How to pronounce washing
Say it like WAH-shing. Washing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce washing. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAH
- shing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Washing pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- shingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of washing
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: WOSH-ing.
What does washing mean?
- the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
- garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
Where does washing come from?
Inherited from Middle English waschynge /wasshynge /weschynge, from Old English *wæsċing /*weasċing (attested in weasċingweġ), from Proto-West Germanic *waskingu.
Questions about saying washing
How do you pronounce washing?
Say WAH-shing. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɑʃɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈwɒʃɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in washing?
Washing has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAH). Broken into parts: WAH · shing.
Is washing pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈwɒʃɪŋ/ (WOSH-ing).