How to pronounce shortening
Say it like SHOR-tuh-ning. Shortening has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce shortening. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHOR
- tuh
- ning
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Shortening pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- tuhKeep 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 shortening
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SHAW-tuh-ning.
What does shortening mean?
- Fat that is solid at room temperature, especially hydrogenated vegetable oil (known as vegetable shortening), used to make shortcrust pastry and in deep fat frying.
- verbal noun of shorten: the process by which something is made shorter; a reduction in length. How to pronounce shorten
- present participle and gerund of shorten How to pronounce shorten
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying shortening
How do you pronounce shortening?
Say SHOR-tuh-ning. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃɔrtənɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈʃɔːtənɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in shortening?
Shortening has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHOR). Broken into parts: SHOR · tuh · ning.
Is shortening pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈʃɔːtənɪŋ/ (SHAW-tuh-ning).