How to pronounce bearing
Say it like BER-ing. Bearing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BER).
- BER
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bearing pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of bearing
American and British speakers say bearing in essentially the same way: /ˈbɛrɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈbɛərɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAIR-ring.
What does bearing mean?
- present participle and gerund of bear How to pronounce bear
- That bears (some specified thing).“a gift-bearing visitor”
- Of a beam, column, or other device, carrying weight or load.“That's a bearing wall.”
- A mechanical device that supports another part or reduces friction.
- The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and another object, or between it and that of true north; a heading or direction.
- One's understanding of one's orientation or relative position, literally or figuratively.“Do we go left here or straight on? Hold on, let me just get my bearings.”
Where does bearing come from?
From Middle English beringe, berynge, berende, berande, berand, from Old English berende (“bearing; fruitful”) (also as synonym Old English bǣrende), from Proto-Germanic *berandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *beraną (“to bear; carr
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
- nonbearing
Words that rhyme with bearing
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bearing.
Words that sound like bearing
Questions about saying bearing
How do you pronounce bearing?
Say BER-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɛrɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈbɛərɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bearing?
Bearing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BER). Broken into parts: BER · ing.
Do Americans and Brits say bearing the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɛrɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈbɛərɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as bearing?
Bearing sounds the same as baring, Bering in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.