To ship two people is to imagine them as a couple and root for their relationship, whether they're characters or real people. The noun ship is the pairing itself: my favourite ship. Fans of TV series, books and anime use it, and friends use it jokingly about people from the office or their group.
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ship + A and B; ship + A with B; my favourite ship
- I've shipped those two since the first episode, and they finally kissed!
- Everyone in our office secretly ships Anna and the new designer.
- Honestly, they're my favourite ship in the whole series.
What changed
First versionI really shipper Ross and Rachel, they belong together.
RevisionI really ship Ross and Rachel, they belong together.
Shipper looks like it could be the verb, but it's a noun meaning a person who ships a couple: I'm a huge Ross and Rachel shipper. The verb is shorter: ship, I ship them.
Ship is always about two people. If you're a devoted fan of one person, the word is stan: I stan her, but I ship them. Outside fan conversations, people may not understand ship, so in IELTS Speaking it's better to say I really wanted them to end up together, and this slang has no place in an essay.
Your turn
Those two characters argue in every episode, but they're perfect together, I totally ___ them.
Show the answer
ship — After I totally you need a verb: ship them. Shipper is a noun meaning a fan of a pairing, and it can't work as a verb.
Text a friend about a couple from a TV series, film or book that you're rooting for. Name the characters and explain why they're good together.
I ship Jim and Pam from The Office so much, they make each other laugh even on terrible days.
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