clip-clop

/ˈklɪp.klɒp/

//ˈklɪp.klɒp// noun

"clip-clop" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“clip-clop” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The sound of steps on hard ground, especially of a horse's hooves.

Key facts for clip-clop
PropertyValue
Headwordclip-clop
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈklɪp.klɒp/
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “clip-clop” sits in English frequency

clip-clop falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

clip-clop is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈklɪp.klɒp/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "The sound of steps on hard ground, especially of a horse's hooves.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for clip-clop, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Onomatopoeia for two footsteps in succession. The correct English form is clip-clop, spelled C-L-I-P---C-L-O-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    The sound of steps on hard ground, especially of a horse's hooves.

Etymology

Onomatopoeia for two footsteps in succession.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "clip-clop"?
"clip-clop" is spelled C-L-I-P---C-L-O-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈklɪp.klɒp/.
What does "clip-clop" mean?
As a noun, "clip-clop" means: The sound of steps on hard ground, especially of a horse's hooves.
How do you pronounce "clip-clop"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "clip-clop" is /ˈklɪp.klɒp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "clip-clop"?
Onomatopoeia for two footsteps in succession. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “clip-clop”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-L-I-P---C-L-O-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈklɪp.klɒp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list