How to pronounce beginning
Say it like bih-GHIN-ing. Beginning has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GHIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce beginning. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- GHIN
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Beginning pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- GHINSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of beginning
American and British speakers say beginning in essentially the same way: /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ in the US and /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-GHIN-ing.
What does beginning mean?
- the event consisting of the start of something“the beginning of the war”
- the time at which something is supposed to begin“they got an early start”“she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her”
- the first part or section of something“`It was a dark and stormy night' is a hackneyed beginning for a story”
- serving to begin“the beginning canto of the poem”“the first verse”
Where does beginning come from?
From Middle English biginning, beginninge, beginnunge, equivalent to begin + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with beginning
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of beginning.
Questions about saying beginning
How do you pronounce beginning?
Say bih-GHIN-ing. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/. In British English it is /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in beginning?
Beginning has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GHIN). Broken into parts: bih · GHIN · ing.
Do Americans and Brits say beginning the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ and the British form is /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.