3 syllables: de, fend, ing. Stress on fend.
dif-EN-ding
/dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/
defending is pronounced dif-EN-ding (/dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/). It has three syllables (de-fend-ing), with the stress on "fend". Defending is the act of protecting someone or something from harm, or presenting and arguing in support of a person, idea, or position. In everyday use, it also means resisting an attack or accusation. The word often appears in legal, sports, and argumentative contexts, and implies a responsive or protective stance rather than active offense.
Defending is the act of protecting someone or something from harm, or presenting and arguing in support of a person, idea, or position. In everyday use, it also means resisting an attack or accusation. The word often appears in legal, sports, and argumentative contexts, and implies a responsive or protective stance rather than active offense.
- You may emphasis the first syllable causing dɪ-FEN-dɪŋ instead of dɪ-ˈfɛn-dɪŋ. Correct by practicing the stress pattern and saying the second syllable louder. - Ending blending: some say /dɪn/ or /dɪŋ/ without proper /d/ release; focus on crisp /d/ before /ɪŋ/. - Vowel quality in /ɛn/: avoid a lax /æ/; keep /ɛ/ as in ‘pen’ to preserve the correct sound. - In rapid speech, the /d/ can be swallowed; practice with deliberate tempo to retain the ending.
"The lawyer spent hours defending his client in court."
"Citizens are defending their neighborhood against the growing threat."
"She was defending her thesis when the panel raised challenging questions."
Pronounce as dɪ-ˈfɛn-dɪŋ. The primary stress is on the second syllable: feN. Use a clear /ɪ/ in the first and final syllables, with a crisp /d/ before the final -ing. IPA: US: /dɪˈfɛn.dɪŋ/, UK: /dɪˈfen.dɪŋ/. Mouth positions: start with relaxed lips, place the tongue for /d/ at the alveolar ridge, then lift the body to produce /ˈfɛn/, and finish with a light /d/ plus /ɪŋ/ nasal blend. You’ll hear a brief pause and emphasis on the second syllable in careful speech.
Common errors: 1) Placing emphasis on the first syllable (dɪ-FEN-dɪŋ). Correction: shift stress to the second syllable: dɪ-ˈfɛn-dɪŋ. 2) Merging /d/ and /ɪŋ/ into a single syllable (defend-ing pronounced as defendin). Correction: keep /dɪŋ/ as a discrete ending with clear /d/ then /ɪŋ/. 3) Mispronouncing /f/ as /v/ or a sloppy /ɡ/ at the end. Correction: ensure a labiodental fricative /f/ and a crisp alveolar /d/ before /ɪŋ/.
US tends to clear /ɪ/ in dɪˈfɛn.dɪŋ with a strong /ˈ/. UK often has a slightly shorter /ɪ/ and a rounded /ɪŋ/ ending; stress remains on the second syllable. Australian typically features broader vowel quality with less rhoticity, but /ɪ/ remains close to /ɪ/ and final -ing often realized with a voiceless clear /ɪŋ/. IPA: US /dɪˈfɛn.dɪŋ/, UK /dɪˈfen.dɪŋ/, AU /dɪˈfɛn.dɪŋ/.
Two core challenges: the unstressed first syllable reduces to a quick /dɪ/ while preserving clarity, and the /ən/ in the ending can blur with /dɪŋ/. The liquid-to-plosive transition between /f/ and /d/ requires precise timing; avoid a lag between /fɛn/ and /dɪŋ/. Practice with slow exaggeration of second syllable and record for feedback.
The transition from /fɛn/ to /dɪŋ/ often trips speakers: the /ən/ is a subtle schwa+n + voiceless /d/ sequence leading into nasal /ŋ/. Ensure you don’t insert a schwa into /dɪŋ/; keep it as /dɪŋ/ and make sure the /d/ is released clearly before the velar nasal. IPA reference: /dɪˈfɛn.dɪŋ/.
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- US: rhotic, clear /r/ influences nearby vowels; keep /ɪ/ as in kit, and ensure /ˈfɛn/ is crisp with full vowel /ɛ/. - UK: non-rhotic; you’ll hear lighter /ɪ/ and a crisper /dɪŋ/ ending; maintain the /f/ as a labiodental fricative. - AU: vowel quality tends toward centralized /ɪ/; keep /fɛn/ distinct and end with a clean /dɪŋ/. IPA references: US /dɪˈfɛn.dɪŋ/, UK /dɪˈfen.dɪŋ/, AU /dɪˈfɛn.dɪŋ/.
Defending comes from the verb defend, itself from Old French defender, from Latin defendere, de- (away, off) + word ‘fendere’ (to strike, to fight). The Latin root fendere relates to striking or defending in combat. The prefix de- implies reversing or defending against; -ing forms the present participle. First attested in English in the late 14th century as defenden, then defending by the 15th century. Over time, the sense broadened from literal physical protection to metaphorical protection of a person’s rights, reputation, or arguments. In modern usage, defending spans legal, sports, and rhetorical contexts, and can carry a proactive or reactive nuance depending on whether you describe the defender’s action or the defended subject.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "defending" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "defending"
-ing sounds
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