3 syllables: num, ber, ing. Stress on num.
NUHM-bur-ing
/ˈnʌmbɚɪŋ/
numbering is pronounced NUHM-bur-ing (/ˈnʌmbɚɪŋ/). It has three syllables (num-ber-ing), with the stress on "num". Numbering refers to the act of assigning or arranging items in a sequence or list, typically by inserting numbers or ordinal markers. It is used in organizing information, labeling steps, or cataloging items, and often implies a structured, sequential order that aids clarity and reference. In linguistics or typography, numbering can also denote footnotes or references within a text.
Numbering refers to the act of assigning or arranging items in a sequence or list, typically by inserting numbers or ordinal markers. It is used in organizing information, labeling steps, or cataloging items, and often implies a structured, sequential order that aids clarity and reference. In linguistics or typography, numbering can also denote footnotes or references within a text.
"We’re numbering the chapters to keep track of the sections."
"Please number the pages so we can reference them quickly."
"The technician is numbering the components to avoid mix-ups."
Pronounce it as /ˈnʌm.bə.rɪŋ/ in US and UK accents (US /ˈnʌm.bə.rɪŋ/, UK /ˈnʌm.bə.rɪŋ/). The primary stress is on the first syllable ‘NUM-’. The middle syllable is a schwa /ə/, which is light and quick, and the final is /ɪŋ/ as in “sing.” Tip: keep the first consonant cluster simple, avoid adding an extra vowel after /m/, and ensure the /n/ flows into /b/ rather than separating. For audio reference, imagine saying “NUMBER-ING” with a brief, unstressed middle.
Common mistakes include adding an extra vowel after the /m/ (e.g., /ˈnʌm.mə.bɪŋ/), misplacing stress (e.g., /ˈnʌm.bəˌrɪŋ/), and over-articulating the middle syllable (/nʌm.bɜːˈrɪŋ/). The correction: keep the middle syllable as a quick /ə/ and maintain strong initial stress on /ˈnʌm/. Practice by saying ‘NUM’- then immediately the light /bə/ and final /rɪŋ/ without inserting a vowel between /m/ and /b/.
Across accents, the main differences are rhoticity and vowel quality. In US English, /ɹ/ is pronounced with rhoticity and the final /ɪŋ/ sounds like /ɪŋ/. In many UK accents, rhoticity varies; some RP speakers may have a non-rhotic /ɹ/ and a clearer /ə/ before /r/; the final /ɪŋ/ remains similar but with vowel quality closer to /ɪ/. Australian English typically has a non-rhotic /ɹ/ with a slightly broader vowel in /ɐ/ between /m/ and /b/ and a pronounced /ɪŋ/. Overall, the stress remains on the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition from /m/ to /b/ and the unstressed /ə/ vs. a reduced schwa, plus maintaining the /ɪŋ/ ending crisply. It’s easy to slip into /-ɪŋ/ or to insert an extra vowel between /m/ and /b/. Focus on a smooth /m/ followed immediately by a light /bə/ and a crisp /rɪŋ/. Practice linking the syllables with the middle schwa; keep the mouth relaxed in the middle to avoid tension that muddies the vowel.
In careful speech, the middle syllable is typically unstressed and reduced to a short schwa /ə/. In rapid or emphatic speech, you may briefly emphasize the middle element slightly, but it should still be lighter than the primary stress on /ˈnʌm/. The aim is a smooth, three-beat rhythm: NUM - ber - ing, with NUM carrying the primary weight and the others lightly connected. Keep jaw relaxed for the /ə/ to avoid a full vowel that disrupts rhythm.
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Numbering derives from the noun number, which originates from the Old English numor/numera, related to Latin numerus meaning ‘a counting, a number, a value.’ The verb form number is from Middle English nombrinen, from Old French nombrer, from Latin numerare ‘to count, to reckon, to number.’ The sense evolved through the medieval and early modern periods with the growing use of numbered lists, chapters, and sections in books, manuals, and legal texts. By the 16th–18th centuries, numbering had become a standard editorial and organizational tool in print, enabling precise cross-referencing and navigation in dense documents. The modern sense extends to sequential labeling in lists, figures, steps, and cataloging systems, maintaining the core idea of assigning a numerical identity to items. First known use as a verb in English dates to the 14th–15th centuries, with the noun form following soon after as printed material and scholarly works emphasized structured arrangement. Over time, numbering has also entered computing and data contexts, where numbers label records, entries, and elements within databases.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "numbering" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "numbering"
-ing sounds
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