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

    Practice with vocabulary hip

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The physiotherapist recommended specific exercises to strengthen the muscles around the ____ joint, crucial for mobility.
    2. Our target demographic is highly attuned to contemporary trends, so our branding must appear genuinely ____ and relevant.
    3. The project manager had to ____ a new strategy after the initial plan encountered unexpected technical difficulties.
    4. Before presenting the proposal, ensure all data is meticulously checked and any potential discrepancies are ____.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. Which of the following body parts is commonly associated with issues affecting gait and mobility in older adults? A) Ankle B) Hip C) Elbow D) Wrist

    2. Which of the following adjectives best describes a product campaign that successfully captures current cultural trends and resonates with a young, modern audience? A) Outdated B) Innovative C) Hip D) Conventional

    3. During the ergonomic assessment, the specialist advised adjusting the chair height to ensure that the user's ____ angle was at 90 degrees for optimal comfort. A) elbow B) hip C) knee D) ankle

    4. To keep the company's brand image relevant, marketing efforts must stay ____ with evolving consumer preferences. A) abreast B) parallel C) aligned D) tangential

    5. Project timelines often need to be ____ to account for unforeseen technical challenges. A) prolonged B) modified C) adjusted D) ceased

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. The athlete underwent surgery to repair the damaged joint connecting their leg to their torso. Rewrite the sentence, using "hip":

    2. The company's marketing strategy felt somewhat out of touch with contemporary youth culture. Rewrite the sentence to suggest improvement, using "hip":

    3. The manager's approach to team leadership was very modern and effective. Rewrite the sentence, replacing "modern" with a suitable alternative (do not use "hip"):

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. hip
    2. hip
    3. devise / implement
    4. resolved / addressed

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. A) Ankle, B) Hip
    2. B) Innovative, C) Hip
    3. B) Hip, C) Knee
    4. A) abreast, C) aligned
    5. B) modified, C) adjusted

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. The athlete underwent surgery to repair their damaged hip joint.
    2. The company's marketing strategy needed to become more hip to resonate with contemporary youth culture.
    3. The manager employed a highly contemporary / progressive / innovative and effective approach to team leadership.

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