Ageing is the process of growing older or the passage of time that leads to physical and often cognitive changes. In British and Commonwealth usage it usually refers to the act or process of getting older, while in some contexts it can describe something that has become older or that has undergone aging. The term is often used in medical, social, and cultural discussions about lifespan, longevity, and quality of life.
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- You may flatten the vowel in the first syllable, saying /eɪdʒɪŋ/ with a weak /eɪ/. Focus on a clear /eɪ/ diphthong that starts open and ends mid-high. - Some learners replace /dʒ/ with /d/ or /j/ resulting in /ˈeɪdjɪŋ/ or /ˈeɪjɪŋ/. Practice isolating /dʒ/ and blending with /ɪŋ/ slowly. - Ending with a hard /ŋ/ or an overly nasal /ŋ/ sound; ensure the velar closure is just enough to produce a clean nasal without extra push. Corrections: 1) practice /eɪ/ in isolation, then /dʒ/ as a single unit, then attach /ɪŋ/. 2) use minimal pairs: say, day, die to feel the /eɪ/ and /d͡ʒ/ transition; then pair with age with /ŋ/. 3) record and compare with native samples to verify the rhythm and stress. Encourage consistent practice with short daily drills.
US: /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/ with forward tongue and reduced mouth rounding; US often faster, less tense lips. UK: /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/ crisper /dʒ/ and more precise vowel shape; non-rhoticity affects surrounding vowel length slightly. AU: similar to UK but with slightly more relaxed jaw and a touch brighter /eɪ/; keep a clear /dʒ/ and a well-defined /ŋ/. IPA references for vowels: /eɪ/ near-close-mid front; /dʒ/ is post-alveolar; final /ŋ/ is velar. Tips: practice with a mirror, keep lips relaxed, and ensure your tongue tips to the alveolar ridge for /d/ while pressing the middle of the tongue to release the /d͡ʒ/. Use Forvo and YouGlish for live samples.
"The ageing population poses challenges for healthcare systems."
"She spent the afternoon ageing a block of cheese to develop its flavor."
"The photograph showed signs of ageing, with yellowed edges and creases."
"In many countries, policies are being updated to support ageing workers and retirees."
Ageing derives from the verb age, itself from the Middle English agen, from Old French ageter, based on Latin agere meaning 'to do, drive, or act' and later associated with time passing and getting older. The noun aging (US) or ageing (UK/Commonwealth) emerges in the 18th to 19th centuries as a gerontological and sociocultural concept, paralleling the expansion of discussions about lifespan and demographic shifts. Early uses addressed the physical process of getting older; by the 20th century, ageing broadened to encompass the aging of objects and materials (e.g., cheese, wine) as well as social ageing (ageing population). The spelling variation reflects regional preferences: -ageing is standard in British, Australian, and many Commonwealth spellings, while ageing in US is less common outside specific contexts. First known uses appear in English medical and sociological texts, with gradual adoption in everyday language as population aging became a public policy concern.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ageing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "ageing" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "ageing"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/ in all major varieties. The first syllable rhymes with 'day' and carries the primary stress. The middle sound is the dʒ as in 'edge' followed by a short i as in 'kit', and the final 'ing' is the nasal -ŋ. Mouth position: start with a wide open front vowel for /eɪ/, finish with a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ and a velar nasal /ŋ/. Audio references: you can listen to /ˈeɪdʒɪŋ/ on Forvo and YouGlish. Practice by saying “day-jing” smoothly, then blend to /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/ with a light, quick final nasal.
Two common errors: (1) Slurring the /dʒ/ to a softer /j/ or /dʒ/ assimilation like 'ay-ing' or 'edge-ing'. Ensure you clearly articulate the /dʒ/ as a single sound. (2) Misplacing the stress, sometimes pronouncing as /ˈeɪdʒɪɪŋ/ with an extra vowel; keep the syllables tight: /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/. Corrections: practice with minimal pairs (day/j, say/jee) and exaggeratedly produce /dʒ/ then fade to a natural flow. Focus on the /eɪ/ plus /dʒ/ sequence and end with /ŋ/.
US vs UK/AU has minor differences. In US, /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/ with a slightly less rounded /eɪ/ and less pronounced /ɪ/ if rapid. UK/AU typically keep a crisp /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/ with stronger /dʒ/ and a shorter /ɪ/ before the nasal; rhoticity is minimal in non-rhotic accents, affecting preceding r not involved here. Overall, vowel height and quality are similar; the main variance is in speed and fluency of /dʒ/ and the timing of the final nasal. Listen to regional readings to calibrate subtly: Cambridge dictionary audio, Forvo, or YouGlish samples for UK/AU.” ,
Two chal lenges: (a) The affricate /dʒ/ requires a quick, controlled release; if you slide into a plain /j/ or /z/, the word loses its clarity. (b) The final -ing with /ŋ/ can be tricky for speakers with difficulty producing velar nasals or when bilingual; ensure your tongue relaxes at the back of the mouth and the soft palate is closed. Tips: practice the /dʒ/ in isolation as /d͡ʒ/ with a short burst, then attach the /ɪŋ/, and finally blend the three into /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/.
A unique feature is maintaining the crisp clarity of the affricate /dʒ/ when connected in rapid speech. In fast speech, some speakers reduce the /ɪ/ to a schwa-like feel, yielding /ˈeɪdʒn/; you should consciously maintain /ɪ/ for accuracy in careful speech. In practice, keep slow, then speed up while keeping the /dʒ/ distinct and the final /ŋ/ closed. This habit makes your pronunciation natural and intelligible in professional contexts.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "ageing"!
- Shadowing: listen to native readings of the sentence containing ageing and repeat in real time. - Minimal pairs: age- cage, page-age, day-age; drill to sharpen /dʒ/ and /eɪ/. - Rhythm: maintain stress on first syllable; keep a quick, light transition to the second syllable. - Stress: aging/ageing in British context has two syllables; keep the primary stress on the first. - Recording: record yourself saying ageing in different contexts; compare with native samples. - Context practice: read two sentences about ageing population and cheese ageing; adjust intonation accordingly.
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