How to pronounce sinking
Say it like SING-king. Sinking has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SING).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sinking. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SING
- king
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sinking pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SINGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of sinking
American and British speakers say sinking in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SING-king.
What does sinking mean?
- a descent as through liquid (especially through water)“they still talk about the sinking of the Titanic”
- a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength)“after several hours of sinking an unexpected rally rescued the market”“he could not control the sinking of his legs”
- a feeling caused by uneasiness or apprehension“with a sinking heart”“a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach”
Where does sinking come from?
From sink + -ing.
Words that rhyme with sinking
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sinking.
Questions about saying sinking
How do you pronounce sinking?
Say SING-king. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sinking?
Sinking has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SING). Broken into parts: SING · king.
Do Americans and Brits say sinking the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.