How to pronounce starving
Say it like STAR-ving. Starving has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce starving. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAR
- ving
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Starving pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- vingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of starving
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: STAH-ving.
What does starving mean?
- suffering from lack of food
- the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine“the besiegers used starvation to induce surrender”“they were charged with the starvation of children in their care”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with starving
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of starving.
Questions about saying starving
How do you pronounce starving?
Say STAR-ving. The American pronunciation is /ˈstɑrvɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈstɑːvɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in starving?
Starving has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAR). Broken into parts: STAR · ving.
Is starving pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈstɑːvɪŋ/ (STAH-ving).