GAM-buh-ling
/ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/
gambling is pronounced GAM-buh-ling (/ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/). Gambling refers to the act of risking money or valuables on games of chance or uncertain outcomes with the hope of profit. It can describe the behavior itself as well as the industry that offers betting activities. The term implies entertainment and risk, often within regulated environments or social settings, and can carry moral and legal considerations depending on context.
Gambling refers to the act of risking money or valuables on games of chance or uncertain outcomes with the hope of profit. It can describe the behavior itself as well as the industry that offers betting activities. The term implies entertainment and risk, often within regulated environments or social settings, and can carry moral and legal considerations depending on context.
"He took up gambling to chase a big win after weeks of saving."
"The casino faced new regulations aimed at curbing irresponsible gambling."
"Online platforms have made gambling more accessible, raising concerns about age verification."
Gambling is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: GAM-. The second syllable is a light, quick -bling, with the -bl- cluster staying together. The vowel in the first syllable is the short a as in cat; the final -ing is pronounced as /-ɪŋ/ (not /-iŋ/). Practically, you start with /ɡæm/ then release into /blɪŋ/ in a smooth sequence. Listen to native speech to align the rhythm.
Common errors include turning the first syllable into /ˈɡeɪm/ (homophone with 'game') or misplacing the /l/ so it sounds like /ˈɡæm.bɪŋ/ without the /l/ cluster. Another frequent issue is reducing the second syllable to /-ɪn/ or /-ən/ instead of /-ɪŋ/. To fix: ensure /bl/ cluster stays intact, keep /æ/ as a short front vowel, and end with a clear /ɪŋ/. Slow it to /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/ then speed to natural flow.
In US English, /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/ with a clear /æ/ and rhotic /ɹ/ absent; the /l/ is light but audible. UK English tends to slightly lengthen the vowel and may temper the /l/ so it sounds more like /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/ with a more syllabic ending; Australian English is similar to US but can feature a more centralized vowel in the second syllable and a faster, more compressed ending. Across accents, the rhoticity difference influences future forms, but gambling remains two-syllable with the same stress pattern.
The difficulty lies in the /æ/ versus other short-a vowels and the consonant cluster /bl/ followed by /ɪŋ/, which requires smooth transition from the obstruent /m/ into the /bl/ blend and then into velar nasal /ŋ/. The sequence /æmp/ isn't present; instead you have a tight /æm/ followed immediately by /bl/. Mastery comes from practicing the tight bilabial-labial blend and sustaining the /ɪŋ/ without a vowel insertion.
Yes—emphasis on the first syllable creates a crisp start: GAM- as the stressed syllable. The second syllable is light and fast: -bling. The challenge is keeping /bl/ together across the vowel boundary and avoiding a drawn-out ending. Also, ensure the final /ŋ/ is velar, not an alveolar nasal like /n/. Consistency in the /æ/ and /ɪ/ vowels is key to natural-sounding gambling.
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US: /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/ with strong first syllable and clear /bl/; non-rhotic tendencies may affect linking but gambling remains two syllables. UK: /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/ often with a subtly longer vowel in first syllable and crisper /bl/; AU: /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/ similar to US but with flatter intonation and faster rhythm. IPA references: /ˈɡæm.blɪŋ/. Focus on keeping /æ/ bright and /bl/ as a single consonant blend.
Gambling derives from the verb gamble, which historically meant to play games of chance or hazard. The root is uncertain, but it likely originated in Old North French gambel, meaning “game,” or from Dutch gok, meaning “bet.” By the 14th-15th centuries, gamble referred to risking something of value in a game or venture. The noun gambling emerges in the 18th century to describe the activity itself, distinguishing the act of betting from other forms of gaming. Over time, gambling broadened to encompass organized betting, lotteries, and casino-style games, with legal and cultural connotations evolving across regions. In modern English, gambling connotes both recreational betting and compulsive behavior, carrying regulatory and ethical implications that vary by jurisdiction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gambling" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "gambling"
-ing sounds
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