Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

riprap

/ˈɹɪpɹap/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.62 in modern English

Syllables: riprap
IPA: /ˈɹɪpɹap/

10

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An underwater bank seen as a danger to shipping.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Rocks or other materials used to shore up an embankment, deter or prevent erosion, guide shipping, or serve as a temporary mooring.

Canadian usage; American usage; Countable; Uncountable

verb

To form a riprap in or upon.

Example Sentences

"They hold on, spray flying, the ceaseless racket of water impacting on rock all but swallowing them, the river pitching dizzily, snags and riprap raking like claws at the bottom of the boat."

Etymology

Apparently a reduplication (with vowel dissimilation) of rap (“blow, stroke”).

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈɹɪpɹap/

Usage

Inflected Forms

ripraps (plural) rip-rap (alternative) rip rap (alternative) ripraps (present, singular) riprapping (participle, present) riprapped (participle, past) riprapped (past)

Questions

How do you pronounce riprap?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹɪpɹap/.
What does riprap mean?: An underwater bank seen as a danger to shipping.
Where does riprap come from?: Apparently a reduplication (with vowel dissimilation) of rap (“blow, stroke”).

How to pronounce riprap

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “riprap”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɹɪpɹap/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “riprap”.
Repeat and practice — Say “riprap” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.