2 syllables: lack, ing. Stress on lack.
LAK-ing
/ˈlækɪŋ/
lacking is pronounced LAK-ing (/ˈlækɪŋ/). It has two syllables (lack-ing), with the stress on "lack". Lacking is an adjective meaning not having enough of something, or missing a required or expected quality. In phrasing, it often describes deficiency or incompleteness, as in “lacking evidence.” The term can function attributeively or predicatively and implies a shortfall relative to a standard or expectation. The concept is widely used in formal and informal contexts to indicate insufficiency or absence.
Lacking is an adjective meaning not having enough of something, or missing a required or expected quality. In phrasing, it often describes deficiency or incompleteness, as in “lacking evidence.” The term can function attributeively or predicatively and implies a shortfall relative to a standard or expectation. The concept is widely used in formal and informal contexts to indicate insufficiency or absence.
"The report was lacking crucial data, which undermined its conclusions."
"Her argument seemed lacking in solid evidence and logical coherence."
"The team’s training was lacking in advanced techniques, so performance lagged."
Pronounce it as LA-king with two syllables. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈlæk.ɪŋ/. Start with a clear /l/ followed by the short æ as in cat, then a light /k/ release, and end with a short /ɪŋ/ using a lax schwa-ish vowel before the nasal. Emphasize the first syllable; the second is unstressed but not reduced to a full vowel. Mouth positions: tip of the tongue to touch the alveolar ridge for /l/ and /tʃ/? Sorry: for /l/ keep the tongue tip at the alveolar ridge, body of the tongue relaxed; for /æ/ open jaw about 1–1.5 cm; for /k/ back of tongue raised to velum; for /ɪ/ relaxed near the bottom of the mouth, then nasal /ŋ/ with the velum closed.
Two common errors: (1) Overpronouncing the second syllable as /ɪŋ/ with a full vowel, making it LA-kingg; instead, keep the second syllable reduced to a quick /ɪŋ/ or even a near-schwa before nasal. (2) Sloppy /æ/ to /aː/ or prolonging the first syllable, which blurs the word’s natural rhythm. Correction: keep the vowel short and crisp /æ/ in the first syllable and release the /k/ promptly, then a quick /ɪŋ/. Practice with minimal pairs like 'lacking' vs 'lacking' with emphasis on the second syllable to tune rhythm.
In American English the /æ/ in the first syllable is bright and short; the /ɪ/ in the second syllable is a lax vowel before the final nasal /ŋ/. UK speakers often maintain a similarly stressed first syllable but can exhibit slightly more centralized quality in /ɪ/; the /æ/ may be slightly lower with more open jaw. Australian English tends to be somewhat flatter vowel quality, with a quicker transition to the final nasal; /æ/ can approach /a/ in rapid speech. Across all three, rhoticity is not a feature here since /r/ is not present.
The difficulty lies in the short, crisp vowel in the first syllable and the glottal or nasal delay before the final consonant cluster /ŋ/. Many non-native speakers mis-tap the /k/ release or insert an extra vowel before /ŋ/, turning it into /læk-ɪŋ/ with an extra vowel. Also, the transition from a heavy front vowel to the velar /k/ and then to the velar nasal /ŋ/ requires precise timing and tongue retraction. Focusing on the rapid, clean /æ/ then /k/ + /ŋ/ can help.
The unique factor is coordinating a short stressed first syllable with a swift, clipped onset /k/ followed by a nasal ending. Avoid inserting extra vowels between /k/ and /ŋ/. Ensure the /æ/ is not lengthened and the /ŋ/ is clearly released without trailing vowel. Also pay attention to the transition from the alveolar /l/ to the stressed vowel, keeping the mouth relatively closed around the /l/ to avoid a lisp-like sound. IPA cues: /ˈlæk.ɪŋ/ with crisp /æ/ and a rapid /ɪŋ/.
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Lacking comes from the Old English lacking, from the verb lack means to be without or to be missing something. The noun lack dates earlier in the language, with similar meanings. It shares roots with other Germanic languages’ terms for absence or need. The form lacking as an present participle or gerund arose from adding the -ing suffix to lack, which began to be used in Middle English to describe ongoing states or actions. The word has retained its core semantic field of deficiency across centuries, though modern usage expands to describe not only physical absence but also abstract shortcomings like evidence, resources, or skill. Historical usage often paired lacking with nouns denoting required conditions, such as lacking funds or lacking expertise. In contemporary English, it frequently appears in evaluative statements and formal reporting as well as everyday speech, maintaining a precise sense of insufficiency without asserting complete negation. The semantic development tracks from simple absence to a more evaluative deficiency, enabling nuance in critical discourse and descriptive writing. First known uses appear in medieval texts where “lacking” described a state of being without something necessary, gradually evolving into a common descriptor in legal, academic, and everyday contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lacking" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "lacking"
-ing sounds
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