How to pronounce smiling
Say it like SMY-ling. Smiling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce smiling. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SMY
- ling
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Smiling pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SMYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- lingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of smiling
American and British speakers say smiling in essentially the same way: /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SMY-ling.
What does smiling mean?
- a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
- smiling with happiness or optimism“Come to my arms, my beamish boy!”“a room of smiling faces”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with smiling
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of smiling.
Questions about saying smiling
How do you pronounce smiling?
Say SMY-ling. The American pronunciation is /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in smiling?
Smiling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMY). Broken into parts: SMY · ling.
Do Americans and Brits say smiling the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.