The word "soppy" is spelled with a double-p in the middle, despite having only one syllable. This is because the pronunciation of the word includes a consonant cluster sound, where the "p" is followed immediately by another consonant, in this case the "y" sound. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription for "soppy" is /ˈsɒpi/, with the double-p indicated by the symbol "pp" after the /o/ vowel sound. This spelling quirk can sometimes trip up English learners or those unfamiliar with the language's idiosyncrasies.
Soppy is an adjective that is used to describe something or someone as excessively sentimental, overly emotional, or excessively affectionate in an insincere or artificial way. The term is often used to characterize behavior, emotions, or expressions that are perceived as lacking genuine depth or genuine emotion.
When describing a person as soppy, it typically implies that they are prone to being sentimental or emotional to a degree that is considered excessive, exaggerated, or unrealistic. Such an individual may frequently exhibit demonstrative affection, often through excessive displays of love, care, or concern. In some cases, soppy behavior may be seen as superficial or insincere, as it might be perceived that the person is laying on affection for attention or to manipulate others.
The term can also be used to describe things such as movies, books, or music that are excessively sentimental, mushy, or schmaltzy in their content. Soppy entertainment often overwhelms the audience with shallow emotional appeals, overly dramatic plotlines, or exaggerated expressions of love or sadness.
In summary, soppy refers to behavior, emotions, or expressions that are considered excessively sentimental or emotional in an insincere or artificial manner. It implies a lack of depth, genuineness, or authenticity and can be applied to both people and things.
Soaked or saturated with liquid.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "soppy" originated from Middle English "soppi", derived from the Old English word "soppian", which means "to soak" or "to dip". This Old English word was ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*supōną". Over time, the meaning of "soppy" evolved to refer to something being soaked or drenched with liquid, which eventually led to its figurative use to describe something overly sentimental or excessively emotional.