3 syllables: con, dens, ing. Stress on dens.
/kəˈndɛnsɪŋ/
condensing is pronounced /kəˈndɛnsɪŋ/. It has three syllables (con-dens-ing), with the stress on "dens". Condensing refers to reducing something from a larger volume or scope to a smaller, more concentrated form, often by removing water or unnecessary material. It can also describe the process of gathering ideas or information into a concise, compact version. The term is used in science (gas to liquid), journalism, and everyday speech to imply efficiency and condensation of content or form.
Say it backCondensing refers to reducing something from a larger volume or scope to a smaller, more concentrated form, often by removing water or unnecessary material. It can also describe the process of gathering ideas or information into a concise, compact version. The term is used in science (gas to liquid), journalism, and everyday speech to imply efficiency and condensation of content or form.
"The chef is condensing the sauce to intensify its flavor."
"She’s condensing multiple interviews into a single, cohesive summary."
"In the lab, the gas is cooled until it condenses into a liquid."
Pronounce as /kənˈdɛn·sɪŋ/ in US/UK/AU. Primary stress on the second syllable; the first syllable is unstressed. Sounds: kən- (unstressed schwa + k) + DENT- (pressed short E as in “pen”) + -sing (rhymes with “sing”). Practice: start with a light, quick unstressed pre-stem and then hit the strong /ˈdɛn/ before the final /sɪŋ/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (putting stress on the first syllable con-DEN-sing or on the third element), pronouncing the /d/ too softly as a t-like stop, and turning /sɪŋ/ into /zɪŋ/. Correction: keep the /ˈdɛn/ syllable clearly stressed, use a voiced /d/ rather than a devoiced /t/, and maintain a clear /s/ before the final /ɪŋ/ with no extra vowel. Practice with minimal pairs like condense vs condensing to feel the stress shift.
US: /kənˈdɛn.sɪŋ/ with rhotic /r/ not involved; UK: /kənˈdɛn.sɪŋ/ similar but vowel qualities slightly shorter and crisper; AU: /kənˈdɛn.sɪŋ/ may feature broader vowels in the first syllable and non-rhotic tendencies still minimal here; overall the main stress on the second syllable remains stable across accents.
Difficult due to the cluster after the stressed syllable: /ˈdɛn.sɪŋ/ requires a quick transition from /d/ to /s/ before the final nasal /ɪŋ/. Also the unstressed first syllable /kən/ uses a weak schwa that can blur into /ə/ or /ɪ/ in rapid speech. Getting a clean /d/ followed by a crisp /s/ in a single breath takes practice, especially at natural speed.
No, condensing is fully phonemically complete with no silent letters. All letters represent sounds: /k/ or /k/ variant in c, /ə/ in the first syllable, /d/ in the stressed syllable, /ɛn/ vowel-consonant, /s/ before the -ing, and /ɪŋ/ final. The challenge lies in stress and smooth transitions rather than silent letters.
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- US: R-rich tendencies are not relevant here; focus on a clear /ɪ/ in -ing and a strong /dɛn/ cluster. - UK: Slightly crisper /t/ avoidance; keep the /d/ voiced; vowels a bit tighter. - AU: Vowels can be broader; keep schwa /ə/ reduced but audible; maintain non-rhotic readiness but not overaccenting the R. Use IPA references to monitor vowel quality and rhotic absence.
Condense comes from the Latin condensus, past participle of condere meaning “to put together, to compact, to bring together.” The prefix con- means “together,” and dens- derives from densare/densus meaning “to make dense, thick.” The modern sense of condensing as “making more compact” evolved in the 17th century with scientific usage (gas to liquid, liquids condense). By the 18th–19th centuries, condense broadened to metaphorical usage: shortening prose, compressing information, and summarizing content. The -ing suffix marks the present participle/gerund form, indicating ongoing action. First known uses appear in scientific treatises discussing condensation in physics and chemistry, then moving into general English to describe any process of making something denser, smaller, or more concise.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "condensing" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "condensing"
-ing sounds
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