fillip
fil·lip/ˈfɪlɪp/noun, verb
fillip is spelled F-I-L-L-I-P: 6 letters and 2 syllables (fil·lip). It appears about once in every 10 million words in written English, the 95,993rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, fillip means “A sharp strike or tap made using this action, or (by extension) by other means” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of fillip is fillips.
How many letters and syllables are in fillip?
| Letters | 6: F-I-L-L-I-P |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: fil·lip |
| In writing | about once in every 10 million words; the 95,993rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is fillip?
Fillip appears about once in every 10 million words in written English, the 95,993rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce fillip?
- US /ˈfɪlɪp/
Fillip has 2 syllables, split fil·lip in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-uk-fillip.oga, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with fillip
Sounds like: Phillip (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of fillip
- fillips plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- filliping participle, present
- filliped participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does fillip mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
archaicThe action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it with a snap; a flick.
- 2
A sharp strike or tap made using this action, or (by extension) by other means.
- 3
Something unimportant, a trifle; also, the brief time it takes to flick one's finger (see noun sense 1); a jiffy.
- 4
Something that excites or stimulates.
This measure gave a fillip to the housing market.
verb
- 1
To strike, project, or propel with a fillip (that is, a finger released quickly after being pressed against the thumb); to flick.
- 2
To project quickly; to snap.
- 3
To strike or tap smartly.
- 4
To drive as if by a fillip (noun sense 1); to excite, stimulate, whet.
The spicy aroma filliped my appetite.
- 5
To make a fillip (noun sense 1) (with the fingers).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Fillip in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense action of holding the tip of a finger against the thumb and then releasing it wi:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | chiquenaude, pichenette |
| German | Schnalzen |
| Portuguese | peteleco, piparote |
| Spanish | papirote |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does fillip come from?
From Middle English filippen, philippe (“to flick or snap a finger from against the thumb”); further origin uncertain, but probably imitative. See flip. It is not clear whether the verb is derived from the noun, or vice versa.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).