3 syllables: e, mit, ting. Stress on mit.
im-IT-ing
/ɪˈmɪtɪŋ/
emitting is pronounced im-IT-ing (/ɪˈmɪtɪŋ/). It has three syllables (e-mit-ting), with the stress on "mit". Emitting is the act of sending out or giving forth something, especially energy, light, or signals. In everyday use it describes something that releases or radiates, such as heat, sound, or odors. The term emphasizes the outward projection from a source, rather than possession or containment, and appears in scientific, technical, and general contexts.
Emitting is the act of sending out or giving forth something, especially energy, light, or signals. In everyday use it describes something that releases or radiates, such as heat, sound, or odors. The term emphasizes the outward projection from a source, rather than possession or containment, and appears in scientific, technical, and general contexts.
"The factory is emitting a faint odor that alert workers to a spill."
"The satellite is emitting a strong signal back to Earth."
"She is emitting bursts of laughter after hearing the joke."
Pronounce as /ɪˈmɪt.ɪŋ/. The stress is on the second syllable: em-MIT-ting. Start with a short, lax vowel /ɪ/ as in 'kit', then the /ˈmɪt/ with a crisp /t/ stop, and finish with a light /-ɪŋ/ nasal ending. In connected speech you may hear slight linking like emˈmɪ.tɪŋ, but the primary stress stays on the second syllable. Audio reference: compare with 'emit' /ɪˈmɪt/ and 'emission' /ɪˈmɪʃn̩/ for contrast.
Mistakes include pronouncing the second syllable with a weak or reduced vowel, or slurring the /t/ into the following /ɪ/ resulting in em-MI-ting rather than em-MIT-ting. Another error is dropping the final /ŋ/ or nasalizing it too early, making it /ˈɛmɪtɪn/ or /ɪˈmɪtɪŋ/ with a nasal fault. Correct by ensuring a clear /t/ before the final /ɪŋ/ and keeping the second syllable strong: /ɪˈmɪt.ɪŋ/ with a crisp alveolar stop and a distinct nasal ending.
In US/UK/AU, the core stress pattern remains on the second syllable: /ɪˈmɪt.ɪŋ/. US rhotic influences are minimal here; the /r/ is not present. UK and AU accents maintain the same syllable structure, but vowel quality can differ: US /ɪ/ in the first syllable tends to be a tighter lax vowel; UK may have slightly more centralized or backer quality depending on RP influence. The /t/ remains a crisp alveolar plosive; some UK speakers may realize a glottal stop for /t/ in rapid speech, which can affect syllable delineation.
The difficulty lies in the three-part sequence: a stressed, tense /mɪt/ with a clear /t/ closure before the final /ɪŋ/. The transition from the stop /t/ to the velar nasal /ŋ/ requires precise timing to avoid a blend or a runs-tit pronunciations like /ʔmɪtɪŋ/. Additionally, maintaining a steady, light nasal end /-ɪŋ/ without inserting an extra vowel can be challenging in rapid speech.
A distinctive feature is the syllable boundary after the second syllable, where many English speakers subtly insert a glottal or alveolar transition before the final /-ɪŋ/. Paying attention to the middle /t/ as a hard stop rather than a nasal or softened variant helps; this mid-syllable /t/ is crucial for accurate word shape and intelligibility.
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Emitting comes from the verb emit, which traces to the Latin emittĕre, meaning to send forth. Emittĕre is formed from e- (out) + mittĕre (to send). The noun form emission arose in English by the 17th century, initially in scientific contexts to describe throwing forth energy, light, or particles. Over time, emission broadened to reference the act itself and the result, such as light emission or heat emission. The present participle emitting entered common usage as technology and science advanced, especially in physics and electronics, where devices “emit” signals, radiation, or sound. While originally more literal, emitting now frequently appears in metaphorical uses (emitting confidence, emitting charm) though most often remains technical. First known uses appear in early modern scientific texts; later, popular press and industry adopted emitting to describe operational outputs of machines, engines, lamps, and communication devices. Modern usage often pairs with adjectives like strong, low, or continuous to quantify the rate or intensity of the outward release.
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Words that rhyme with "emitting"
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