2 syllables: low, ing. Stress on low.
LOH-ing
/ˈloʊɪŋ/
lowing is pronounced LOH-ing (/ˈloʊɪŋ/). It has two syllables (low-ing), with the stress on "low". Lowing refers to the action of producing a deep, moaning sound, typically by cattle or in a lamenting voice. In pronunciation terms, it centers on the diphthongal vowel /oʊ/ followed by the /ɪŋ/ or /ŋ/ consonant cluster, with a smooth transition and slight lip rounding. The word often appears in literary contexts or descriptions of animal sounds and can also describe a resonant, lingering vocal tone.
Lowing refers to the action of producing a deep, moaning sound, typically by cattle or in a lamenting voice. In pronunciation terms, it centers on the diphthongal vowel /oʊ/ followed by the /ɪŋ/ or /ŋ/ consonant cluster, with a smooth transition and slight lip rounding. The word often appears in literary contexts or descriptions of animal sounds and can also describe a resonant, lingering vocal tone.
"The cattle were lowing softly in the pasture at dusk."
"She could hear the distant lowing of the herd, echoing across the valley."
"His voice lowered to a somber note, a slow, almost sighing lowing."
Pronounce it as /ˈloʊ.ɪŋ/ in US English or /ˈləʊ.ɪŋ/ in UK/AU variants. Primary stress on the first syllable: LOH-ing. Start with the open-mid back vowel /oʊ/ (US /loʊ/; UK/AU often /ləʊ/), then glide to a near-close near-front vowel in the second syllable, ending with the velar nasal /ŋ/. Ensure a smooth transition, not breaking into two separate syllables. Link the /ɪŋ/ tightly: loʊɪŋ rather than loʊ.ɪŋ.
Common errors include over-separating the diphthong and nasal into two strong syllables (loh-ing) and misplacing the /ɪ/ too early, producing /loʊɪŋ/ with a too-flat transition. Another error is mispronouncing /ɔɪ/ or using a long /iː/ in the second syllable. Correct by practicing the tight /oʊ/ glide into a reduced /ɪ/ in the second syllable, ensuring the /ŋ/ is velar and not velar-velarized. Focus on a smooth, single-flow transition LOH-ing.
In US English, /ˈloʊ.ɪŋ/ with a clear /oʊ/ and a short /ɪ/. UK and AU often use /ˈləʊ.ɪŋ/ or /ˈlɔː.ɪŋ/ depending on the speaker; some speakers reduce the first vowel slightly, resulting in /ləʊɪŋ/. Rhoticity is generally not involved here, but vowel quality can be more centralized in some UK varieties. Expect subtle length differences and softer /ɪ/ in non-rhotic accents. The second syllable remains /ɪŋ/ in most accents.
It hinges on the diphthong /oʊ/ followed by a nasal cluster /ɪŋ/ without an intrusive pause. The challenge is a clean transition from a broad back vowel to a near-front /ɪ/ while maintaining a true velar nasal /ŋ/. Learners may produce a two-syllable feel (lo-ing) or nasalize the vowel. Practice by isolating the diphthong, then blend quickly into /ɪŋ/, using a small mouth opening, relaxed jaw, and soft palate lift to avoid a nasal-voiced stop.
Yes. The key is not to over-emphasize the second syllable or insert a second vowel: drive the sequence LOH-ning with a tight, almost instantaneous /ɪŋ/. Some speakers add a tiny schwa before /ɪŋ/ in rapid speech, which softens the second syllable; to sound native, aim for a clear, short /ɪ/ followed directly by /ŋ/. Maintain primary stress on LOH and ensure the /ŋ/ is fully velar.
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The verb low can mean to make a deep, hollow sound, especially the lowing of cattle. The noun 'low' as a sound is attested in Old English as leh, with Germanic roots related to lament and sound production. The form 'lowing' emerges as the present participle of the verb 'to low,' prominent in Middle English texts describing animal sounds and later extended to human vocalizations that resemble a bass, moaning, or contemplative sound. The semantic trajectory moves from concrete animal vocalization to figurative uses in poetry and prose to describe melancholic or somber tones. First known use in English literature appears in medieval texts where shepherds describe cattle and herds making low, moaning noises. Over time, 'lowing' retained its literal sense but broadened to metaphorical descriptions of voices, winds, or atmospheres that produce a deep, sustained sound.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lowing" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "lowing"
-ing sounds
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