Beginning is the first part or start of something, often used to refer to the initial stage of a process, event, or period. It can function as a noun or verb (to begin). In usage, it signals onset, inception, or origin, and often carries implications of potential development or progression from that starting point.
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"We discussed the beginning of the project and outlined the goals."
"Her journey began with a single idea, the beginning of something great."
"At the beginning of the meeting, she introduced the agenda."
"The book traces the beginning of the modern language movement across several centuries."
Beginning traces to Old English beginning, from bi- ‘by, at’ + -ginning, cognate with Old English ginnian ‘to begin, to cause to begin.’ It is related to the verb gin, used historically in phrases like ‘to begin’ (to gin to do something). The form -ning is the present participle/gerund suffix that also marks nouns in early Germanic languages, evolving into the modern English nominalization. The semantic arc moves from the act of setting in motion toward the notion of origin and initial phase. In Middle English, beginnynge and beginnyng appear, with the word consolidating its role as both noun and verb. Over time, the pronunciation shifted through Great Vowel Shift influences and general sound changes, stabilizing into the current two-syllable pattern with primary stress on the first syllable. The earliest attestations appear in religious and legal texts, but usage expands in modern times to everyday talk about processes, events, and sequences. First known uses can be traced to old manuscripts and glossaries where the term marks the outset of actions or narratives, reflecting its ongoing centrality in expressing initiation and outset across genres.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "beginning" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "beginning" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "beginning"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Begin-ning is two stresses with a slight secondary rhythm: /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/. The first syllable is light, the second carries primary stress, and the final -ing forms a reduced /-ɪŋ/. Keep the /g/ hard, don’t flop into /dʒ/ in standard American and UK pronunciations; the middle /ɪ/ is the short I as in bit. You’ll produce a quick, clipped first syllable followed by a clear, unstressed -ning: be-GIN-ning.
Common errors include: 1) Missing the second syllable stress and saying be-GINN-ing with stress on the first, 2) Substituting /g/ with a /dʒ/ or blending /ɡn/ into /n/ or /ŋ/ sounds too soon, resulting in be-jin-ing rather than be-GIN-ning, 3) Reducing the middle /ɪ/ into a schwa in casual speech, which weakens the rhythm. To correct: practice with minimal pairs like ‘binning’ vs ‘beginning’ and exaggerate the second syllable during drills, then relax to natural timing.”,
In US, UK, and AU, the outer shape is similar: /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/. The primary stress lands on the second syllable in most varieties. US and UK share a non-rhotic tendency in some fast speech, but beginning remains with clear /ɡ/ and /n/ sequences. AU usually preserves non-rhotic tendencies in broader speech, but in careful pronunciation you’ll keep /ɡɪn/ as in other varieties. The key differences are vowel quality and length, not the core consonant cluster.
The difficulty lies in sustaining the two brief vowels and the compound /ɡn/ cluster: /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ requires a tight, quick transition from /ɡ/ into /ɪ/ and then into /ŋ/. The alveolar nasal follows the /ɡ/, and the final /ŋ/ demands velar closure with nasal release. Beginners often devoice or misplace the second syllable stress, producing be-GIN-ing with weak rhythm, or replace /ɡ/ with /dʒ/. Focus on the slice between /ɡ/ and /ɪ/ and keep the end crisp with a short /ŋ/.
The word is famously two short vowels sandwiched around a strong /ɡ/ and a nasal ending, creating a tight CV.CV.C: be-GIN-ning. The middle /ɪ/ is unstressed yet crucial for natural rhythm; misplacing it shifts emphasis. The sequence /ɡn/ is a common English cluster that can trip learners who expect a separate consonant between /ɡ/ and /n/. Mastery hinges on a clean /ɡ/ onset, an accurate /ɪ/ vowel, and a crisp final /ŋ/.
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