How to pronounce going
Say it like GOH-ing. Going has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce going. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GOH
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Going pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GOHSay this part loudest and longest. 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 going
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: GOH-ing.
What does going mean?
- the act of departing
- euphemistic expressions for death“thousands mourned his passing”
- advancing toward a goal“persuading him was easy going”“the proposal faces tough sledding”
- in full operation“a going concern”
Where does going come from?
Noun and adjective from Middle English going, goyng, gaing, gayng, equivalent to go + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with going
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of going.
Questions about saying going
How do you pronounce going?
Say GOH-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈɡəʊɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in going?
Going has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GOH). Broken into parts: GOH · ing.
Is going pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈɡəʊɪŋ/ (GOH-ing).