hip
/hɪp/ UK /hɪp/ · US /hɪp/
A short i CVC word (ɪ) in the body category. It belongs to the -ip word family.
bodyHear hip
Tap a sound to hear it on its own, or play the whole word below.
How to Say “hip”
Blend the three sounds together slowly, then speed up: /h/ – /ɪ/ – /p/ → hip.
Example Sentences with Hip
- Hip pain.
- Put hands on hips.
- The dip and the hip both end with the same sound.
- Say "hip" slowly, then say it as one word.
How to Spell “hip”
Children most often write this word as ihp, hipp, hiip. Those errors are useful — each one points to a specific sound the child has not yet connected to a letter.
- Start with the picture: <strong>hip</strong> begins with the /h/ sound, so begin with "h".
- Say the word slowly three times, then write one sound per letter: <strong>h - i - p</strong>.
- The "i" in <strong>hip</strong> says /ɪ/, not the letter name "ih". The mouth stays relaxed.
- Blend the last two sounds smoothly: <strong>hi</strong> + <strong>p</strong> = <strong>hip</strong>.
Phonics Tip for Hip
"hip" and "dip" and "lip" share the ending /ɪp/. Say them back to back so the child hears that only the first sound changes. That is the core of the -ip family.
Fun Facts About Hip
Every letter in <strong>hip</strong> carries one sound: h says /h/, i says /ɪ/, p says /p/. That is what makes it fully decodable — a child who knows the three sounds can read <strong>hip</strong> on the first try, with no guessing from the picture. It belongs to the -ip family, which has 7 other words in it: dip, lip, nip, rip, sip, tip.
More Words in the -ip Family
Words that rhyme with hip and end with the same sounds:
Related CVC Words
More words with the short i sound that have their own picture guide:
Other Word Families
Move between families:
Where to Practise Hip
- All short i CVC words — 52 words
- The -ip word family
- CVC flash cards — picture cards with audio
- CVC multiple choice quiz
- CVC sentences — read the word in context
- CVC worksheets