2 syllables: get, ting. Stress on get.
GET-ing
/ˈɡɛtɪŋ/
getting is pronounced GET-ing (/ˈɡɛtɪŋ/). It has two syllables (get-ting), with the stress on "get". Getting is the present participle of get, meaning to obtain or become. In everyday usage it often forms a progressive verb with auxiliary be (getting ready), or functions as a gerund in noun phrases (getting around town). The pronunciation centers on a reduced /ɪ/ vowel in the first syllable and a light, unstressed final /-ɪŋ/ or /-ɪn/ in connected speech, commonly reduced to /ˈɡɪɾn̩/ in rapid talk.
Getting is the present participle of get, meaning to obtain or become. In everyday usage it often forms a progressive verb with auxiliary be (getting ready), or functions as a gerund in noun phrases (getting around town). The pronunciation centers on a reduced /ɪ/ vowel in the first syllable and a light, unstressed final /-ɪŋ/ or /-ɪn/ in connected speech, commonly reduced to /ˈɡɪɾn̩/ in rapid talk.
- You tend to over-articulate the /t/ in getting, making it sound like get-ting; practice a quick, light stop with a brief release. - You may add an extra vowel in the second syllable, pronouncing /ɡɪtɪŋ/ as /ɡɪtɪŋ/ with crisp syllable boundaries; aim for a reduced final /ɪŋ̩/ or /ŋ/ in casual speech. - You might misserve the first vowel as a longer /ɪː/ or /iː/; keep it short and crisp /ɪ/ to match typical English pronunciation. - In rapid speaking, you could reduce to /ˈɡɪn̩/; avoid truncating too much and maintain a clear nasal finish for naturalness.
"I’m getting ready for work."
"She’s getting tired of waiting."
"They’re getting closer to the finish line."
Pronounce as /ˈɡɪtɪŋ/ in careful speech. In rapid or connected speech, the /t/ can be a flap [ɾ] or even partially omitted, resulting in [ˈɡɪɾn̩] or [ˈɡɪn̩]. The first syllable carries primary stress; the vowel is a short high-front lax /ɪ/. Mouth position: tongue high-mid, tip behind upper teeth, minimal lip rounding, with the second syllable reduced to a schwa-like or syllabic nasal quality. Audio reference: listen for the quick /t/ release followed by a light -ing velum closure.
Common errors include over-articulating the /t/ (sounding like get-ting with a hard release), and using a full /ɪŋ/ instead of a reduced syllabic /ɪŋ/ in fast speech. Another frequent slip is pronouncing the second vowel as /eɪ/ or /iː/, giving /ˈɡeɪtɪŋ/. Correction tips: make the first syllable a clean /ˈɡɪ/ with a quick, light /t/ release, and let the second syllable be brief: /ɪŋ̩/ or /n̩/ in casual speech.
In US and UK you’ll typically hear /ˈɡɪtɪŋ/ with a rhotic or non-rhotic quality affecting the final vowel; rhoticity mainly influences post-vocalic r in other words, not in getting. Australian English tends to be a shorter, more centralized /ɪ/ and a slightly lighter /ŋ/ with quicker syllable transitions. US speakers may use a stronger flap or alveolar stop; UK speakers may have a crisper /t/ release. Overall, the primary variation is in the subtle vowel duration and the exact t-realization in fast speech.
The difficulty comes from the fast, continuous sequence /ˈɡɪ-tɪŋ/ where the /t/ sits between a stressed syllable and a reduced following syllable. In rapid speech the /t/ may be flapped or elided, and the final /ɪŋ/ can become a syllabic nasal, reducing clarity. Learners must coordinate tongue tip position for /t/, the lax /ɪ/ in the first syllable, and the velar nasal /ŋ/ while maintaining smooth transitions and avoiding a vowel diphthong that isn’t present.
Why does the /t/ in 'getting' sometimes sound like a soft 'd' or be almost silent in some dialects?
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US: /ˈɡɪtɪŋ/ with strong /ɡ/ onset, light /t/ release, final syllabic /ɪŋ̩/ or /ŋ/. Non-rhotic tendencies do not affect this word much; ensure the /t/ is not merged with a following vowel. UK: similar pattern but with slightly crisper /t/ and potential alveolar unreleased stop; final /ŋ/ remains velar nasal. AU: often more centralized /ɪ/ and quicker tempo; a more relaxed final /ŋ/ and possible softer /t/; watch for glottalization less than other contexts. IPA: /ˈɡɪtɪŋ/ for all three; use /ɾ/ in very casual connected speech for some speakers.
The verb get derives from Old Norse gǫta, related to Old English with cognates like gietan meaning to obtain or acquire. In Middle English, get consolidated as a general verb meaning to obtain, become, or bring about, gaining semantic breadth through frequent usage in idioms (get ready, get well, get along). The present participle getting emerged as English grammar evolved to mark continuous aspect and gerundial phrases, with -ing affixation common since the 13th century. Over time, getting acquired special role in phrasal verbs (get up, get by, get through) and frequent collocations, while remaining identical in spelling to the simple past get. First known uses align with early Middle English sources where get was used in senses of obtain or arrive; by Early Modern English, getting appeared in continuous aspect with be + getting, and later as a noun phrase head in “getting things done.”
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Words that rhyme with "getting"
-ing sounds
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