2 syllables: chew, ing. Stress on chew.
CHOO-ing
/ˈtʃuɪŋ/
chewing is pronounced CHOO-ing (/ˈtʃuɪŋ/). It has two syllables (chew-ing), with the stress on "chew". Chewing is the action of repeatedly biting and grinding food with the teeth, typically to break it down for swallowing. It involves coordinated jaw movement, lip control, and tongue positioning to move food between teeth. In everyday speech, the word also functions as a gerund describing the act itself or as part of phrases like “chewing gum.”.
Chewing is the action of repeatedly biting and grinding food with the teeth, typically to break it down for swallowing. It involves coordinated jaw movement, lip control, and tongue positioning to move food between teeth. In everyday speech, the word also functions as a gerund describing the act itself or as part of phrases like “chewing gum.”
"- He was chewing on a carrot while thinking about his next move."
"- The dog was chewing a bone for hours."
"- She’s chewing gum and pacing the hallway."
Say /ˈtʃuː.ɪŋ/. Begin with the /tʃ/ as in choo-, then hold a long /uː/ vowel before a soft, quick /ɪ/ and end with the velar nasal /ŋ/. In careful speech, peak on the first syllable with full back-ness of the /uː/ and crisp /tʃ/ release; in rapid speech some speakers blend the /uː/ and /ɪ/, sounding like /ˈtʃuːɪŋ/ with a shorter second vowel. Audio references: you can compare with Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries’ audio for American English.
Common errors include treating /tʃ/ as /s/ or /ʃ/, producing a short /u/ instead of /uː/ before /ɪŋ/, and dropping or softening the final /ŋ/. To correct: ensure a clear /tʃ/ onset, maintain the long /uː/ before the lax /ɪ/ by keeping the tongue high and back, and finish with a distinct velar nasal /ŋ/ by lifting the soft palate and backing the tongue slightly toward the velum. Practice with minimal pairs and record yourself for comparison.
In US, UK, and AU, the initial /tʃ/ is consistent, but vowel quality shifts: US tends to a fuller /uː/ with a slightly open jaw, UK often has a tighter mouth and a marginally shorter /uː/, while AU can show a lighter /tʃ/ release and a more relaxed final /ŋ/. Rhoticity is not a factor here, but vowel duration and lip rounding differ slightly; focus on maintaining the /tʃ/ as a single onset and preserving /uː/ before /ɪŋ/ across all three accents.
The main challenge is coordinating the diphthong /uː/ with the following /ɪ/ before the final /ŋ/, which can cause vowel intrusion or a reduced second syllable in rapid speech. Additionally, timing of the /tʃ/ onset relative to the vowel and the velar nasal /ŋ/ requires precise tongue and jaw posture. People often substitute /tʃ/ with /dʒ/ or shorten the /uː/ in casual speech. Pay attention to jaw openness and keep the /uː/ long before the /ɪŋ/.
Stress is on the first syllable: CHEW-ing. Because chewing is a single-syllable stem with a final -ing form, you maintain strong initial onset and long /uː/ before the /ɪŋ/. Unlike some compounds or gerunds where stress shifts, chewing stays stable: primary stress on the first syllable, with a reduced or unstressed second syllable in rapid phrases. Keeping the first syllable crisp helps intelligibility in connected speech.
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Chewing comes from the Old English word ceowan (to chew, gnaw). The root is related to German kauen and Dutch kauwen, all tied to the Proto-Germanic root keuwaną, meaning to chew or bite. The term evolved from literal chewing activity to extended uses, including metaphorical “chewing over” in thought, which surfaces in literature from Middle English. Over time, the gerund form chewing solidified for both the act and the process, while its noun usage in dentistry, cooking, and social behavior became commonplace in modern English. By the 19th century, chewing described not only food processing but also habits (like chewing gum) and dental contexts. Modern usage spans everyday speech and specialized vocabularies in nutrition, linguistics, and behavioral studies, retaining a clear link to the physical action of grinding with the teeth.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "chewing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "chewing" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "chewing"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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