How to pronounce sleeping
Say it like SLEE-ping. Sleeping has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sleeping. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLEE
- ping
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sleeping pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- pingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of sleeping
American and British speakers say sleeping in essentially the same way: /ˈslipɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈsliːpɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SLEE-ping.
What does sleeping mean?
- the state of being asleep
- quiet and inactive restfulness
- the suspension of consciousness and decrease in metabolic rate
- lying with head on paws as if sleeping
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with sleeping
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sleeping.
Questions about saying sleeping
How do you pronounce sleeping?
Say SLEE-ping. The American pronunciation is /ˈslipɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈsliːpɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sleeping?
Sleeping has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SLEE). Broken into parts: SLEE · ping.
Do Americans and Brits say sleeping the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈslipɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈsliːpɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.