Amazing is an adjective meaning exceptionally good or impressive. It commonly describes something that inspires wonder or admiration. In everyday use, it can express enthusiasm or surprise, and it often appears in both casual and formal contexts to emphasize quality or experience.
- You: 2-3 bullet points about common pronunciation mistakes: • Stress position often shifts to the first syllable in haste; aim for the second syllable stress /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/ instead of /ˈæm.eɪ.zɪŋ/. • Sloppy /z/ and /ŋ/ connection; ensure a distinct /z/ before the velar nasal; avoid /zɪŋ/ turning into /zɪŋ/ without clear onset. • Vowel clarity in /eɪ/; avoid reducing to /e/ or misplacing lip rounding; practice the /eɪ/ as a glide from schwa to /eɪ/.
- US: rhotic, crisp /r/ avoidance; expect stronger vowel energy on the second syllable; /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/ with a clear /z/ onset. - UK: non-rhotic tendencies; slightly tighter vowels on /ə/ and /eɪ/; more precise consonants; maintain strong /z/ release. - AU: often relaxed vocalization; similar to US in rhotic models; keep /ə/ stable;-diphthong /eɪ/ remains prominent. IPA: /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/ for all major varieties, with minor vowel quality adjustments.
"The view from the summit was amazing, unfolding into a panorama of mountains and sky."
"Her performance was amazing, leaving the audience breathless."
"That new smartphone is amazing; the battery lasts all day."
"It's amazing how quickly you picked up the language you started learning last year."
Amazing derives from the verb amaze, which traces to the Middle English amasen, formed from a- (on, at) + masen (to cause to marvel) and ultimately from the Old English gemæsan (to amaze, to astonish). The root idea centers on filling someone with wonder or surprise. The -ing suffix marks the present participle/gerund form and, when used as an adjective, conveys the sense of causing awe. In Early Modern English, amaze evolved into an adjective describing extraordinary quality, with usage expanding in devotional and literary contexts before becoming common in contemporary speech. The word’s semantic field has consistently hovered around surprise, wonder, and high praise, with frequencies increasing alongside popular culture’s emphasis on extraordinary experiences. First known uses appear in Middle English texts, with linguistic development attesting to the shift from a verb-driven meaning (to astonish) to an attributive adjective describing people, objects, or events as remarkable or awe-inspiring.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Amazing" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Amazing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Amazing" 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 "Amazing"
-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.
Say ah-MAY-zing with primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/. Begin with a neutral schwa, glide into the /eɪ/ diphthong, then a clear /zɪŋ/ ending. Think of the mouth closing slightly before the /z/ and finishing with a soft /ŋ/. Audio sources you can check include Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries showing /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/.
Common errors: 1) Placing stress on the first syllable (ə-MAY-zing) - fix by practicing the second-syllable emphasis with a faint breath before /ˈmeɪ/. 2) Slurring the /z/ into /ŋ/ (z of /zɪŋ/ should be distinct; avoid /ɪŋ/ running into /ŋ/). 3) Mispronouncing /eɪ/ as /ɛ/ (keep the long /eɪ/ vowel quality. Use a light glide from /ə/ to /eɪ/).
US/UK/AU all share /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/ but differ subtly: US tends to clearer /z/ and a slightly reduced initial vowel; UK often crisper consonants and a tighter /ɪ/ in the final syllable; AU may have a more centralized, relaxed /ə/ and a slightly broader /eɪ/ glide. Pay attention to rhoticity: US and AU are rhotic; UK often non-rhotic in some varieties, but with American-linked bonding in connected speech. IPA references align with /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/.
Key challenges: the two-syllable rhythm with secondary vowel reductions; the /ˈmeɪ/ diphthong requires a precise glide from schwa to /eɪ/ without breaking; the /z/ followed by /ɪŋ/ demands consonant clarity and timely voicing onset. The combination of a reduced initial vowel and a high-energy middle syllable can lead to mis-stress or a muffled /z/; focusing on the stressed second syllable and crisp /z/ helps.
Does the 'am-' prefix in 'amazed' affect pronunciation in 'amazing'? No, the base pronunciation /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/ remains consistent. The related form 'amazed' is /əˈmeɪzd/ or /əˈmeɪzd/ depending on region, but when adding -ing, the final -ing is pronounced /-zɪŋ/ due to the preceding /z/. This makes the word sound like a single, steady beat in connected speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Amazing"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker say a sentence with 'amazing' and repeat immediately, matching rhythm and intonation; aim for 2-4 milliseconds of lag. - Minimal pairs: exaggerate the difference between /æ/ and /ə/; focus on the /eɪ/ glide. Pairs: amazing vs amazing? Try: 'amazing' vs 'amusage' (nonsense) to feel the difference; Another good pairing: /əˈmeɪ.zɪŋ/ vs /əˈmɒ.zɪŋ/ in UK non-rhotic accents, though UK final syllable remains /zɪŋ/. - Rhythm: practice with 3-beat groups: a-MA-zing, with a light pause after the second syllable to emphasize the word’s stress pattern. - Stress practice: apply primary stress on the second syllable; use clapping to count 1-2-3 for the syllables. - Recording: use your phone to record; compare with a reputable pronunciation resource and note any gaps.
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