How to pronounce swimming
Say it like SWIM-ing. Swimming has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SWIM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce swimming. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWIM
- ing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Swimming pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWIMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of swimming
American and British speakers say swimming in essentially the same way: /ˈswɪmɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈswɪmɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SWIM-ing.
What does swimming mean?
- the act of swimming“it was the swimming they enjoyed most”“they took a short swim in the pool”
- filled or brimming with tears“swimming eyes”“sorrow made the eyes of many grow liquid”
- applied to a fish depicted horizontally
Where does swimming come from?
From Middle English swymmynge.
Words that rhyme with swimming
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of swimming.
Questions about saying swimming
How do you pronounce swimming?
Say SWIM-ing. The American pronunciation is /ˈswɪmɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈswɪmɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in swimming?
Swimming has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SWIM). Broken into parts: SWIM · ing.
Do Americans and Brits say swimming the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈswɪmɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈswɪmɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.