How to pronounce waning
Say it like WAY-ning. Waning has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce waning. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAY
- ning
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waning pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- ningKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of waning
American and British speakers say waning in essentially the same way: /ˈweɪnɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈweɪnɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAY-ning.
What does waning mean?
- present participle and gerund of wane How to pronounce wane
- Becoming weaker or smaller.“my waning patience”
- Of the lunar phase: as it shrinks when viewed from the Earth.“the waning moon”
- The fact or act of becoming less or less intense or present; fading.
- The fact or act of becoming smaller.
Where does waning come from?
From Middle English waninge, alteration of earlier waniand, waniende, from Old English waniende, from Proto-Germanic *wanōndz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *wanōną (“to wane”), equivalent to wane + -ing.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with waning
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of waning.
Questions about saying waning
How do you pronounce waning?
Say WAY-ning. The American pronunciation is /ˈweɪnɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈweɪnɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in waning?
Waning has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAY). Broken into parts: WAY · ning.
Do Americans and Brits say waning the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈweɪnɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈweɪnɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.