What does slurping mean?
Slurping means drinking or taking in a liquid with a loud sucking sound, often drawing attention to the noise it makes. The word is commonly used for someone drinking soup, a beverage through a straw, or food that is eaten with a wet, noisy sound. In its second sense, it describes that sound or movement itself: “There was a loud slurping from the bowl.” Slurping is informal and may carry a mildly disapproving or playful tone, especially when describing a person's table manners, although it can simply report what happened without criticism. It is also useful when the sound is important to the scene or when distinguishing deliberate noisiness from quiet sipping. The related adjective “slurpy” is sometimes used for a liquid or food that is messy or likely to produce a sucking sound when consumed.
To drink or take in liquid noisily, making a sucking sound; also, to make such a sound with the mouth.
"The child kept slurping his juice and spilled some on the table."
Often informal and sometimes used to describe someone else's noisy eating or drinking habits with mild disapproval or humor.
Characterized by or making a wet, sucking sound while liquid is being taken in.
"A slurping sound came from the kitchen."
This attributive use is common in descriptions of food, drink, and table manners.
Slurping turns an ordinary drink into a small performance of sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slurping come from?
Slurping is formed from the verb “slurp,” whose deeper etymology is uncertain. The verb is attested in English by the early 19th century, and its present-participle form “slurping” developed as a regular inflection of that verb. The word appears to evoke the sound of drawing liquid through the lips, but no certain account of its remote origin is available.
Related word forms
How slurping is actually used
The word is informal and can sound mildly critical or humorous when used about another person's eating or drinking habits. It is also used attributively, as in “slurping sound.”
Easily confused with slurping
Slurping means drinking with a loud sucking sound, whereas sipping means taking small, usually quiet sips.
Slurping refers to taking in liquid with a sucking sound, while lapping usually means drinking with the tongue, as a dog does.