When it comes to the English language, there are few words that elicit quite the same reaction as “stinking.” Whether you’re referring to a particularly unpleasant odor or an unappetizing dish, the word “stinking” has a way of capturing the essence of something that is both repulsive and unforgettable. But how do you pronounce this pungent word correctly? Fear not, dear reader, for we shall embark on a linguistic journey to unravel the mysteries of pronouncing “stinking.”
To begin our pronunciation odyssey, let us break down the word into its individual sounds. The first syllable, “stin,” is pronounced with a short “i” sound, similar to the “i” in “hit.” The second syllable, “king,” is pronounced with a long “i” sound, like the “i” in “bike.” Putting it all together, we arrive at the pronunciation “stin-king.” Note that the “g” at the end of the word is silent.
Now that we have the basics down, let’s explore some common pronunciation pitfalls. One common mistake is pronouncing the word with a hard “g” sound, as in “stink-ing.” This is incorrect; the “g” in “stinking” is always silent. Another potential stumbling block is the temptation to pronounce the first syllable with a long “a” sound, as in “stay.” Resist this urge! The correct pronunciation is with a short “i” sound.
Breaking Down the Syllables
The word “stinking” is a two-syllable word. The first syllable is “stink,” and the second syllable is “ing.” The stress is on the first syllable.
1. Pronouncing the First Syllable
The first syllable, “stink,” is pronounced like the word “think.” To make the sound, start by placing your lips together. Then, blow air through your lips to create a “th” sound. Next, say the vowel sound “i” as in “it.” Finally, end the syllable by closing your lips again and releasing the air.
2. Pronouncing the Second Syllable
The second syllable, “ing,” is pronounced like the “-ing” ending in words like “running” and “walking.” To make the sound, start by raising the back of your tongue towards the roof of your mouth. Then, allow air to flow out of your mouth while keeping your tongue in this position. This will create the nasal sound “n.” Finally, finish the syllable by saying the vowel sound “g” as in “egg.”
Putting It All Together
To pronounce the word “stinking,” simply combine the two syllables: “stink” and “ing.” Remember to stress the first syllable and pronounce the second syllable with a nasal sound. Here’s how it should sound:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Stinking | /stɪŋkɪŋ/ |
Emphasizing the Correct Sounds
Pronouncing the Initial /s/
- Step 1: Position your tongue: Place the tip of your tongue just behind your upper front teeth.
- Step 2: Release air: Quickly release air through the narrow opening between your tongue and teeth, creating a hissing sound.
- Example: Say the word "sink."
Pronouncing the Medial /t/
- Step 1: Place your tongue: Position the tip of your tongue against the alveolar ridge, the bony ridge behind your upper front teeth.
- Step 2: Stop the airflow: Completely block the flow of air by briefly touching your tongue to the ridge.
- Step 3: Release the air: Quickly release the air, creating a brief "pop" sound.
- Example: Say the word "stop."
Pronouncing the Final /ŋ/
- Step 1: Position your tongue: Raise the back of your tongue towards the soft palate, forming a partial closure.
- Step 2: Create resonance: Allow air to flow through the nasal cavity, creating a resonant, "nasal" sound.
- Step 3: End the sound: Gradually lower the back of your tongue to disconnect the nasal passage.
- Example: Say the word "song."
| Correct Pronunciation | Incorrect Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Stinking [stɪŋkɪŋ] | Stinkin’ [stɪŋkən] |
How to Pronounce Stinking in English
The word “stinking” is pronounced with a short “i” sound. The “i” is followed by an “n” sound and a “k” sound. The “g” is silent.
Practice with Native Speakers
If you want to practice pronouncing “stinking,” you can listen to how native speakers say it. You can find videos of native speakers pronouncing the word on YouTube. You can also find audio recordings of native speakers pronouncing the word on websites like Forvo.com.
Once you have listened to how native speakers pronounce the word, you can try saying it yourself. Be sure to practice saying the word with the correct vowel sound and the correct consonants. You can also practice saying the word in different contexts, such as in a sentence or in a conversation.
Tips for Pronouncing “Stinking”
Here are a few tips for pronouncing “stinking” correctly:
- Say the “i” sound with a short sound, like the “i” in “sit.”
- Pronounce the “n” sound with a clear and distinct sound.
- Do not pronounce the “g” sound.
- Say the “k” sound with a soft sound.
Practice Sentences
Here are a few sentences that you can use to practice pronouncing “stinking”:
Sentence Pronunciation The garbage is stinking. The garbage is stinking. The dog’s breath is stinking. The dog’s breath is stinking. The socks are stinking. The socks are stinking. Slow and Clear Enunciation
To pronounce the word “stinking” slowly and clearly, follow these steps:
1. Start by saying the “s” sound. This is a voiceless alveolar fricative sound, which means it is produced by forcing air through a narrow channel in the mouth. To make the “s” sound, place your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth and blow air out through your mouth.
2. Next, say the “t” sound. This is a voiceless alveolar stop consonant, which means it is produced by completely blocking the airflow through the mouth. To make the “t” sound, place your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth and then quickly release it.
3. Now, say the “i” sound. This is a diphthong, which means it is a combination of two vowel sounds. The first sound is a high front vowel, which is produced by raising your tongue towards the roof of your mouth while keeping your lips spread apart. The second sound is a lower front vowel, which is produced by lowering your tongue slightly while keeping your lips spread apart.
4. After the “i” sound, say the “n” sound. This is a voiced alveolar nasal consonant, which means it is produced by vibrating your vocal cords while blocking the airflow through the mouth with your tongue. To make the “n” sound, place your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your teeth and then lower your velum (the back of the roof of your mouth) to allow air to flow through your nose.
5. Finally, say the “g” sound. This is a voiced velar plosive consonant, which means it is produced by completely blocking the airflow through the mouth with the back of your tongue and then releasing it. To make the “g” sound, place the back of your tongue against the back of your throat and then quickly release it.
By following these steps, you can pronounce the word “stinking” slowly and clearly.
IPA Transcription Example /stɪŋkɪŋ/ The smell of the garbage is stinking. How To Pronounce Stinking
The word “stinking” is pronounced with a short “i” sound, as in the word “sit.” The “n” is pronounced with a hard “n” sound, as in the word “not.” The “g” is pronounced with a soft “g” sound, as in the word “gem.” Therefore, the word “stinking” is pronounced as “STIHNG-king.”
Here are some tips for pronouncing the word “stinking” correctly:
- Start by saying the word “sit.”
- Then, add the “n” sound, as in the word “not.”
- Finally, add the “g” sound, as in the word “gem.”
- Be sure to pronounce the “i” sound in “stinking” with a short “i” sound, as in the word “sit.”
People Also Ask About How To Pronounce Stinking
Is the “n” in “stinking” pronounced with a hard or soft sound?
The “n” in “stinking” is pronounced with a hard “n” sound, as in the word “not.”
Is the “g” in “stinking” pronounced with a hard or soft sound?
The “g” in “stinking” is pronounced with a soft “g” sound, as in the word “gem.”
What is the correct way to pronounce “stinking”?
The correct way to pronounce “stinking” is “STIHNG-king.”
