2 syllables: beg, ging. Stress on beg.
BEG-ing
/ˈbɛɡɪŋ/
begging is pronounced BEG-ing (/ˈbɛɡɪŋ/). It has two syllables (beg-ging), with the stress on "beg". Begging refers to the act of asking for help or alms earnestly and humbly, often as an appeal for money or food. It can also describe a pleading tone or manner in requests. In linguistics, it’s a monosyllabic verb form with a voiced -ing suffix, used in various tenses and participial constructions.
Begging refers to the act of asking for help or alms earnestly and humbly, often as an appeal for money or food. It can also describe a pleading tone or manner in requests. In linguistics, it’s a monosyllabic verb form with a voiced -ing suffix, used in various tenses and participial constructions.
"The child was begging for a toy, his eyes hopeful and wide."
"Street musicians were begging for spare change as passersby paused."
"She kept begging the conference organizers to reconsider the deadline."
Say /ˈbɛɡɪŋ/ in US English or /ˈbeɡɪŋ/ in UK/AU English. The emphasis is on the first syllable. Start with a clear bilabial /b/ release, move to the short /e/ as in 'bed', then a hard /g/ release, and end with the nasal /-ɪŋ/. In rapid speech, the /ɡ/ may be slightly softened, but keep a crisp /g/ here to avoid confusion with ‘bed-in’.
Two frequent errors: (1) Dealing with the /ɛ/ vs /e/ vowel; learners may pronounce /beɡɪŋ/ as /bæɡɪŋ/ or /beɡɪn/ dropping the final nasal. Correct it by practicing the mid-front vowel /e/ in ‘bet’ and maintaining the short lax /ɛ/. (2) Final -ing clitic: speakers sometimes insert a vowel before the final /ŋ/ or reduce the /ɡ/ into a /k/ sound; ensure you release /g/ fully before the velar nasal /ŋ/ with a light nasal closure.
US: /ˈbɛɡɪŋ/ with a tenser /ɛ/ and fuller /ɡ/ release. UK/AU: /ˈbeɡɪŋ/ often with a slightly higher vowel in the first syllable and a softer /g/ by some speakers. The rhoticity does not affect this word (both varieties are non-rhotic in coda position but /ɡ/ remains). Listening for subtle vowel height differences and the timing of the /ɡ/ release helps distinguish accents.
The difficulty centers on the short, lax vowel /ɛ/ versus /e/ in different accents and the crisp bilabial stop /b/ followed by a hard /g/ release into the velar nasal /ŋ/. Learners often blend the /g/ with the following nasal or drop the /g/ entirely in casual speech. Focus on isolating /b/ + /ɛ/ + /g/ + /ɪŋ/ with proper timing and a firm /g/ release before the /ŋ/.
The word uniquely combines a strong initial stressed syllable with a single consonant cluster /bɛɡ/ before the nasal /-ɪŋ/. The challenge is maintaining the exact placement of the /g/ before the nasal and avoiding the tendency to elide the /g/ in rapid speech. Practicing with minimally pairs that highlight the /g/ + /ɪŋ/ transition, such as ‘beggin’ vs ‘begging’, helps sharpen accuracy.
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Begging derives from Old English beggan, related to beg and to the verb began, from Proto-Germanic *bigjanan, from Proto-Indo-European root *bheg- meaning to make sick or to bend, bow, or to beg. The semantic shift from ‘to ask’ to ‘to entreat’ emerges in Middle English usage, with beggen evolving into the modern gerund -ing form in the late medieval period. The word has long coexisted with related terms such as implore and entreat, but it retained a strong social connotation of necessity and supplication. By the 16th century, begging as a noun (the act or practice) was well established, appearing in religious, social, and literary contexts. Its usage broadened from literal alms-seeking to figurative pleading. The stability of the form -ing reflects its ongoing use as a present participle and gerund, compatible with periphrastic constructions and progressive tenses across English dialects. First known written attestations appear in Middle English religious and civic texts, with more explicit usage in Early Modern English drama and prose where beg, begged, and begging appear as common verbs for supplication or beseechment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "begging" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "begging"
-ing sounds
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