How to pronounce driving
Say it like DRY-ving. Driving has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce driving. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DRY
- ving
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Driving pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- vingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of driving
American and British speakers say driving in essentially the same way: /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: DRY-ving.
What does driving mean?
- having the power of driving or impelling“a driving personal ambition”“the driving force was his innate enthusiasm”
- acting with vigor“responsibility turned the spoiled playboy into a driving young executive”
- hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver“he sliced his drive out of bounds”
- the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal
Where does driving come from?
From Middle English dryvyng, drivende, from Old English drīfende, from Proto-Germanic *drībandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *drībaną (“to drive”), equivalent to drive + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with driving
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of driving.
Questions about saying driving
How do you pronounce driving?
Say DRY-ving. The American pronunciation is /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in driving?
Driving has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRY). Broken into parts: DRY · ving.
Do Americans and Brits say driving the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.