How to Pronounce Cups

To pronounce "cups", say CUPS — one syllable, IPA /kʌps/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

cups

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Accent

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/kʌps/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “cups”

"cups" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with lineups and hookups, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: cupps — easy to mix up when writing.

What does cups mean?

noun

  1. A concave vessel for drinking from, usually made of opaque material (as opposed to a glass) and with a handle.

    “Pour the tea into the cup.”

  2. The contents of said vessel; a cupful.

    “I drank two cups of water but still felt thirsty.”

verb

  1. To form into the shape of a cup, particularly of the hands.

    “Cup your hands and I'll pour some rice into them.”

  2. To hold something in cupped hands.

    “He cupped the ball carefully in his hands.”

Words that rhyme with cups

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

lineupshookupsupspupsscripsbuttercupsbupkescheckupsmarkupsbuildupsholdupssetups

Related words

cupfultransfusebowlsdrinkstrophyratescutscutting

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "cups"?▾

"Cups" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "cups"?▾

The IPA transcription of "cups" is /kʌps/.

What does "cups" mean?▾

Cups: A concave vessel for drinking from, usually made of opaque material (as opposed to a glass) and with a handle.

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