3 syllables: ful, fill, ing. Stress on fill.
fuul-FIL-ing
/fʊˈlfɪlɪŋ/
fulfilling is pronounced fuul-FIL-ing (/fʊˈlfɪlɪŋ/). It has three syllables (ful-fill-ing), with the stress on "fill". Fulfilling is an adjective meaning bringing a sense of satisfaction or achievement, or causing to be filled to capacity. It often describes experiences, roles, or activities that meet personal desires or expectations. In practical use, it conveys both emotional reward and completion, highlighting meaningful impact rather than mere quantity.
Fulfilling is an adjective meaning bringing a sense of satisfaction or achievement, or causing to be filled to capacity. It often describes experiences, roles, or activities that meet personal desires or expectations. In practical use, it conveys both emotional reward and completion, highlighting meaningful impact rather than mere quantity.
"Her work in the charity drive was fulfilling because she could see the direct difference it made."
"A fulfilling career combines challenge, growth, and purpose."
"The long hike left us feeling fulfilled and connected to nature."
Pronounce as /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/. The first syllable is a short 'u' as in 'full,' with lip rounding neutral. The stress is on the second syllable 'FILL.' The final 'ing' is a reduced 'ɪŋ' sound, not 'ee-ing.' Tip: start with 'full' then slide into 'fill' with a quick secondary stress, making the sequence smooth: /fʊl/ + /ˈfɪlɪŋ/.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (ful-FILL-ING). Correction: stress the second syllable: /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/. 2) Slurring the final -ing to /ɪŋ/ too short or as /iːn/ or /ɪŋ/ with a vague vowel. Correction: keep /ɪŋ/ with a short lax vowel and a clear nasal. 3) Inaccurate vowel in first syllable; avoid a prolonged 'oo' or 'eu' sound. Correction: keep /ʊ/ as in 'put' or 'pull,' not /uː/.
In US, the initial /ʊ/ can be a quick, centralized sound; the /ˈfɪ/ portion features a bright /ɪ/. UK/ Australian variants maintain /ʊ/ in the first syllable and often clear enunciation of /l/ before /fɪ/. Rhoticity influences linking: US may pronounce /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/ with stronger rhotic coloration in surrounding syllables; non-rhotic accents may drop 'r' but not here. In all, the key is keeping stress on the second syllable and crisp /l/ sounds.
The difficulty comes from alternating /l/ sounds in close succession and the sharp /f/ followed by an immediate /ɪ/ vowel in the hot second syllable (fɪl). The /f/ to /l/ transition requires precise lip-tongue coordination; the cluster /lˈf/ can lead to hyponasality or mis-stressing. Additionally, sustaining the /ɪ/ vowel through the -ling ending and keeping the final /ŋ/ without adding a vowel helps maintain natural cadence.
In standard pronunciation, you do not pronounce a separate 'fill' twice. The word is /fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ/. The second syllable contains /fɪl/; there is one /l/ in each syllable position. Some speakers may emphasize the second syllable more strongly, but the sequence remains /fʊl/ + /ˈfɪlɪŋ/.
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Fulfilling comes from the verb fulfill, from Old English fulfilian (to fulfill, to complete). The element ful- is from Old English full, meaning full or complete, while -fillan is related to German füllen and Dutch vullen, meaning to fill. The term originally signified making something full or complete in a literal sense (to fill a vessel). By the 15th century, fulfill extended metaphorically to completing duties or obligations, and by the 17th–18th centuries it carried the sense of satisfying needs, desires, or expectations. In modern English, fulfilling commonly describes experiences or actions that yield emotional or existential satisfaction, not merely filling a quantity. The evolution reflects a shift from literal fullness to a broader sense of achieving or satisfying personal goals and moral purposes. First known use in a figurative sense appears in early modern English writings, with usage proliferating in the 18th and 19th centuries as a positive evaluative term for meaningful outcomes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fulfilling" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "fulfilling"
-ing sounds
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