How to pronounce working
Say it like WUR-king. Working has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce working. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WUR
- king
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Working pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- kingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of working
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WUR-king.
What does working mean?
- actively engaged in paid work“the working population”“the ratio of working men to unemployed”
- adequate for practical use; especially sufficient in strength or numbers to accomplish something“the party has a working majority in the House”“a working knowledge of Spanish”
- adopted as a temporary basis for further work“a working draft”“a working hypothesis”
- a mine or quarry that is being or has been worked
Where does working come from?
From Middle English werking, werkynge, warkynge, worchinge, from Old English wyrċing (“working”), verbal noun of wyrċan (“to work”), equivalent to work + -ing.
Words that rhyme with working
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of working.
Questions about saying working
How do you pronounce working?
Say WUR-king. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɝkɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈwɜːkɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in working?
Working has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WUR). Broken into parts: WUR · king.
Is working 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 /ˈwɜːkɪŋ/ (WUR-king).