3 syllables: frus, tra, ting. Stress on frus.
FRUHS-tray-ting
/ˈfɹʌsˌtɹeɪtɪŋ/
frustrating is pronounced FRUHS-tray-ting (/ˈfɹʌsˌtɹeɪtɪŋ/). It has three syllables (frus-tra-ting), with the stress on "frus". Frustrating describes something that causes annoyance or irritation because it prevents progress or fulfillment. The term often conveys a sense of repeated, maddening obstruction, making outcomes feel out of reach. It functions as an adjective and is frequently used to express evaluative emotion about situations, processes, or people that hinder desired results.
Frustrating describes something that causes annoyance or irritation because it prevents progress or fulfillment. The term often conveys a sense of repeated, maddening obstruction, making outcomes feel out of reach. It functions as an adjective and is frequently used to express evaluative emotion about situations, processes, or people that hinder desired results.
"The slow internet connection was frustrating, especially during a video call."
"Her attempts to fix the leak were frustrating, as new problems kept appearing."
"It’s frustrating when plans fall apart due to circumstances beyond your control."
Pronounce as /ˈfrʌsˌtreɪtɪŋ/. Start with a stressed FRUS syllable, then a quick /treɪ/ in the middle, and finish with /tɪŋ/. The tongue rises toward the alveolar ridge for /t/, with a light /r/ after /f/ in many speakers. In careful speech, the sequence is two clear syllables before the final -ing. IPA helps keep the /ʌ/ and /eɪ/ distinct. You’ll hear the emphasis on FRUS and a slightly reduced second syllable in fast speech.
Common errors:1) Mixing up the middle /treɪ/ with /təˈreɪ/ or delaying the /t/ after /s/ making it sound like /ˈfrʌs.tɹˈeɪtɪŋ/. 2) Skipping the /r/ in non-rhotic accents or making the /r/ too weak. 3) Merging /ˈfrʌs/ and /treɪ/ into /ˈfrʌstreɪ/ with an unwanted extra syllable. Correction: keep a crisp /s/ and a controlled /ɹ/ in /ˈfrʌsˌtreɪtɪŋ/. Practice the sequence with focused pacing to prevent vowel blurring between /ʌ/ and /eɪ/.
In US, the /ɹ/ is pronounced with a rhotic r, and /eɪ/ in the second syllable is clear. In UK, /ɹ/ is often non-rhotic in certain accents; still, many speakers maintain a light /ɹ/ or drop it, affecting the /treɪ/ portion. Australian accents typically preserve rhoticity but may have a broader, flatter /eɪ/ and a sharper /t/ release. Overall, emphasize the /ˈfrʌs/ onset and ensure the /treɪ/ cluster remains distinct across accents.
The challenge lies in the cluster /ˈfrʌsˌtreɪtɪŋ/ where you navigate a rapid /s/ into an /t/ with a leading /ɹ/ and a late /eɪ/. Maintaining breath support for the /eɪ/ while not letting the /t/ become a stopy glottal is tricky. Also, the vowel shift from /ʌ/ to /eɪ/ requires precise tongue height control. Practicing with slow drills helps stabilize tongue and lip positions before faster speech.
A key nuance is maintaining the crisp separation between /frʌs/ and /treɪ/ in fluent speech. Avoid swallowing the /t/ or letting the /r/ influence the following vowel excessively. Emphasis on the initial syllable’s /ʌ/ and a clean /eɪ/ in the second boundary ensures natural rhythm. Visualize the word as three segments: FRUS - TRAI - NG, then blend while keeping each segment distinct.
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- US: Maintain rhotic /ɹ/ and a clearly separated /eɪ/. Aim for a crisp /ˈfrʌs/ then /ˌtreɪtɪŋ/. - UK: Some speakers reduce the rhoticity; keep a light /ɹ/ or glide to a vowel without fully rhoticizing; keep /treɪ/ distinct. - AU: Usually rhotic; watch for a slightly broader vowel in /eɪ/ and a sharper /t/ release. Use IPA cues to guide mouth positions. - Practice with minimal pairs to sharpen /ʌ/ vs /eɪ/ and /fr/ onset clarity; slow with articulatory focus, then speed up.
Frustrating derives from the verb frustrate, which comes from the Latin frustra, meaning 'in vain, to no purpose,' combined with the Latin frustrare, meaning 'to disappoint or deceive.' The sense shift to describe something that hinders progress emerged in English by the 16th century, rooted in legal and moral contexts where attempts failed to achieve desired outcomes. Over time, the word broadened beyond legal or theatrical frustration to everyday irritations. The -ing suffix marks it as a present participle/gerund form, later adopting adjectival use to describe a thing or situation that induces frustration in someone. The modern sense captures a cumulative, ongoing irritation rather than a single moment of annoyance, aligning with phrases like 'frustrating process' or 'frustrating delays.' First known uses appear in early modern English texts, with evolving connotations tied to obstruction, futile effort, and the emotional response of the speaker. The word has since become common in both spoken and written English, retaining its core meaning while expanding into varied contexts such as technology, bureaucracy, and interpersonal dynamics.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "frustrating" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "frustrating"
-ing sounds
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