3 syllables: Lin, ger, ing. Stress on Lin.
LING-gur-ing
/ˈlɪŋɡɚɪŋ/
Lingering is pronounced LING-gur-ing (/ˈlɪŋɡɚɪŋ/). It has three syllables (Lin-ger-ing), with the stress on "Lin". Lingering (noun) refers to the act or effect of remaining in a place or situation longer than is typical or expected. It can describe a lingering scent, feeling, or presence that persists after the main event has passed. In usage, it often conveys a sense of temporary, gradual continuation or unwelcome persistence.
nounLingering (noun) refers to the act or effect of remaining in a place or situation longer than is typical or expected. It can describe a lingering scent, feeling, or presence that persists after the main event has passed. In usage, it often conveys a sense of temporary, gradual continuation or unwelcome persistence.
"The lingering fragrance of the rain filled the air long after it stopped."
"There was a lingering doubt about the plan’s viability."
"The rumor left a lingering impression on the team’s morale."
Pronounced /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/. Primary stress on the first syllable: LING-ger-ing. The first syllable uses a short i as in 'lid', followed by the velar nasal /ŋ/ as in 'sing'. The middle syllable is a schwa-like /ə/ in many speakers, and the final syllable ends with /ɪŋ/, a short 'ing' sound. For example: LING-ger-ing. Audio reference: you can hear this at Forvo or pronunciation videos; try saying it slowly: LING + guh + ring, then speed up to natural speech.
Two common errors: (1) Not stressing the first syllable. You want a clear /ˈlɪŋ/ followed by /ɡər/. (2) Mispronouncing the middle 'ger' as /dʒər/ or /ger/ with a hard G-sound; keep it a light /ɡər/ rather than a strong 'g' blend. Correct by segmenting: LING - ger - ing; practice by isolating /ˈlɪŋ/ and /ɡər/ before blending. Use minimal pairs like 'linger' vs 'finger' to feel the /ŋɡ/ sequence and ensure the final /ɪŋ/ closes without adding extra vowel.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/ with a rhotic /r/ in the second syllable; the /ɡ/ is a hard, audible consonant. UK English tends toward /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/ with a non-rhotic trailing /ə/ in some dialects, making the r less pronounced in connected speech. Australian English similarly uses /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/ but with a more centralized or schwa-like middle vowel depending on speaker. Across accents, the key is the strong first syllable and maintaining the /ŋɡ/ cluster before the final /ɪŋ/. IPA references: US /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/, UK /ˈlɪŋɡə(r)ɪŋ/, AU /ˈlɪŋɡəɹɪŋ/.
The difficulty lies in the /ŋɡ/ consonant cluster between vowels and the potential reduction of the middle vowel to a schwa in fast speech. Speakers often confuse it with 'linger' or merge the middle syllable too quickly, flattening the /ɡər/ to /ɡə/. Practice by isolating the middle syllable: /ˈlɪŋ/ + /ɡər/ + /ɪŋ/ and exaggerate slowly, then compress. Also mind the final nasal; ensure it’s a clean /-ɪŋ/ without adding an extra vowel.
Lingering has primary stress on the first syllable: LI-nger-ing with the /ˈlɪŋ/ block carrying the weight. There are no silent letters; the middle syllable /ɡər/ contains a full voiced velar stop plus a schwa. The challenge is maintaining the distinct /ŋ/ before /ɡ/, avoiding elision that would blur into /ˈlɪŋərɪŋ/ or /ˈlɪndʒərɪŋ/. Practicing segmentally helps: /ˈlɪŋ/ + /ɡər/ + /ɪŋ/.
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Lingering comes from the verb linger, which traces back to Middle English lingeren, from Old French linger (likely from Latin languere meaning to be idle or weak, akin to languor). The root conveys remaining, staying, or delaying. Over time, lingering evolved from simply staying in one place to describe elements that persist beyond their expected duration—whether odors, emotions, or memories. The noun form emerged to capture the ongoing state or object of persistence, rather than a one-time action. First known uses appear in late medieval to early modern English texts, where writers described both physical staying power (a figure lingering near a doorway) and metaphorical persistence (lingering doubts or sentiments). By the 18th and 19th centuries, lingering was commonly used in literary and everyday contexts to highlight subtle, prolonged effects rather than abrupt change. In contemporary usage, lingering commonly modifies abstract concepts like doubt, aroma, and influence, as well as tangible residues like smoke, color, or light, preserving its core sense of distance, time, and continuity with a nuanced emotional tone.
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Words that rhyme with "Lingering"
-ger sounds
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