2 syllables: gro, ping. Stress on gro.
GROH-ping
/ˈɡɹoʊpɪŋ/
groping is pronounced GROH-ping (/ˈɡɹoʊpɪŋ/). It has two syllables (gro-ping), with the stress on "gro". Groping refers to feeling about with the hands in a clumsy or intrusive way, typically to search or explore. It can also describe someone making an awkward, often furtive or hesitant search for something, or attempting to touch someone inappropriately. The term carries strong connotations of invasion of personal space or curiosity that is unrefined or unwanted.
Groping refers to feeling about with the hands in a clumsy or intrusive way, typically to search or explore. It can also describe someone making an awkward, often furtive or hesitant search for something, or attempting to touch someone inappropriately. The term carries strong connotations of invasion of personal space or curiosity that is unrefined or unwanted.
"She was caught groping through the drawers for the old photos."
"The detective was groping for clues in the dim crime scene."
"He was fired for groping coworkers during the party, violating company policy."
US/UK/AU all share the primary pronunciation /ˈɡroʊ.pɪŋ/. The first syllable is stressed: /ˈɡroʊ/. The vowel in the second syllable is a short i /-ɪŋ/ with a nasal ending /ŋ/. Mouth position: start with a rounded wide vowel /roʊ/ with lips rounded for the long O, then relax into the short /ɪ/ and finish with the velar nasal /ŋ/. Tip: keep the /roʊ/ as a rounded, even diphthong, then snap into /pɪŋ/ without an extra vowel between syllables.
Common errors: (1) Saying /groʊɪŋ/ with an unnecessary separate /i/ before the /ŋ/, (2) devoicing the final /ŋ/ as /n/ or /ŋk/, (3) misplacing the /p/ as a aspirated stop too strongly or too late in the transition. Correction: maintain the two-syllable structure with clear /ɡroʊ/ onset and /pɪŋ/ nucleus+final; avoid inserting extra vowels between /oʊ/ and /p/. Practice by linking /roʊ/ to /pɪŋ/ with a quick, clean glide, and finish with a crisp /ŋ/ rather than /ŋk/ or /n/.”},{
US and UK share /ˈɡroʊ.pɪŋ/ vs /ˈɡrəʊ.pɪŋ/: US uses the rhotic /oʊ/ as a more pronounced diphthong and preserves /ɹ/; UK often has a slightly shorter /oʊ/ and a more centralized /ɒ/ in similar words but here /roʊ/ vs /rəʊ/ is common. Australian tends toward /ˈɡrəʊ.pɪŋ/ with less rhotic articulation and a more centralized vowel in many speakers. Overall, the key differences are vowel quality in the first syllable and degree of rhoticity; the consonants remain largely the same.”},{
Two main challenges: (1) the two-syllable rhythm with a mid-to-high back vowel /roʊ/ and a short /ɪ/ in quick succession can trip you up if you over-lengthen the first vowel or under-project the /p/ transition, and (2) final /ŋ/ requires the tongue to stay high and back to seal the velum while allowing air to pass through the nose; some speakers blend /ɪŋ/ with /iŋ/ or mispronounce the /p/ as /b/. Focus on clear syllable separation, then smooth the transition to /ŋ/.
The final cluster /pɪŋ/ ends with an unreleased or lightly released /p/ to keep a smooth flow into the nasal /ŋ/ for many speakers; some may produce a lightly aspirated /p/. Also, the first syllable /ɡroʊ/ can be slightly rounded or even centralized depending on accent; pay attention to keeping the vowel quality consistent while transitioning to /pɪŋ/.
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Groping originates from the verb grope, which dates from Middle English gropen, meaning to feel about or to search by touch. The root is related to the Old English grīpan/ grīpanan, with Proto-Germanic roots *grīpaną meaning to seize or grab. The transition from feeling or searching by touch to the sense of touching someone inappropriately evolved in 19th–20th century English, where the physical act of feeling about gradually took on sexual connotations in colloquial use. Early attestations appear in the 17th century in references to searching or fumbling, but the sexual sense solidified later as social norms around personal space and consent crystallized. The term frequently appears in legal, journalistic, and literary contexts when describing intrusive or indecent behavior. Modern usage retains both senses: a literal search by touch (e.g., through a bag) and a figurative or sensitive touch often implying inappropriate behavior. The word’s negative valence regarding consent makes its use particularly sensitive in social and professional discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "groping"
-ing sounds
-ic) sounds
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