3 syllables: com, ment, ing. Stress on com.
/ˈkɑmɛntɪŋ/
commenting is pronounced /ˈkɑmɛntɪŋ/. It has three syllables (com-ment-ing), with the stress on "com". Commenting refers to the act of giving remarks or critiques about something, often in a written or online context. It denotes the process of adding explanatory notes, opinions, or observations. In everyday usage, it can be formal or informal, ranging from constructive feedback to casual replies, and is commonly associated with social media, forums, and collaborative documents.
Say it backCommenting refers to the act of giving remarks or critiques about something, often in a written or online context. It denotes the process of adding explanatory notes, opinions, or observations. In everyday usage, it can be formal or informal, ranging from constructive feedback to casual replies, and is commonly associated with social media, forums, and collaborative documents.
"She spent the afternoon commenting on the project draft to suggest improvements."
"The moderator asked participants to keep commenting to a minimum during the presentation."
"He was busy commenting on every post, which irritated some of the readers."
Pronounce it as /ˈkɒm.ən tɪŋ/ (US: /ˈkɒmən.tɪŋ/). The primary stress falls on the first syllable. Start with /k/ + /ɒ/ (as in 'cot'), then /m/ + a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, and finish with /t/ + /ɪŋ/. In fast speech, the middle vowel may reduce: /ˈkɒmən.tɪŋ/; maintain a clear /t/ release to distinguish from /d/ in casual renditions. Mouth positions: lips neutral to light rounded for /ɒ/, tongue mid-back for /m/, soft contact for /t/. Audio reference: listen to native speech on Pronounce or Forvo.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress and merging /t/ with the following nasal, producing /ˈkɒm.ən.n̩/ or /ˈkɒm.nɪŋ/. Another is pronouncing the second syllable as a full /ɛm/ rather than a reduced /ən/ (e.g., /ˈkɒmˌɛn.tɪŋ/). Correct by keeping primary stress on the first syllable, use a quick, light /ə/ in the second syllable, and ensure the /t/ is released clearly before /ɪŋ/. Practicing with minimal pairs like ‘comment’ and ‘commenting’ helps fix the transition.” ,
In US English, /ˈkɒmənˌtɪŋ/ with a rhotic, schwa-like second syllable and a clear /t/ before the final /ɪŋ/. UK English often features /ˈkɒmənˌtɪŋ/ with non-rhoticity (the /r/ is absent) and a slightly more centralized second syllable; AU tends toward /ˈkɒmənˌtɪŋ/ with more elision and a faster rhythm. Across accents, the stressed first syllable remains stable, but the middle vowel and the treatment of /t/ can vary: some speakers use a flap or a softer /t/, others a precise release. IPA notes: US /ˈkɑːmənˌtɪŋ/ or /ˈkɒmənˌtɪŋ/, UK /ˈkɒmənˌtɪŋ/, AU /ˈkɒmənˌtɪŋ/.
The challenge lies in maintaining the exact sequence: consonant cluster /m-/ followed by /ə/ (often reduced), then a clear /t/ before /ɪŋ/. Native-like rhythm means the second syllable is light and quick, which makes the /t/ release easy to swallow in rapid speech, leading to /ˈkɒmən.nɪŋ/ or /ˈkɒmən tɪŋ/ misfires. Focus on preserving a crisp /t/ release and sustaining even tempo across syllables; use minimal pairs and shadowing to internalize the timing.
The word uniquely blends a stressed initial syllable with a light, unstressed middle syllable and a final -ing that often lands as /-ɪŋ/ rather than /-ɪŋk/. The /t/ is a precise, audible stop in careful speech, but in rapid conversation it can become a soft purred /t/ or even a flap, especially after a short /ə/ vowel. Emphasize maintaining the /t/ release before /ɪŋ/ to ensure clarity of the root verb form 'comment' turning into the present participle.
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Commenting traces to the verb comment, from Middle EnglishCommenten, from Old French commenter, based on Latin comments (‘explanation, commentary’). The root is commend? actually from Latin commentum ‘something to be thought, plan, or note,’ from com- ‘together’ + mentum ‘mind, intention’ through Old French to English. The sense evolution moved from “a thing that is thought or noted” to “a spoken or written remark” and ultimately to the act of adding remarks or notes to another text or discussion. The noun/verb forms coexisted early in English, with comment as a noun and comment[-ing] as the present participle used to describe the action or process of making comments. First known use of the verb form alone appears in Middle English texts around the 14th–15th centuries, though the participial -ing form became standard with the rise of continuous tenses and gerundial usage in the early modern period, aligning with the expansion of written commentary in scholarly and bureaucratic contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "commenting"
-ing sounds
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