How to pronounce sailing
Say it like SAY-ling. Sailing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sailing. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAY
- ling
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sailing pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- lingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of sailing
American and British speakers say sailing in essentially the same way: /ˈseɪlɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈseɪlɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAY-ling.
What does sailing mean?
- the work of a sailor
- riding in a sailboat
- the departure of a vessel from a port
Where does sailing come from?
From Middle English saylinge, seilinge, variants of sailende, seilende; equivalent to sail + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- seafaring
- navigation
Words that rhyme with sailing
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sailing.
Questions about saying sailing
How do you pronounce sailing?
Say SAY-ling. The American pronunciation is /ˈseɪlɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈseɪlɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sailing?
Sailing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAY). Broken into parts: SAY · ling.
Do Americans and Brits say sailing the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈseɪlɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈseɪlɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.