4 syllables: in, ter, view, ing. Stress on in.
/ˈɪntɚˌvjuɪŋ/
Say it backInterviewing is the act of conducting or taking part in a formal conversation to assess qualifications, gather information, or make judgments about someone. The term emphasizes the process and technique of asking questions, listening, and evaluating responses, often in a professional or research context. It combines the verb interview with the progressive -ing suffix to describe ongoing or repeated sessions.
"During the hiring process, interviewing candidates helps us understand their fit with the team."
"Researchers are interviewing participants to collect data for the study."
"She is currently interviewing for a fellowship and preparing her portfolio."
Pronunciation: /ˈɪn.tərˌvjuː.ɪŋ/ (US), /ˈɪn.təˌvjuː.ɪŋ/ (UK), /ˈɪn.təˌvjuː.ɪŋ/ (AU). Primary stress on the first syllable of interview, with a secondary emphasis on the second syllable cluster -vjuː-. Segment as: IN-ter-VYOO-ing. Mouth: start with a light, closed front vowel /ɪ/, then a mid-schwa /ə/ or /ər/ for the second syllable, and a rounded /vjuː/ for the third-cluster, finishing with /ɪŋ/.
Common errors: (1) Dropping the /t/ or merging /tər/ into /tə/ making it ‘in-’ + ‘vyoo-ing’ less distinct; (2) Mispronouncing /vjuː/ as /vuː/ or /vjʊ/ causing a blurred center; (3) Placing stress on the wrong syllable, e.g., /ˈɪn.tərˌvjuː.ɪŋ/ vs /ˈɪn.təˈvjuː.ɪŋ/. Correction: enunciate /t/ clearly after /ɪn/ and use a crisp /tər/ or /tɚ/; articulate the /vjuː/ as a tight /v/ plus /juː/ with lip rounding; keep the main stress on IN-.
Accent differences: US typically keeps a rhotic /ɹ/ in /ˈɪn.tɚˌvjuː.ɪŋ/ with a clear /ɚ/; UK often uses a reduced /tə/ with non-rhotic /ˈɪn.təˌvjuː.ɪŋ/ and less rhotic vowel quality; AU tends to a flatter /ˈɪn.təˌvjuː.ɪŋ/ with less pronounced /ɹ/ and a longer /juː/ diphthong. The /vjuː/ sequence stays intact in all, but the preceding vowel and r-coloring vary. Listen for /ˈɪn.tə/ vs /ˈɪn.tɚ/ and the degree of rhoticity across regions.
Key challenges: the cluster /tərvjuː/ requires quick transition from a stop consonant to /t/ or /d/ with a smooth /ər/ or /ə/; producing /vjuː/ requires lip rounding and accurate palatal approximant transition between /v/ and /juː/. The trailing /ɪŋ/ can soften in rapid speech. Practice separating the syllables slowly, then chain them: /ˈɪn. tər./ /ˈvjuː./ /ɪŋ/. Focus on crisp /t/ and the /v/ followed by /j/ glide.
The unique aspect is the /ˌvjuː/ cluster after /tər/. English often blends /ˌvjuː/ into a tight sequence where the lips move from labiodental /v/ to palatal /j/ while rounding for /juː/. This requires precise timing: ensure /v/ ends cleanly and the /j/ is not delayed, giving a smooth glide into /ːɪŋ/. It’s helpful to practice a micro pause after /tər/ to secure the transition.
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Interviewing originates from the noun interview, borrowed from the French entrevue, meaning a meeting or a face-to-face encounter. The French entrevue itself derives from entre, meaning between, and voie/voir, meaning to see or view, collectively signaling a meeting between parties to exchange information. The English noun interview dates back to the 14th-15th centuries in forms like entrevy or entrevue, slowly narrowing to the modern interview by the 19th century as job and journalism practices formalized. The verb form interview appears in English by the 18th century, adopting the -ing participle in the 19th century to describe ongoing sessions. The modern sense has broadened with media, HR, and research, while the core idea remains a purposeful, structured exchange aimed at extracting information or making judgments. First known uses were associated with formal inquiries and examinations, evolving into the contemporary professional practice with standardized questions and scoring rubrics still central to the process today.
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Words that rhyme with "interviewing"
-ing sounds
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