How to pronounce oops
Say it like OOPS. Oops is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oops. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OOPS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oops pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OOPSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of oops
American and British speakers say oops in essentially the same way: /ups/ in the US and /uːps/ in the UK.
British respelling: OOPS.
What does oops mean?
- Used to acknowledge a small mistake or accident.“Oops! I left the lid off the ketchup.”
- Used to indicate mild surprise or shock.
- A minor mistake or unforeseen difficulty.
- To make a mistake; to blunder.
Where does oops come from?
A presumably 'natural' exclamation, attested in writing since 1921.
Questions about saying oops
How do you pronounce oops?
Say OOPS. The American pronunciation is /ups/. In British English it is /uːps/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oops?
Oops is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: OOPS.
Do Americans and Brits say oops the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ups/ and the British form is /uːps/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.