How to pronounce opening
Say it like OH-puh-ning. Opening has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce opening. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- puh
- ning
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Opening pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ningKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of opening
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH-puh-ning.
What does opening mean?
- an open or empty space in or between things“there was a small opening between the trees”“the explosion made a gap in the wall”
- a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
- becoming open or being made open“the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for”
- first or beginning“the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth”“the play's opening scene”
Where does opening come from?
From Middle English openynge, openande, openand, from Old English openiende, from Proto-West Germanic *opanōndī, from Proto-Germanic *upanōndz, present participle of *upanōną (“to open”), equivalent to open + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying opening
How do you pronounce opening?
Say OH-puh-ning. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈəʊpənɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in opening?
Opening has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · puh · ning.
Is opening 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 /ˈəʊpənɪŋ/ (OH-puh-ning).