How to pronounce “hope”
Hope is pronounced /ˈhoʊp/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“hope” sound by sound
“hope” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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hSimply breathe out through an open, relaxed mouth already shaped for the following vowel — there is no tongue or lip contact at all.
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oʊStart with mid-back, lightly rounded lips and glide toward /ʊ/, tightening the rounding as you finish.
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pPress both lips together, build up air behind them, then release with a puff of air (aspiration) when the sound starts a stressed syllable.
Silent letters in “hope”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “hope”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “hope”
Each of these differs from “hope” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “hope”
- How do you pronounce “hope”?
- “hope” is pronounced /ˈhoʊp/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “hope”?
- “hope” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- Does “hope” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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