3 syllables: con, test, ing. Stress on test.
kuhn-TES-ting
/kəˈntɛstɪŋ/
contesting is pronounced kuhn-TES-ting (/kəˈntɛstɪŋ/). It has three syllables (con-test-ing), with the stress on "test". Contesting refers to actively challenging or disputing something, such as a decision, outcome, or claim, often in a formal or competitive setting. It can also describe the act of competing in an event or contest. The term emphasizes ongoing, proactive opposition rather than passive disagreement. In usage, it commonly appears in legal, sports, or debate contexts.
Contesting refers to actively challenging or disputing something, such as a decision, outcome, or claim, often in a formal or competitive setting. It can also describe the act of competing in an event or contest. The term emphasizes ongoing, proactive opposition rather than passive disagreement. In usage, it commonly appears in legal, sports, or debate contexts.
"The defendant is contesting the ruling in court, requesting a review."
"Several teams are contesting the championship title this season."
"She is contesting the results, citing inconsistencies in the scoring."
Pronounce as con-TES-ting with primary stress on the second syllable. Phonetically: /kənˈtɛstɪŋ/. Start with a neutral schwa /kən/, then a clear /ˈtɛs/ as in 'test,' and finish with the nasal /ɪŋ/ from 'sing.' Keep the mouth relatively closed for /k/ and /n/, lift the tongue to produce /t/ with a crisp release, and end with a soft nasal /ŋ/. Audio reference: try hearing /kənˈtɛstɪŋ/ in careful speech and mirror the rhythm of the stressed syllable.
Common errors: 1) Stress misplacement, saying con-TES-ting clearly but often reduced to /kənˈtɛstɪŋ/ with weak stress on second syllable; ensure strongest emphasis on /ˈtɛs/. 2) Blending /t/ and /s/ into /təs/; avoid a slurred /təs/—hold the /t/ briefly before /ɛ/. 3) Mispronouncing final -ing as /ɪŋ/ or /ɪŋ/; keep it as /-ɪŋ/ with a light nasal. Practice by isolating the middle /tɛs/ and adding the ending slowly to maintain clarity.
In US: /kənˈtɛstɪŋ/, rhotic /r/ is not present in this word; vowel in stressed syllable is lax e.g., /ɛ/. In UK: similar /kənˈtɛstɪŋ/; non-rhoticity doesn’t apply much in this word but you may see slightly crisper consonants. In Australian: /kənˈtɛstɪŋ/ with potentially broader vowel quality and a slightly more clipped /t/ due to Australian English consonant timing. Overall, stress remains on second syllable; vowel quality can vary slightly, but the -ing ending remains /-ɪŋ/ across accents.
Difficulties include the consonant cluster /kst/ in the stressed syllable and the /t/ release timing before the /s/; many learners merge /t/ and /s/ or misplace stress on the first syllable. The transition from /k/ to /n/ to /t/ requires precise articulatory timing, and the final /-ing/ can drag if the tongue doesn’t stay forward enough for the nasal. Focus on clear /t/ release and crisp /s/ before /t/ to avoid blending.
Yes—keeping the second syllable strong (con-TES-ting) is key, not letting the 'tes' blend into a weak syllable. Also, ensure the /t/ before /ɪŋ/ is released clearly, preventing a retroflex or glottal stop that might obscure the /t/ and /s/ sequence. The sequence /tɛst/ is the core; emphasize it and taper into the final /ɪŋ/ without adding extra vowel between /t/ and /s/.
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Contesting comes from the verb contest, which originates from the Latin contesta, meaning a contest or dispute, from con- ‘together’ and testare ‘to witness, to test.’ In English, contest itself traces to Old French contest, from Latin contestari ‘to call to witness, urge, dispute.’ The suffix -ing turns the verb into the present participle and gerund, implying ongoing action. The sense evolution: from to witness or challenge something publicly, to actively disputing a decision or claim, to competing in a contest. First known use in English dates to the 14th century in contexts of legal dispute and challenge, with sense broadening into general opposition or competition by the early modern period. Over time, contesting has maintained a formal, somewhat adversarial connotation, often paired with nouns like ruling, outcome, claim, or title, while still serving as a general verb for entering a competition. In contemporary usage, contesting frequently appears in legal, sports, political, and media contexts, retaining its core meaning of active opposition combined with participation.
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Words that rhyme with "contesting"
-ing sounds
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