4 syllables: non, per, form, ing. Stress on form.
nahn-pur-FAWR-ming
/nɑnpɚˈfɔɹmɪŋ/
nonperforming is pronounced nahn-pur-FAWR-ming (/nɑnpɚˈfɔɹmɪŋ/). It has four syllables (non-per-form-ing), with the stress on "form". Nonperforming describes an entity—often a company, loan, or asset—that is not meeting its obligations or performing as expected. In finance and law, it denotes overdue or underperforming status; in broader use, it can refer to anything failing to meet standards or duties. The term combines the prefix non- with performing, signaling a negation of performance.
Nonperforming describes an entity—often a company, loan, or asset—that is not meeting its obligations or performing as expected. In finance and law, it denotes overdue or underperforming status; in broader use, it can refer to anything failing to meet standards or duties. The term combines the prefix non- with performing, signaling a negation of performance.
- You may default to pronouncing non as a quick, indistinct prefix and then stumble on the second word; instead, practice the natural break: non- / pər- / ˈfɔː- / mɪŋ, with subtle linking between non- and performing. - Vowel quality errors: avoid shortening the /ɔː/ in /fɔːm/ to /ɒ/ or /ɔ/; keep it long and rounded. - Stress misplacement: ensure the stress stays on the second syllable of performing; do not stress non- or the entire word evenly. - Boundary linking: don’t insert a hard pause; connect non- and performing with a light, quick transition. - US/UK divergence: be mindful of rhotics; in US you’ll hear more rhotic release in pər, while UK may have a shorter rhotic cue and different vowel timing.
"The bank reclassified the loan as nonperforming after 90 days of nonpayment."
"A nonperforming asset can drag down a bank’s capital reserves and profitability."
"The company faced increased scrutiny due to its nonperforming subsidiaries."
You say /nɒn pərˈfɔːmɪŋ/ in British and Australian contexts, and /nɑːn pərˈfɔːmɪŋ/ in many American usages. The stress is on the second syllable of performance: pərˈFɔːm- ing. Start with a short n sound, then the O-sound in non as /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. The second word uses a schwa in the first syllable, with the main stress on the second syllable; end with the “ming” /mɪŋ/. Remember to link the words softly to avoid a hard pause between non- and performing.”
Common errors include misplacing the stress by stressing non- instead of performing (you want pərˈfɔːmɪŋ). Another error is pronouncing the second syllable of non as /naɪ/ or making the r-sound overly strong in non-; keep it as a light /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ followed by a clear schwa in the next syllable. People also flatten the /ɔː/ into /ɒ/ in British contexts; aim for the long /ɔː/ in the second syllable. Practicing the sequence non- /pər/ /ˈfɔː/ /mɪŋ/ helps.”
In US speech, the first syllable of non is /nɑː/ or /næ/, with a rhotic r in the following syllable; the main stress remains on the /ˈfɔː/ of performing. In UK English, non ≈ /nɒn/ with nonrhotics, and the /ɔː/ in performing is a long vowel; the ending -ing is clear. Australian English follows UK patterns but with a slightly flatter /ɒ/ and a more centralized /ə/ in pər. Overall, US tends to maintain a stronger r-coloring in pər, while UK/AU keep nonrhotics; the second syllable’s /ɔː/ is long in all, but duration and vowel quality vary subtly by accent.”
The difficulty stems from linking a multisyllabic compound with proper stress placement across morphemes. The main challenge is placing the stress on the second component of the compound—performing—without breaking the word into two clear parts. The /pər/ cluster and the long /ɔː/ vowel in /fɔːm/ require precise lip rounding and tongue position. Also, the neutralized schwa in the first syllable of performing and the rapid transition into the stressed /ˈfɔː/ can cause timing errors in fast speech.”
There are no silent letters in nonperforming. The word is pronounced with all letters sounding: non- (nɔː / nɒn) + performing (pərˈfɔːmɪŋ). The key is not eliding the consonant cluster at the boundary; maintain the slight consonant link between /n/ and /p/ without a glottal stop. The main challenge is the stress on performing and the long /ɔː/ vowel.”
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- US: Aim for /nɑːn pərˈfɔːmɪŋ/. The R in pər is pronounced, giving a smoother flow. Long /ɔː/ in fɔːm; maintain a relaxed jaw on this vowel. - UK: /nɒn pəˈfɔːmɪŋ/. Non is shorter and nonrhotic; the second syllable of performing carries primary stress; use a clear, crisp /ˈfɔː/ with lip rounding but less rhoticity. - AU: /nɒn pəˈfɔːmɪŋ/ with a broad vowel in non and a similar pattern to UK; expect a slightly more centralized nucleus in pər and a subtle, clipped non-final sound. Pay attention to vowel length and mouth openness; vowels in AU can be slightly tenser. IPA references help anchor these differences; keep the second syllable dominant across all, but adjust vowel quality and rhotic cues per region.
Nonperforming is a compound adjective formed from the prefix non- (from Latin non, meaning not) attached to performing (from Old French podenre, later French performant, from Latin performans, present participle of per-formere ‘to accomplish’). The word performing derives from Latin per- ‘through’ + formare ‘to shape, to form.’ The sense of “not meeting standards” appeared in finance and credit markets in the 20th century, where “nonperforming loan” became standard terminology. In banking, the term gained prominence in the early to mid-1900s as securitization and credit risk analysis intensified; “nonperforming” specifically labeled debts or assets that fail to generate expected payments or returns. Over time, the adjective broadened into general use beyond finances to describe any underachieving performance or duty. First known written uses are found in financial reporting and accounting literature from the 1950s–1960s, but the adjectival form likely circulated earlier in legal or corporate contexts. Today, nonperforming is a routine descriptor in credit risk, asset management, and performance evaluation, signaling issues in payment, yield, or fulfillment of obligations.
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Words that rhyme with "nonperforming"
-ing sounds
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