3 syllables: ham, mer, ing. Stress on ham.
HAM-ur-ing
/ˈhæmɚɪŋ/
hammering is pronounced HAM-ur-ing (/ˈhæmɚɪŋ/). It has three syllables (ham-mer-ing), with the stress on "ham". Hammering refers to the act of hitting or driving with a hammer, typically producing loud, repetitive impacts. In language, it also describes the process of repeatedly and aggressively doing something. The word combines hammer (the tool) with -ing to form a present participle or gerund, often used as a noun or verb form in contexts such as construction, repair, or metaphorical persistence.
Hammering refers to the act of hitting or driving with a hammer, typically producing loud, repetitive impacts. In language, it also describes the process of repeatedly and aggressively doing something. The word combines hammer (the tool) with -ing to form a present participle or gerund, often used as a noun or verb form in contexts such as construction, repair, or metaphorical persistence.
"The contractor spent the morning hammering nails into the planks."
"You could hear the neighbors hammering away while they were renovating."
"He was hammering on the door, trying to get someone’s attention."
Hammering is pronounced /ˈhæmərɪŋ/. The syllable stress is on the first syllable HAM-, followed by a reduced middle syllable -ər- and a clear -ing ending. Mouth position: start with a wide /æ/ vowel, then relax into a schwa-like /ə/ for the middle, and finish with /ɪŋ/. In rapid speech you may hear a softened /ər/ as a quick schwa.”
Common mistakes include misplacing stress across syllables (saying ham-ER-ing) and mispronouncing the second syllable as /æ/ or /eɪ/ instead of a reduced /ə/. Another frequent error is pronouncing the final -ing as /ɪŋ/ with preceding /ɪ/ in the middle rather than a light /ər/ before it. Correct by stressing the first syllable, using a short /ə/ for -er-, and finishing with a clean /ɪŋ/.”
In US, UK, and AU, hammering shares /ˈhæmərɪŋ/ with rhotic or non-rhotic tendencies depending on accent. US keeps clearer rhotic /ɹ/ before /ɪŋ/ and flaps aren’t used here; UK often reduces /ə/ slightly and may have a crisper /ɹ/ depending on speaker, with less rhotic impairment in careful speech; AU typically aligns with US in vowel quality but may show slight vowel shortening and a more centralized /ə/ in fast speech. Overall, the first syllable dominates, while the middle is a reduced schwa, keeping final -ing.”
The difficulty lies in the quick sequence HAM-mer-ing with a stressed first syllable and a reduced middle. The challenge is coordinating a front lax vowel /æ/ into a compact /ər/ and then the velar nasal /ŋ/. Also, maintaining the subtle rhotic /ɹ/ or its absence across dialects can be tricky in rapid speech. Focus on a firm HAM and a light, quick -er- before the final clear -ing.”
In hammering, you can clearly hear the stressed /ˈhæ/ in slow speech, followed by a quick /mər/ reduced to /mɚ/ in fast speech, and finish with /ɪŋ/. The nuance is balancing a crisp initial consonant cluster /hæm/ with a lightly reduced middle and a crisp nasal ending. In runs like ‘hammering away,’ the rhythm tightens, and the middle vowels may become very brief. IPA cues help anchor the transitions.”
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Hammering derives from hammer, the tool used for pounding or driving nails, with the agentive suffix -ing. The noun hammer traces back to Old English hamor, related to late Germanic roots. The verb form hammer means to strike with a hammer; the gerund / present participle hammering attaches -ing to indicate ongoing action. The figurative use emerged in contexts like forcing or shaping something through repeated impact, then extended to describe persistent, forceful effort. First known uses surface in medieval English as physical action with tools, expanding in modern English to describe both literal pounding in construction and metaphorical persistence or pressure in negotiations and processes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hammering" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "hammering"
-ng? sounds
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