How to pronounce spelunking
Say it like spuh-LUHNG-king. Spelunking has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHNG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce spelunking. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- spuh
- LUHNG
- king
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spelunking pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- spuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LUHNGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- kingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of spelunking
American and British speakers say spelunking in essentially the same way: /spəˈlʌŋkɪŋ/ in the US and /spəˈlʌŋkɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: spuh-LUHNG-king.
What does spelunking mean?
- The practice or hobby of exploring underground caverns.
- present participle and gerund of spelunk How to pronounce spelunk
Where does spelunking come from?
From spelunk + -ing. Back-formation from spelunker.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with spelunking
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spelunking.
Questions about saying spelunking
How do you pronounce spelunking?
Say spuh-LUHNG-king. The American pronunciation is /spəˈlʌŋkɪŋ/. In British English it is /spəˈlʌŋkɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spelunking?
Spelunking has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHNG). Broken into parts: spuh · LUHNG · king.
Do Americans and Brits say spelunking the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /spəˈlʌŋkɪŋ/ and the British form is /spəˈlʌŋkɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.