3 syllables: ex, plain, ing. Stress on plain.
/ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/
Say it backExplaining is the act of making something clear by describing, illustrating, or providing reasons. In conversation, it often involves breaking information into parts, giving examples, and addressing potential questions so the listener understands the point being made. The word emphasizes process and clarity in communication, typically used for presenting rationale or method.
"She spent ten minutes explaining the concept before the class began."
"The guide is explaining how the mechanism works in simple terms."
"During the meeting, he explained the delay and outlined the next steps."
Pronounced /ɪkˈspleɪ.nɪŋ/ in US/UK/AU. Put primary stress on the second syllable: ex-SPLAIN-ing. Start with a short, lax initial vowel /ɪ/ as in kit, then a crisp /s/ followed by /pleɪ/ as in play, then the syllabic /n/ before -ing. In careful speech, enunciate the /sp/ cluster and avoid vowel reduction inside the /pleɪ/. If you’re speaking quickly, you might hear a slight linking to the nasal -ing, but the essential rhythm remains two strong syllables after the initial unstressed prefix. Audio references: consult pronunciations on Cambridge or Forvo to hear /ɪkˈspleɪ.nɪŋ/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (say ex-PLAIN-ing with wrong stress), shrinking the /spleɪ/ into a flat /splɛn/ or /spleɪ/ cluster; dropping the final -ing to /ɪŋ/ with weak preceding consonant; unclear /ɪ/ before -ing (as in /ɪkˈsplɛnɪŋ/). Corrections: keep primary stress on the second syllable, clearly articulate /pleɪ/ as a diphthong, ensure the /n/ is released before the final -ɪŋ, and avoid vocalizing the /l/ too early. Practice with minimal pairs like explain/ explaine? (not a word)—better: explain/ explaining with emphasis on /pleɪ/. Use slow tempo and record yourself.
US/UK/AU share /ɪkˈspleɪ.nɪŋ/, but vowel quality differs: US often has a tighter /ɪ/ and a sharper /ɪŋ/ end; UK may have a slightly more rounded /ɪ/ in unstressed positions and clearer /l/; AU tends toward a more centralized vowel in the /ɪ/ before -ing and a softer /r/ in linked speech, though 'explaining' remains non-rhotic in most Australian varieties. The /pleɪ/ diphthong is similar across, but length and vowel quality can vary slightly with flapping (US) or non-rhoticity (UK/AU).
The difficulty lies in balancing the multisyllabic stress pattern and the consonant cluster /spleɪ/ after the initial prefix, plus the trailing /ɪŋ/ nasal. You must keep the /pl/ cluster compact, articulate /pleɪ/ as a tight diphthong, and ensure the final -ing merges smoothly with the preceding nasal. This requires precise tongue positioning for /s/, /p/, /l/, and the diphthong /eɪ/, while not letting the /ɪ/ of the final syllable be reduced too much. Regular practice helps your mouth learn the rhythm.
A unique challenge is keeping the /spl/ cluster crisp after the stressed /eɪ/, avoiding a long pause between /s/ and /pleɪ/. The /ɪŋ/ ending should not be swallowed; it must be released clearly to avoid sounding like /ɪn/ with an under-formed nasal. You’ll want subtle lip rounding for /eɪ/ and precise tip of the tongue contact for /s/ and /l/, so practice with slow speed and consistent mouth positions to maintain clarity in fast speech.
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Explaining derives from the verb explain, which comes from the Old French expliquer (12th–14th centuries) meaning to unfold or expose a meaning. The root is late Latin explicare, from ex- (out) + plicare (to fold). The sense formation moved from “unfold what is folded in the mind” to “make something clear by delivering details.” The gerundive form -ing attached to explain became common in English as a non-finite verb to express ongoing action. The term gained common academic and rhetorical use in Early Modern English, paralleling the rise of systematic argumentation and rational discourse; by the 17th century, explain/ explaining was standard in educational settings, science, and law. Over time, explaining has retained its center-stage role in pedagogy and communication, with variations in nuance across formal explanations, casual clarifications, and technical explications.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "explaining" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "explaining" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "explaining"
-ing sounds
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