How to pronounce smelling
Say it like SMEL-ing. Smelling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce smelling. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SMEL
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Smelling pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SMELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of smelling
American and British speakers say smelling in essentially the same way: /ˈsmɛlɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈsmɛlɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SMEL-ing.
What does smelling mean?
- the act of perceiving the odor of something
- (used with of or with) noticeably odorous“the hall was redolent of floor wax”“air redolent with the fumes of beer and whiskey”
Words that rhyme with smelling
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of smelling.
Questions about saying smelling
How do you pronounce smelling?
Say SMEL-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈsmɛlɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈsmɛlɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in smelling?
Smelling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMEL). Broken into parts: SMEL · ing.
Do Americans and Brits say smelling the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsmɛlɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈsmɛlɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.