Amortizing refers to the process of distributing the cost of an asset or a loan over a period of time through periodic payments or charges, so that each installment reduces the principal. It emphasizes systematic expense recognition and debt payoff rather than lump-sum payment. This term is common in finance and accounting contexts, particularly when describing loan amortization or asset depreciation schedules.
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- Commonly, learners substitute a short /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ in the /ɔːr/ sequence, producing /æmɔrtiˈzɪŋ/ instead of /əˈmɔːrtɪzɪŋ/. Remedy: elongate the /ɔː/ and ensure r-colored vowel after /m/; keep the /r/ non-silent in rhotic accents. - Another frequent error is misplacing stress, causing “amor-TIZ-ing” or “a-MOR-ti-zing.” Remedy: feel the beat on the second syllable with a longer /ɔːr/ and a crisp /t/. - The final -ing can be delivered as /-ɪŋ/ or /-ɪzɪŋ/ if the following consonant cluster is fast; ensure a clean /z/ is avoided unless the following sound is voiced. Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation, then speed up over time. - Other slips include buttering the first syllable into “am” with a schwa that’s too short; hold a neutral schwa and then move to the stressed /ˈmɔːr/. Use minimal pairs to lock in the middle vowels and r-coloring.
- US: Anchor /ə/ as a true schwa; keep /ɹ/ rhotic; /ɔːr/ should be a rounded, elongated vowel before the /t/; /zɪŋ/ ending should be crisp with a soft /z/ in the transition if pronouncing /ˈmɔːrtɪzɪŋ/. - UK: Often non-rhotic; /əˈmɔːtɪzɪŋ/ may occur with a shorter /ɔː/ and less rhoticity; keep a clear short /ɪ/ before /z/; stress on MOR. - AU: More flexible vowel length; /æmɔːtəˌraɪzɪŋ/ may be heard as /æmɔːtəraɪzɪŋ/ with subtle /ɹ/; ensure distinct syllable emphasis and a stable /ɪ/ or /aɪ/ before the final /ŋ/. - General tips: keep the tongue at the alveolar ridge for the /t/ release, avoid t-glottalization, and don’t let the final /ŋ/ pull away from the preceding /ɪ/ or /aɪ/. Use IPA references to verify vowel quality in your target accent.
"The company is amortizing the loan over 20 years to manage cash flow."
"We’ll be amortizing the software license cost monthly to align with usage."
"The asset’s value is being amortized, while its servicing costs are expensed."
"Tax specialists discussed amortizing the intangible asset to optimize deductions."
Amortize derives from French amortir, which itself comes from Late Latin amortizare, meaning to give a portion or allot. In older English, amortize existed in various spellings linked to “to put to use gradually” or “to allot payments.” By the 16th–17th centuries, financial usage shifted toward distributing the cost of assets or loans over time. The root am- “on, at” plus mort- “death” is historically argued in some languages, but in French amortir is to reduce or tax gradually; the metaphorical “death” of the debt occurs as principal is paid down. The specialized business sense emerged with 18th–19th century accounting practices, reflecting structured repayment plans. In modern finance, amortization describes both the reduction of loan principal and the systematic expensing of intangible assets, while historically, depreciation for tangible assets used different terms. First known usages appear in financial treatises and legal documents detailing repayment schedules and capital recovery over long horizons.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "amortizing" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "amortizing"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronunciation: /əˈmɔːrtɪzaɪŋ/ in US, /ˌæmɔːtaɪzɪŋ/ in UK, /ˈæmɔːtəˌraɪzɪŋ/ in AU. Primary stress on second syllable (mor- as in mor-t). Start with schwa in the first syllable, then a stressed /ˈmɔːr/, followed by /tɪz/ or /tə/ depending on accent, and ending with /ɪŋ/. Mouth position: lips relaxed at start, move to rounded for /ɔː/; tongue high-mid for /ɔː/; tip of tongue to alveolar for /t/; glide into /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. Audio resources: consult Pronounce, Forvo, YouGlish for real samples.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress by saying “amor-TIZ-ing” or “AM-or-ti- zing” instead of /əˈmɔːrtɪzɪŋ/. 2) Mispronouncing the /ɔːr/ as a short /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ leading to /æmɔːtəzaɪŋ/. 3) Attaching a hard /z/ or flipping /t/ and /z/ sounds. Correction tips: place primary stress on the second syllable with a clear /ɔːr/ vowel; ensure the /t/ is an unaspirated stop then a light /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. Practice with minimal pairs like “mortgage” vs “mortgage-ing” to feel the r-colored vowel and distribution of consonants.
US tends to reduce to schwa in the first syllable: /əˈmɔːrtɪzɪŋ/, with a rhotacized /ˈmɔːr/; UK often uses /ˌæmɔːtaɪzɪŋ/ with less rhotic influence and clearer /t/ before /ɪ/; AU typically /ˈæmɔːtəˌraɪzɪŋ/ with more pronounced syllable-timing and a longer /aɪ/ in the final syllable. Pay attention to rhoticity differences: US/Rhotic, UK less rhotic in some speakers, AU variable. Ensure the /ɔːr/ sequence is smooth and the alveolar plosive /t/ is released before the /ɪŋ/ or /zaɪŋ/ depending on the accent. IPA guides help anchor the vowels in each variant.
The difficulty lies in the combination of a mid-back rounded /ɔː/ vowel followed by a rhotic /r/ cluster in US English and the /t/ that is released before a vowel-influenced /ɪ/ or /aɪ/ before the final /ŋ/. The shifting stress pattern (secondary on the first or third syllable in various dialects) and the subtle vowel length differences across accents add challenge. You’ll overcome this by isolating the /ˈmɔːr/ portion, practicing the /t/ release, and aligning final /ɪŋ/ with a light velar nasal.
A unique tip is to anchor the sound by practicing the sequence am-or-ti-zing with a slow, pulse-like rhythm: ah-MOR-ti-zing. Start with /əˈmɔːr/ then attach /tɪz/ or /taɪz/ depending on accent, ending with /ɪŋ/. Visualize your mouth forming a rounded front vowel /ɔː/ while the tongue approaches the alveolar ridge for /t/. Use a mirror to ensure your lips aren’t rounding too much on the /ə/ initial and that the /r/ is there without overemphasizing it in non-rhotic accents.
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- Shadowing: listen to fast, natural-speech recordings of amortizing and shadow at 1x, then 0.75x, 0.5x to lock rhythm. Repeat until flow is natural. - Minimal pairs: compare amortizing with “amortize” (no final -ing), “mortizing” (mortify vs amortize; note the /z/ vs /s/ sounds), and “marrying” (different final -ing timing and vowel) to anchor vowel and consonant transitions. - Rhythm practice: practice with a metronome at 60 BPM and gradually increase to 90–110 BPM; count accents in 4-beat phrases: a-moR-ti-zing, with intended stress on MOR. - Stress patterns: stress on the second syllable; practice shifting stress to test your loudness and vowel length. - Recording: record yourself; compare with native speakers; focus on the /ɔːr/ vowels and crisp /t/ release before /zɪŋ/. - Context practice: use amortizing in sentences to reinforce phrase-level pronunciation and intonation. - Speed progression: start slow, then move to natural pace; end with 2 context sentences to simulate real use.
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