring to small accidental slides or errors. In everyday use, it often denotes a minor misstep or lapse in judgment. The term emphasizes a momentary departure from smooth motion or accuracy, and can also describe mispronunciations or slips of the tongue in speech.
- Mispronouncing the final /ps/ cluster by inserting a vowel between /p/ and /s/ or letting the /s/ become voiced in rapid speech. - Over-articulating the /ɪ/ in a way that lengthens it, making the word sound like /slɪips/ or /slips/ with extra syllable. - Slipping into a more melodic intonation, turning the word into /slɪːps/ or altering the stop release. Actionable tips: practice /p/ and /s/ as a tight consonant pair with no vowel between; keep /ɪ/ short and lax; rehearse in linked speech with fast pace to cement the natural release.
"She slips on the wet floor but catches herself before she falls."
"The team slips a few passes during the chaotic drill."
"Her slips of the tongue revealed more than she intended to say."
Pronounce as /slɪps/. Start with a light, brief onset /s/ followed by the lax vowel /ɪ/ as in bit, then a clean /l/ with the tongue backing slightly, and finish with a crisp /ps/ cluster: p + s released together. The stress is on the single syllable; there’s no secondary stress. Keep the lips rounded barely for /s/, and release the /p/ into the /s/ without a vowel between. Audio reference: try listening to native speakers pronouncing slips in sentences on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors include a too-strong vowel like /iː/ or a prolonged /ɪ/ making it sound like /slips/ with extra length, and inserting an extra vowel before /p/ (e.g., /slɪpəs/). Another frequent issue is blending the /p/ and /s/ too loosely, resulting in /slɪps/ sounding like /slɪps/ with fuzz. Correction: keep /p/ and /s/ tightly released as a consonant cluster; end with a strong, brief /ps/ release rather than letting the /s/ trail as a separate, soft hiss.
In US/UK/AU, /slɪps/ stays broadly similar: a short, lax /ɪ/; rhoticity does not affect this word since it lacks an /r/. The main variance is in the preceding vowel quality before /l/ in connected speech and the fluency of the /ps/ cluster. Australians may slightly re-time the vowel, making it a touch more centralized; Americans often have a crisper /s/ release, while UK speakers may produce a slightly tensed /l/ or a marginally crisper /p/ closure before /s/.
The difficulty lies in the final /ps/ cluster, which requires a rapid, precise release: the /p/ closure must be released into a voiceless /s/ without an interposed vowel. The tongue must cooperate to avoid an intrusive vowel or lingering voicing on the /p/, and the /s/ must stay crisp, not hissy. Additionally, ensuring the short lax /ɪ/ remains distinct from a tense vowel can be tricky in rapid speech, especially when surrounding words connect.
The key is the consonant cluster /ps/ at the end. Unlike many English words ending in /s/ or /p/ separately, slips ends with a voiceless phoneme pair released together, requiring precise timing. You’ll want the /p/ to close the lips momentarily, then the /s/ to rush out immediately. Watching for weak or voiceless /p/ before /s/ can help you avoid a weak or aspirated finish. IPA reference: /slɪps/.
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- US: crisp, light /ɪ/; maintain rhotics in surrounding words; ensure a sharp /ps/ closure. - UK: slightly more clipped /p/ vowel transition; keep /l/ light but not dark; a touch less vocalization on surrounding vowels. - AU: often more centralized /ɪ/ and a quick, clipped /ps/; monitor vowel reduction in fast connected speech. IPA references: US /slɪps/, UK /slɪps/, AU /slɪps/; focus on nonrhotic or rhotic environment as appropriate in connected speech.
The word slip comes from Old English slippan, meaning to slide, slide, or glide, with Germanic roots in Proto-Germanic slippijan. The noun slip originated in Middle English as a metaphorical or physical slide, and the verb form evolved to describe slipping away or failing in some way. By the 15th century, slip denoted a stumble or error, while the sense of a short-lasted clothing lining or a small misstep connected with the noun form. In modern usage, slips encompass both literal slides (on a surface) and figurative mistakes (lip–tongue slips, social missteps). The plural “slips” functions as both a noun and a verb form (3rd person singular: slips). The word’s semantic evolution reflects a broadening from concrete movement to abstract errors and misstatements, with prevalent use in sports, daily speech, and idiomatic expressions like “slip of the tongue.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "slips" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "slips" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "slips"
-ips sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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