3 syllables: a, chie, ving. Stress on chie.
uh-CHEE-ving
/əˈtʃivɪŋ/
achieving is pronounced uh-CHEE-ving (/əˈtʃivɪŋ/). It has three syllables (a-chie-ving), with the stress on "chie". Achieving refers to successfully bringing about a desired result or reaching a goal through effort and persistence. It conveys the process and outcome of attaining objectives, often emphasizing accomplishment, progress, and effectiveness. The term is commonly used in professional, academic, and personal development contexts to describe successful completion of tasks or aspirations.
Achieving refers to successfully bringing about a desired result or reaching a goal through effort and persistence. It conveys the process and outcome of attaining objectives, often emphasizing accomplishment, progress, and effectiveness. The term is commonly used in professional, academic, and personal development contexts to describe successful completion of tasks or aspirations.
"Her team is achieving strong gains in quarterly profits through targeted strategies."
"She’s achieving fluency in Spanish after several months of immersive study."
"The conference highlighted achieving milestones in renewable energy projects."
Pronounce as /əˈtʃiː.vɪŋ/. The first syllable is a reduced schwa: uh. The second syllable carries primary stress: CHEE. End with the short -ing: -ving, with the 'v' sound followed by a light 'ing' sound. Mouth position: start with relaxed lips, move to a clear /tʃ/ (like ‘ch’ in 'chair'), then a long /iː/ vowel, then a /v/ and a short /ɪ/ before final /ŋ/. Audio reference: imagine saying ‘uh-CHEE-ving’ with emphasis on CHEE.
Two frequent errors: 1) Not stressing the second syllable, saying /əˈtɪvɪŋ/ or /əˈtʃiː.vɪŋ/ with reduced vowel. Correction: hold the /iː/ longer and ensure primary stress lands on the second syllable: /əˈtʃiː.vɪŋ/. 2) Slurring the /tʃ/ into /t/ or mispronouncing the final -ing as /ɪŋ/ without the preceding /v/: target /ˈtʃ/ + /iː/ + /v/ + /ɪŋ/. Practice with minimal pairs like “cheev-ing” vs “cheev-ING” emphasizing the /v/ before the nasal.
In US, UK, and AU, the main difference is vowel quality and rhoticity. US typically rhotics, so /əˈtʃiː.vɪŋ/ with /ɹ/ not pronounced as a separate r; the /ə/ remains reduced. UK/EU varieties often have a slightly shorter /iː/ and less rhotic rounding, with /əˈtʃiː.vɪŋ/ but a crisper /v/ before /ɪŋ/. Australian accents are non-rhotic like UK but may show more centralized vowels around /iː/ and a lighter /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. Overall the /tʃ/ and /v/ sequences are stable across dialects; the vowel length and rhoticity vary subtly.
Two challenges: the diphthongal realization of /iː/ in the stressed syllable and the cluster /tʃiː.v/ sequence requiring precise timing between stop-release, affricate /tʃ/ and the voiced fricative /v/. Beginners may vocalize /tʃ/ as /t/ or prolong /ɪ/ too much, collapsing the syllable boundary. Focus on keeping the /tʃ/ clear, the /iː/ long, and the /v/ immediately before /ɪŋ/. Use slow practice, then speed, to maintain the transition clarity.
Unlike many -ing forms, achieving has a conspicuous secondary stress pattern with /ˈtʃiː/ in the second syllable and a consonant cluster at the juncture of the two syllables (/tʃiː.v/). The presence of /tʃ/ followed by a long /iː/ plus /v/ immediately before /ɪŋ/ creates a distinct rhythm and subtle coarticulation effects compared to plain verbs ending in -ing. This invites attention to both syllable timing and consonant-vowel transitions.
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The word achieving comes from the verb achieve, which traces to the Old French achever, meaning to bring to completion, support, or fulfill. The English form evolved in the Middle English period, incorporating the suffix -ing to denote the present participle or gerund. Achever itself is thought to derive from Latin ad- “toward” + capere “to take, seize, grasp,” reflecting the notion of attaining or obtaining a goal. Over time, achieve broadened from “to accomplish” in a practical sense to include personal and professional milestones, success narratives, and the process of making progress toward objectives. In Early Modern English, achieving began appearing as a noun form in contexts emphasizing ongoing action or the result of striving, a usage that persists today in phrases like “achieving excellence.” The term has thus evolved from a concrete action of taking or grasping to a broader concept of successful attainment and sustained effort across domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "achieving" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "achieving"
-ing sounds
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