How to pronounce groundbreaking
Say it like GROWND-bray-king. Groundbreaking has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GROWND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce groundbreaking. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GROWND
- bray
- king
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Groundbreaking pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GROWNDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- brayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- kingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of groundbreaking
American and British speakers say groundbreaking in essentially the same way: /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: GROWND-bray-king.
What does groundbreaking mean?
- The point at which construction begins, by digging into the ground.
- A ceremony to mark the beginning of construction.
- Innovative; new, different; doing something that has never been done before.“The latest model includes several groundbreaking features and improvements.”
Where does groundbreaking come from?
From ground + breaking, in reference to the practice of breaking ground at the beginning of a new building or construction.
Questions about saying groundbreaking
How do you pronounce groundbreaking?
Say GROWND-bray-king. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in groundbreaking?
Groundbreaking has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GROWND). Broken into parts: GROWND · bray · king.
Do Americans and Brits say groundbreaking the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.