2 syllables: fast, ing. Stress on fast.
FAS-ting
/ˈfæstɪŋ/
fasting is pronounced FAS-ting (/ˈfæstɪŋ/). It has two syllables (fast-ing), with the stress on "fast". Fasting refers to the voluntary abstention from all or some foods and drinks for a set period, often for health, religious, or medical reasons. In everyday use, it can describe the act itself or a state during which someone abstains, typically emphasizing discipline and duration. The term is common in health and religious contexts and often contrasts with regular eating patterns.
Fasting refers to the voluntary abstention from all or some foods and drinks for a set period, often for health, religious, or medical reasons. In everyday use, it can describe the act itself or a state during which someone abstains, typically emphasizing discipline and duration. The term is common in health and religious contexts and often contrasts with regular eating patterns.
"During Ramadan, many people fast from sunrise to sunset."
"Intermittent fasting has become popular for weight management."
"Medical trials sometimes require fasting before blood tests."
Pronounce it as /ˈfæstɪŋ/ in US English and /ˈfɑːstɪŋ/ in UK English, with the primary stress on the first syllable. The initial consonant cluster is a clear /f/ followed by a short /æ/ (US) or long /ɑː/ (UK). The second syllable uses a lax /ɪ/ before the final velar nasal /ŋ/. Keep the 't' crisp and avoid a flossed or aspirated 't' here. Listen for a compact, even rhythm: FAST-ing.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the /t/ into /d/ producing 'fasding' due to flapping in American speech; (2) Tensing the /ɪ/ leading to a stressed, tense vowel in the second syllable; (3) Violating the final -ing by stopping the /ŋ/ with a hard stop. Correction: keep the /t/ distinct (not voiced as /d/), use a lax mid-front vowel /ɪ/, and finish with a soft nasal /ŋ/ without releasing a following stop. Practice by isolating /t/ and /ŋ/ sounds and linking them smoothly.
US: /ˈfæstɪŋ/ with a short /æ/ and a clear /ŋ/. UK: /ˈfɑːstɪŋ/ using a long /ɑː/ and similarly clear /ŋ/. AU: generally /ˈfɑːstɪŋ/ or /ˈfæstɪŋ/ depending on speaker, but often closer to UK vowel length with a slightly broader /ɑː/ in 'fast'. Rhoticity is not a major factor in this word, but vowel quality and diphthongization in surrounding vowels may shift slightly. Consistency of final -ing is common across accents.
The difficulty lies in the rapid, crisp /t/ transition followed by the /ɪ/ and the final /ŋ/. Some speakers batch the tongue for /t/ and release it too abruptly, making the syllable feel clipped. Others misarticulate the /ɪ/ by using a too lax or centralized vowel, which muddles the first syllable. The final /ŋ/ requires the back of the tongue to rise toward the soft palate without adding a vowel after it. Focus on the clean separation of /t/ and /ŋ/ and a relaxed, centralized /ɪ/.
The word has no silent letters; the stress is diagnostic—on the first syllable: /ˈfæstɪŋ/ (US) or /ˈfɑːstɪŋ/ (UK). The challenge is maintaining that primary stress when rapid, connected speech occurs in longer phrases like 'fasting period' or 'during fasting.' Also, ensure the /t/ is alveolar and not softened in informal speech. Keeping first-syllable prominence helps clarity, especially in medical or religious discourse.
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The word fasting comes from Middle English fasting, from Old English fæstan, which is related to the Proto-Germanic faistanan and Proto-Indo-European root *stā-/*stāh-, meaning 'to stand firm' or 'to endure'. Historically, fasting denoted a period of refraining from food as an act of devotion or discipline. In religious contexts, it was prescribed by authorities or texts and often involved abstaining from food from dawn until dusk. The sense expanded in medical and secular usage to describe deliberate abstention for a specified duration, sometimes extending to a temporary state of not eating to cleanse or reset bodily systems. First known uses appear in early medieval texts where religious observance and ascetic practice were documented in Latin and Old English sources, with the term evolving through Middle English into modern usage, retaining its core meaning of withdrawal from nourishment for a period of time. The concept also appears across various languages with cognate terms that emphasize restraint and endurance, underscoring fasting as both a ritual and practical health practice throughout history.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fasting" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "fasting"
-ing sounds
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