2 syllables: leap, ing. Stress on leap.
LEE-ping
/ˈlipɪŋ/
leaping is pronounced LEE-ping (/ˈlipɪŋ/). It has two syllables (leap-ing), with the stress on "leap". Leaping denotes making a large or sudden jump. It often implies a quick, energetic motion upward or forward, sometimes with a sense of exuberance or boldness. In everyday use, it can describe both physical movement and rapid, forward progress in nonliteral contexts.
Leaping denotes making a large or sudden jump. It often implies a quick, energetic motion upward or forward, sometimes with a sense of exuberance or boldness. In everyday use, it can describe both physical movement and rapid, forward progress in nonliteral contexts.
- You will often trip on transitioning from the long E vowel /iː/ to the short /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. Practice by isolating the gap: /iː/ then rapid reduction to /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. - You may overemphasize the /p/ stop and break the tempo; maintain a light /p/ release into /ɪ/ then /ŋ/. - Some speakers insert an extra schwa between /p/ and /ŋ/; avoid it by keeping the closure tight until the nasal closure is formed.
"She took a leaping leap over the hedge, landing softly on the other side."
"The cat sprang onto the wall in a swift, leaping motion."
"Her career took a leaping step forward after the breakthrough product launch."
Pronounce as /ˈliː.pɪŋ/. The first syllable has a long E, like 'le' in 'lease,' followed by a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable and the final /ŋ/. Stress is on the first syllable: LEAP-ing. Tip: keep the tongue high on the first syllable, then drop to a lax /ɪ/ before the velar nasal /ŋ/. Audio reference: use Cambridge or Forvo entries for /ˈliː.pɪŋ/ and listen to native speaker recordings.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the two syllables into /ˈliːpɪŋ/ with weak second syllable; keep /ˈliː/ clearly separated. (2) Pronouncing the second syllable with a full vowel like /iː/ instead of /ɪ/, which shifts to /ˈliːpiŋ/. (3) Ending with a hard or dental nasal instead of velar /ŋ/. Correction: maintain a crisp /p/ closure before the nasal and finish with the velar nasal /ŋ/ without adding a vowel after it.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the initial /liː/ is similar with a long E; rhoticity slightly affects cohesion in connected speech (US rhotic tones join r-colored vowels). Vowel quality in the /iː/ can be slightly tenser in US than UK; Australians often have a centralized vowel quality in fast speech, sometimes with a shorter /i/. The final /ŋ/ remains the same across accents; the main differences appear in vowel length cue and the placement of the tongue during the /p/ release and subsequent nasal.
The challenge lies in sequencing a distinct voiceless bilabial plosive /p/ immediately before the velar nasal /ŋ/ without inserting a vowel between them. This requires tight closure release and precise timing to avoid an intrusive vowel or an /ɡ/ or /d/ effect. The long /iː/ in the first syllable also demands a taut tongue body position, which can be tricky when transitioning to the lax /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. Mastery comes from controlled mouth coordination.
Is the syllable boundary in leaping felt more like two distinct beats (LEAP-ing) or a smooth glide (LEAPING) in connected speech?
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- US: rhotic accent, r-colored vowels influence surrounding vowels slightly; keep /r/ out of this word since /r/ is not present, but in connected speech blending with following words can color the preceding /iː/. - UK: crisp, precise /p/ release; keep vowels shorter and tighter; non-rhotic, so less linking r. - AU: vowel qualities palette slightly more centralized in casual speech; maintain clear /iː/ and rapid /ŋ/ closure; ensure no extra vowel pop.
Leaping comes from the verb leap, which traces back to Old English fleapan, fleapian, meaning to leap or spring. The noun form leaping emerged in Middle English as a gerundive noun denoting the act of leaping. The core root is Proto-Germanic *hlaiipijan* or similar, associated with jumping motion, with cognates in Old High German laufan and Dutch slaan. Over time, leaping retained its literal sense of a high or long jump, while also broadening metaphorically to describe rapid progress or dramatic changes—e.g., leaping forward in technology or knowledge. By the 16th century, leaping as an adjective-like participle described actions characterized by leaps or rapid advances. The word’s etymology emphasizes motion and force, connected to other jump-related terms in English and related languages, with the sense of abrupt, energetic movement persisting into modern usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "leaping" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "leaping" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "leaping"
-ing sounds
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