One syllable: brink.
/ˈbɹɪŋk/
Say it backA noun or verb referring to the edge or threshold of a surface or area, where one thing is about to change to another. It often conveys a sense of danger or imminent change, as in “on the brink of collapse.” In verb use, to brink is to come to the edge or verge of something. It is often paired with phrases like brink of, at the brink.
"She stood on the brink of the cliff, the waves crashing far below."
"The company teetered on the brink of bankruptcy after the failed merger."
"We were on the brink of a breakthrough when the data error appeared."
Pronounce as one syllable: /brɪŋk/. Start with a voiced bilabial /b/, then a short lax vowel /ɪ/ as in “bit,” followed by the velar nasal /ŋ/ (like "sing"), ending with the voiceless alveolar stop /k/. The tongue rises to the velum for /ŋ/, then quickly hits /k/. Stress is on the single syllable word. See your audio reference for a quick comparison: /brɪŋk/.
Two common errors: (1) De-voicing or weakening the /ŋ/ and /k/ cluster, producing a weaker final sound; ensure a crisp /ŋk/ release. (2) Confusing with /brɪŋ/ or /brɪnk/ without clearly releasing /k/. Practice by saying 'bring' and then adding the /k/ release to create the /ŋk/ cluster. Focus on keeping a short /ɪ/ and ensuring the tongue tip closes for /k/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps fix this: brink vs bring.
In US and UK, /brɪŋk/ is similar, with rhoticity affecting surrounding vowels in connected speech. US speakers may have a slightly tenser /ɪ/ and faster /ŋk/ release, while UK speakers may exhibit a more clipped /ɪ/ and clearer /k/ release. Australian speech often features a more centralized vowel before /ŋ/ but still maintains /ŋk/ ending; you may hear a slightly neuter /ɪ/ quality. Overall, the base sound remains /brɪŋk/ across accents, with minor vowel length and timing variations.
The difficulty lies in the /ŋk/ cluster at the end, which combines a velar nasal with a voiceless stop without a vowel in between. This requires precise tongue positioning: the tongue elevates to the velum for /ŋ/ and then pivots quickly to contact the soft palate for /k/. The brief release of /k/ after /ŋ/ can be tricky in rapid speech or when the following vowel begins, so many speakers blur the stop. Mastery comes from practicing the clean /ŋk/ closure and release.
Brink hinges on a crisp, compact onset with /br-/ and a compact offglide. A unique feature is maintaining a tight but relaxed jaw to sustain the short /ɪ/ vowel while allowing the final /ŋk/ to be released with a strong, quick burst. You’ll hear the contrast between the closed jaw for /ɪ/ and the rapid, almost immediate /ŋk/ release. This keeps the word from sounding like /brɪŋ/ or /brɪnk/ without the final stop.
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US: /brɪŋk/ with a relatively flat vowel; crisp /ŋk/ release. UK: /brɪŋk/ but slightly more clipped; may sound lighter with less tension in lips. AU: /brɪŋk/ with a more centralized vowel before /ŋ/ and sometimes a softer /k/ release. Across all, maintain rhoticity in surrounding vowels when present; focus on the final stop clarity and voicing of /ŋ/. Use IPA for guidance and practice with native speakers.
Brink comes from Middle English brink/ brink(e), likely from Old English brync or brink; related to the Scandinavian word bryning and the German Brücke (bridge) in some analyses, though it is not a direct cognate with bridge. The earliest senses referred to the edge of a surface, particularly a riverbank or a ridge. Over time, the term broadened to the figurative “edge of a dangerous or critical situation,” as in “on the brink of disaster.” The usage expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe thresholds of change or action, such as political or social brinkmanship. The semantic core centers on proximity to a boundary that signals transition, danger, or potential change, and remains common in both literal and metaphorical contexts today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "brink" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "brink" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "brink"
-ink sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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