How to pronounce longing
Say it like LAWNG-ing. Longing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAWNG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce longing. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAWNG
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Longing pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAWNGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of longing
American and British speakers say longing in essentially the same way: /ˈlɔŋɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈlɒŋɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: LONG-ing.
What does longing mean?
- prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
Where does longing come from?
From Middle English longynge, langynge, langand, from Old English langiende, from Proto-Germanic *langōndz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *langōną (“to desire, long for”), equivalent to long + -ing (present participle ending).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying longing
How do you pronounce longing?
Say LAWNG-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɔŋɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈlɒŋɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in longing?
Longing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAWNG). Broken into parts: LAWNG · ing.
Do Americans and Brits say longing the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɔŋɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈlɒŋɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.