How to pronounce liking
Say it like LY-king. Liking has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liking. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- king
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liking pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- kingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of liking
American and British speakers say liking in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY-king.
What does liking mean?
- a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment“I've always had a liking for reading”“she developed a liking for gin”
Where does liking come from?
From Middle English likinge, likinde, likende, likande, licande, from Old English līciende, līciġende, from Proto-Germanic *līkāndz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *līkāną, equivalent to like + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with liking
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of liking.
Questions about saying liking
How do you pronounce liking?
Say LY-king. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liking?
Liking has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY). Broken into parts: LY · king.
Do Americans and Brits say liking the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.