What is hip? Pronunciation and usage in English

hip means . Learn how to pronounce and use hip through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of hip

hipnoun

/hɪp/
Definition & pronunciation of hip

The word "hip" in English has a couple of pronunciations depending on what you're referring to! Here's a breakdown:

1. "Hip" as in fashionable/trendy (noun):

  • Pronunciation: /haɪ/ (rhymes with "eye")
  • Example: "That's a very hip outfit!"

2. "Hip" as in the bone in your upper leg (noun):

  • Pronunciation: /hɪp/ (rhymes with "dip")
  • Example: "He twisted his hip."

3. "Hip" as in to move your hips (verb):

  • Pronunciation: /hɪp/ (rhymes with "dip")
  • Example: "She was hip-hop dancing."

Key Differences:

  • The vowel sound is the biggest difference. /haɪ/ is a long "a" sound, while /hɪp/ is a short "i" sound.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

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Usage and examples with the word hip in English

The word "hip" has several different meanings and uses in English! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. As a Body Part (Most Basic)

  • Definition: The hip is the bony region of the upper leg that connects to the torso.
  • Usage: "He injured his hip playing football." "She felt a twinge in her hip."

2. Slang - Cool/Trendy (Most Common Usage Now)

  • Definition: This is the most common way "hip" is used today, meaning fashionable, trendy, cool, or stylish.
  • Usage:
    • "That’s a really hip outfit!" (meaning stylish)
    • "She's a hip artist." (meaning innovative and contemporary)
    • "He's a hip guy – always ahead of the trends." (meaning cool and fashionable)
  • Related words: “hip-hop,” “hipness,” “hipsters” all relate to this meaning.

3. Slang - To Know About Something/Inform

  • Definition: Originally meant to inform or notify someone. Now, it means to be in the know, to have the latest information, or to be aware of something happening.
  • Usage:
    • "I just hip you to a new cafe downtown." (meaning: I just told you about a new cafe)
    • "Don’t hip me, I don't know about the party." (meaning: Don't tell me about the party, I'm not aware of it)
    • "He hipped me off to a great concert." (meaning: He told me about a great concert)
  • Origin: This usage comes from the idea of speaking "hip-to-hip" – whispering a secret to someone.

4. Informal - To Turn or Twist (Less Common Now)

  • Definition: To turn or twist something, often referring to a direction.
  • Usage: "He hipped the wheel to avoid the pothole." (meaning: He turned the steering wheel)
  • Note: This usage is increasingly less common.

5. Hip-Hop Culture (A Specific Subculture)

  • Definition: Refers to the music genre, culture, and lifestyle associated with hip-hop.
  • Usage: "He's really into hip-hop music and fashion." “The lyrics explore themes of hip-hop culture.”

Here’s a table summarizing the different meanings:

Meaning Definition Example
Body Part The upper leg connecting to the torso "She strained her hip while dancing."
Cool/Trendy Fashionable, stylish "That's a really hip jacket."
To Inform To tell someone about something "He hipped me to the secret party."
To Turn/Twist To rotate or change direction "He hipped the car to speed up."
Hip-Hop Culture The music genre and associated lifestyle "They’re fans of hip-hop artists."

Resources for Further Learning:

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  • What context are you thinking of using "hip" in? (e.g., a conversation with friends, a writing assignment, etc.)

Synonyms for the word hip

Idioms of the word hip

shoot from the hip
to react quickly without thinking carefully first

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