3 syllables: con, front, ing. Stress on front.
kuhn-FRUHN-ting
/kənˈfɹʌntɪŋ/
confronting is pronounced kuhn-FRUHN-ting (/kənˈfɹʌntɪŋ/). It has three syllables (con-front-ing), with the stress on "front". Confronting is the present participle or gerund form of confront, meaning facing or challenging someone or something directly. It often implies a direct, sometimes difficult, engagement or debate. In usage, it can describe actions that bring issues to light or stand up to a situation, typically in formal or semi-formal contexts.
Confronting is the present participle or gerund form of confront, meaning facing or challenging someone or something directly. It often implies a direct, sometimes difficult, engagement or debate. In usage, it can describe actions that bring issues to light or stand up to a situation, typically in formal or semi-formal contexts.
"She is confronting the manager about the unresolved complaint."
"The documentary is confronting viewers with uncomfortable truths."
"They will be confronting the issue head-on during the meeting."
Pronounce as /kənˈfrʌn.tɪŋ/. The primary stress is on the second syllable ‘FRUNT,’ with an unstressed initial ‘kuhn.’ The sequence is a light k plus schwa, then the stressed /frʌn/ (as in 'frunt' with a short /ʌ/ sound), followed by a clear /tɪŋ/. In careful speech, the t is pronounced; in casual speech, it may be a light d or a flap in connected speech.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable, producing coNFRONTing instead of conFRONTing. 2) Weakening the /t/ into a quick /d/ or flapping in American speech, which can blur confrontation of syllables. 3) Substituting /ʌ/ with /æ/ or /ə/. Correct by practicing the /frʌn/ cluster with a clear alveolar stop before -tɪŋ and keeping the /t/ audible.
US: strong rhoticity with clear /ɹ/ and a pronounced /ɪŋ/ in -ing endings; UK: non-rhotic feel, stable /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker, but /frʌn/ remains similar; AU: vowel reductions vary, but /kənˈfrʌn.tɪŋ/ remains close to US/UK, with a tendency toward broader vowel sounds and sometimes slight flattening of /ɜːr/ in neighboring words. The key is the second syllable stress and the /frʌn/ cluster.
The difficulty lies in the middle syllable cluster /frʌn/ which requires a precise /f/ followed by /r/ and a short tense vowel /ʌ/. Many learners insert an extra syllable or misplace stress, and the final -ing adds a soft /ɪŋ/ that can blur if the /t/ isn't fully released. Focus on maintaining a strong but not overly aspirated /t/ and crisp /n/ before the /ɪŋ/.
A distinctive feature is the /frʌn/ onset immediately after the unstressed syllable, which creates a rapid switch in tongue position: from a relaxed /kən/ to a compact /frʌn/. Keeping the mouth in a compact shape for /frʌn/ helps prevent a rushed or muted /tɪŋ/. The contrast between an unstressed leading syllable and a stressed, high-energy /frʌn/ makes this word particularly punchy in fluent speech.
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US vs UK vs AU: - US speakers tend to have a pronounced /ɹ/ and clearer rhoticity; /ɪŋ/ often chunks with /t/ for a crisper ending. - UK speakers may retain a more rounded vowel in nearby words; stress remains on the second syllable with a clear /frʌn/; - AU speakers can show subtler vowel shifts but keep the same stress pattern. IPA: US / kənˈfrʌn.tɪŋ /, UK / kənˈfrɒn.tɪŋ / or / kənˈfrʌn.tɪŋ /, AU / kənˈfrɒn.tɪŋ /. (Note: final vowel quality can vary by region.)
Confronting originates from the late Middle English word confronten, which itself comes from the Old French confronter, composed of con- (with, together) and front (face, surface). The semantic core has long been about bringing two surfaces to bear upon each other—placing two parties or ideas in direct opposition. The sense expanded through the 16th-18th centuries as legal and rhetorical language often described confronting evidence, arguments, or opposing figures in a battleground of ideas. The modern English verb confront (to face up to) emerged with similar roots, and -ing as a present participle/gerund form yields confronting as an ongoing action or a noun-like gerund in sentences like “confronting the issue.” First attested forms appeared in Middle English texts reflecting French influences; by Early Modern English, confronting was common in both legal/Rhetorical and everyday contexts, and now it’s widely used in journalism, psychology, and everyday speech. The word carries connotations of directness, assertiveness, and sometimes conflict—an expectation of immediacy in addressing challenges.
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Words that rhyme with "confronting"
-ing sounds
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