3 syllables: de, clar, ing. Stress on clar.
/dɪˈklærɪŋ/
Say it backDeclaring is the act of making something known openly or formally, typically through a statement or proclamation. It involves clear emission of sounds to convey certainty, often in legal, political, or public contexts. The term emphasizes assertiveness and certainty, with the verb form derived from the noun declaration.
"The president is declaring a state of emergency."
"She will be declaring her candidacy at the press conference."
"They are declaring their intent to sue based on new evidence."
Pronounce as /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/ in US English, with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable sounds like “di” (as in dip) and the second syllable contains the rhotic-ish vowel in many speakers; the final is a clear -ing /ɪŋ/. In careful speech you’ll hear it as /dɪˈkleərɪŋ/. In many US dialects, /ˈklær/ also occurs due to variation, but the standard is /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/ with two syllables after the initial /dɪ/ and a trailing /ŋ/.
Common mistakes include lengthening the second syllable too much (sounding like /dɪˈkleɪərɪŋ/ with a diphthong in the second syllable) and misplacing stress as /ˈdɛklærɪŋ/. The correct is primary stress on the second syllable: /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/ for many speakers. Another pitfall is dialing the final -ing as a separate syllable without linking: avoid pronouncing 'declare' then 'ing' as separate chunks; instead, flow: /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/. Pay attention to the /ə/ in the second syllable, not a full /eɪ/ in most dialects.
In US English, the second syllable often uses a schwa or a mid-central vowel /ə/ with a clear /ˈ/ on the second syllable: /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/. UK English tends to give a more pronounced /ʊ/ or /ə/ with clearer non-rhoticity depending on region, often /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/ as well, but some speakers may reduce the /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Australian English typically aligns with /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/ but may display a slightly wider diphthong in /əə/ and a softer /r/ or non-rhotic approach; however, most speakers will keep the primary stress on the second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable core that includes a potential diphthong in the second syllable and the suffix -ing which often reduces in connected speech. The secondary vowel in /kleə/ can shift to a clearer /klær/ depending on dialect. The combination /dɪ/ + /ˈkleə/ + /rɪŋ/ requires precise articulation of /kleɪ/ vs /kleə/ and the trailing velar /ŋ/. Mastery involves controlling vowel quality in the middle and smooth linking from the stem to the gerund suffix.
One unique aspect is the non-syllabic handling of the second syllable in many fast speech contexts: /dɪˈkleə.rɪŋ/ reduces to a rapid /dɪˈkleərɪŋ/ with less emphasis on the second vowel, especially in connected speech. The stress is clearly on the second syllable, which sets it apart from other -ing forms where stress may shift. You’ll also notice a subtle distinction between /kleə/ vs /klær/ depending on speaker’s vowel quality.
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Declaring comes from the verb declare, which traces to the Latin declarare, meaning to uncover, reveal, or make clear. The Latin root is de- (from) + clarare (to make clear), with clarus meaning clear. The term entered English through Old French or directly from Latin via academic and legal discourse in the Middle Ages, evolving to include any formal or emphatic statement. The noun declaration historically referred to a formal assertion or proclamation in political or religious contexts; by extension, declaring is the present participle form used for ongoing revealing or announcing. The sense broadened in modern English to include personal assertions or statements of intention, not limited to official proclamations. First known uses appear in legal and ecclesiastical writings where declarations of rights, oaths, or creeds were essential; by the 17th–18th centuries, declaring frequently described public or political statements, and by the 19th century, ordinary usage included everyday announcements and declarations of intent in everyday speech.
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Words that rhyme with "declaring"
-ing sounds
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