3 syllables: con, cern, ing. Stress on cern.
kuhn-SUR-ning
/kəˈnsɝnɪŋ/
concerning is pronounced kuhn-SUR-ning (/kəˈnsɝnɪŋ/). It has three syllables (con-cern-ing), with the stress on "cern". Concerning is a multisyllabic word used as an adjective or preposition to indicate relevance or relation to a subject, or as a verb meaning to cause worry. In discourse it commonly introduces topics or issues, with nuance depending on context. When used as a preposition, it often pairs with a noun to signal related concerns; as an adjective it can describe matters of interest or relevance.
Concerning is a multisyllabic word used as an adjective or preposition to indicate relevance or relation to a subject, or as a verb meaning to cause worry. In discourse it commonly introduces topics or issues, with nuance depending on context. When used as a preposition, it often pairs with a noun to signal related concerns; as an adjective it can describe matters of interest or relevance.
"The report contains several points concerning climate policy."
"There were several questions concerning the new regulations."
"Concerning the budget, there are a few items we need to discuss."
Pronunciation: US /kənˈsɜrnl/ (colloquial: kən-SUR-ning) or /kənˈsɜrnɪŋ/ with clear syllable break after the second syllable; UK: /kənˈsɜːnɪŋ/; AU: /kənˈsɜːnɪŋ/ with vowel quality similar to UK. Primary stress on the second syllable: con-SER-ning. Keep the /ˈsɜr/ sequence distinct, and end with /ŋ/ for the -ing. Listen for the /r/ in rhotic accents; you’ll hear a clearer rhotic in US and AU, softer or non-rhotic in some UK varieties. Audio tip: place the tongue mid-high for /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ and maintain a relaxed jaw.
Common errors: 1) Reducing the second syllable too much, producing con-SUR-ning without the clear /ɜːr/ or /ɜr/ sequence. 2) Merging the /r/ with the following vowel in non-rhotic speakers, yielding a weaker /r/ or silent r. 3) Misplacing stress as con-CERN-ing or con-sur-NING. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with /ˈsɜːr/ and pronounce the ending /-nɪŋ/ clearly; use a light but audible /ɹ/ in rhotic accents. Practice with minimal pairs to lock the /ɜr/ chunk and a full -ing ending.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ pronounced; clear /ɜr/ in the second syllable; mid-to-high vowels; final -ing pronounced /ɪŋ/ with a reduced vowel sometimes. UK: non-rhotic or weaker /r/ in some dialects; second syllable uses /ɜː/ with less rhotic coloring; final -ing often shorter; AU: rhotic tendencies vary; often similar to US with a slightly higher, framed /ɜː/ in some regions, but generally rhotic enough in educated speech. Ensure you maintain the /ˈsɜːr/ or /ˈsɜːr/ sequences for UK/AU where the r may be less pronounced. IPA notes reflect dialectal variation; focus on the second syllable vowel quality and rhoticity.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster and the mid-central vowel /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ in the second syllable, followed by a clear /ŋ/ ending. Non-native speakers often reduce the /ɜ/ vowel or drop the rhotic /r/ in non-rhotic varieties, blurring the /ˈsɜr/ sequence. Additionally, stress placement on the second syllable can be mis-specified, leading to con-CER-ning or con-sern-ING. Focused practice on the /ˈsɜr/ chunk and a precise /ŋ/ keeps the word crisp in connected speech.
There are no silent letters in concerning. The word is phonemically /kənˈsɜr nɪŋ/ in US/UK, with primary stress on the second syllable. The -ing ending is not silent; it carries the final syllable with /ŋ/. Stress consistently falls on the syllable containing /ˈsɜr/; you do not shorten it into a weak form in careful speech. Maintain a clear onset in the second syllable and avoid truncating the /ˈsɜr/ cluster.
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Concerning originates from the verb concern, which itself comes from the Old French concerner, from con- (together) + cernere (to distinguish, separate, decide). The sense evolved from signaling attention or regard to a matter, toward describing something with relevance or affecting someone’s interests. In Middle English, forms closer to “concerne” appeared, rooted in Latin con- (together) and cernere (to sift, distinguish). Over time, the usage broadened: as an adjective meaning “relevant,” as a preposition introducing topics, and as a verb meaning to affect or to worry. By the modern era, “concerning” appeared in two syntactic roles: a participial adjective modifying nouns (concerning issues) and a preposition meaning “about” or “relating to” (informal or formal registries). First known written uses surface in legal and scholarly texts from the 14th–15th centuries, with a steady presence in policy documents, journalism, and academia, evolving in cadence and degree of formality depending on the register. The word has maintained a consistent core meaning related to relevance or affect, while its form has allowed flexible placement in sentences, from lead clauses to parenthetical remarks. Its etymology reflects a longstanding English tendency to morph verbs into adjectives and prepositions to condense relationships between topics and statements.
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Words that rhyme with "concerning"
-ing sounds
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