How to pronounce following
Say it like FOL-oh-ing. Following has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce following. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOL
- oh
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Following pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FOLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of following
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: FOL-oh-ing.
What does following mean?
- about to be mentioned or specified“the following items”
- immediately following in time or order“the following day”“next in line”
- going or proceeding or coming after in the same direction“the crowd of following cars made the occasion seem like a parade”“tried to outrun the following footsteps”
- a group of followers or enthusiasts
- the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture“the culprit started to run and the cop took off in pursuit”
Where does following come from?
By surface analysis, follow + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying following
How do you pronounce following?
Say FOL-oh-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɑloʊɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in following?
Following has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOL). Broken into parts: FOL · oh · ing.
Is following pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/ (FOL-oh-ing).