3 syllables: at, tend, ing. Stress on tend.
uh-TEN-ding
/əˈtɛndɪŋ/
attending is pronounced uh-TEN-ding (/əˈtɛndɪŋ/). It has three syllables (at-tend-ing), with the stress on "tend". Attending is the act of being present at an event or gathering, or the ongoing process of paying attention or taking part in something. In everyday use it often functions as a verb form (attending) or participial descriptor (attending physician), conveying activeness and immediacy in participation. It carries neutral formality and spans contexts from schedules and conferences to social occasions and professional care.
Attending is the act of being present at an event or gathering, or the ongoing process of paying attention or taking part in something. In everyday use it often functions as a verb form (attending) or participial descriptor (attending physician), conveying activeness and immediacy in participation. It carries neutral formality and spans contexts from schedules and conferences to social occasions and professional care.
"She is attending a conference this week and will present findings."
"He will be attending the meeting remotely due to travel."
"The attending physician reviewed the patient’s chart before rounds."
Pronounce as /əˈtɛn.dɪŋ/ in US/UK/AU. Start with a weak schwa in the first syllable, then stress the second syllable: 'TEN' as in ten, then a quick 'ding' with a soft d. The final -ing is a typical -ɪŋ ending. Mouth: relaxed lips, neutral jaw, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge for the 't' and 'n' separation, then the 'd' is voiced, and the final 'ŋ' is produced with the back of the tongue against the soft palate. Listen for the smooth linking between -tɛn- and -dɪŋ in fluent speech.
Two frequent errors: 1) Saying 'a-TE-ning' with strong stress on the first syllable; correct is secondary stress on the first syllable and primary on the second: /əˈtɛn.dɪŋ/. 2) De-voicing or flattening the final -ŋ into an -n or -g; aim for the velar nasal /ŋ/. Correction: keep the mouth rounded and back of tongue raised for /ŋ/, and finish with a crisp, voiced /d/ before it. Practicing with a slowed tempo helps lock the rhythm: /əˈtɛn.dɪŋ/.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary difference is vowel quality and rhoticity. US /əˈtɛn.dɪŋ/ is rhotic but often with a more relaxed /ˈten/ reduction in fast speech. UK RP tends to a slightly shorter, crisper /əˈten.dɪŋ/ with less vocalic length and still a clear /t/. Australian generally keeps /əˈten.dɪŋ/ with a closer to central vowel in the first syllable and less pronounced rhoticity, sometimes a softer /ɪŋ/ ending. Overall, the rhythm and stress pattern remain the same, but vowel timing and consonant clarity shift subtly.
The challenge lies in the vowel reduction and the rapid transition from /t/ to /d/ before the /ɪ/ and /ŋ/ consonants, which creates a subtle glide and a quick syllable boundary. The sequence /tɛn.dɪŋ/ requires precise tongue placement for the alveolar /t/ and /d/ and maintaining a clean velar nasal /ŋ/. Also, forward stress on the second syllable can feel unnatural if you’re not comfortable with multi-syllable trochaic patterns. Practice helps synchronize timing and muscular coordination.
Consider how you transition from the tense alveolar plosives /t/ and /d/ to the nasal /ŋ/. This creates a quick consonant cluster with a velar nasal; minds often expect a stronger end of -ing. Focus on keeping your tongue high for /ŋ/, soften the preceding /d/ slightly to avoid a heavy stop, and ensure the syllable boundary remains clear. Practicing with minimal pairs like 'attending' vs 'attend' can reveal the difference in final consonant release and vowel length.
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Attending derives from the verb attend, which traces to Old French atendre, from Latin attendere, meaning to stretch toward or give heed. The root at- (toward) combined with tendere (to stretch or strive) formed attendere (to attend, attend to, attend upon). In Middle English, attenden appeared with senses of paying attention, being present, or waiting upon someone. Over centuries, the word evolved to include both the sense of presence at a location (attending a ceremony) and the sense of care or service, as in attending to a patient. The present participle attending emerged to describe ongoing action, and in professional titles such as attending physician, it shifts toward a descriptor indicating current responsibility or status. First known uses appear in medieval texts referencing attentiveness and service, with later 17th–19th century adoption in medical and formal contexts expanding metaphorically to mean being present and involved. Modern usage commonly pairs with events (attending a conference) or professional positions (attending physician), retaining the core sense of directed attention and active presence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "attending" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "attending" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "attending"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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