How to pronounce promising
Say it like PROM-uh-sing. Promising has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PROM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce promising. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PROM
- uh
- sing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Promising pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PROMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- singKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of promising
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: PROM-ih-sing.
What does promising mean?
- showing possibility of achievement or excellence“a promising young man”
- likely to turn out well in the future“had a bright future in publishing”“the scandal threatened an abrupt end to a promising political career”
Questions about saying promising
How do you pronounce promising?
Say PROM-uh-sing. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɑməsɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in promising?
Promising has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PROM). Broken into parts: PROM · uh · sing.
Is promising pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/ (PROM-ih-sing).