4 syllables: Pa, ra, glid, ing. Stress on Pa.
PAR-uh-gleye-ding
/ˈpæɹəˌɡlaɪdɪŋ/
Paragliding is pronounced PAR-uh-gleye-ding (/ˈpæɹəˌɡlaɪdɪŋ/). It has four syllables (Pa-ra-glid-ing), with the stress on "Pa". Paragliding is the sport and activity of flying a lightweight, paraglider wing while suspended from a harness, typically launched by running off a slope or hill. It combines free flight with foot-launched propulsion, offering soaring distance and duration with parafoil control. The term emphasizes the use of a parafoil parachute-like wing rather than a rigid aircraft, enabling maneuverability and scenic aerial views.
nounParagliding is the sport and activity of flying a lightweight, paraglider wing while suspended from a harness, typically launched by running off a slope or hill. It combines free flight with foot-launched propulsion, offering soaring distance and duration with parafoil control. The term emphasizes the use of a parafoil parachute-like wing rather than a rigid aircraft, enabling maneuverability and scenic aerial views.
- You often misplace stress, saying parA GLY-ding instead of par-aGLY-ding. Fix: keep secondary syllables light and land primary stress on the second syllable. - The /æ/ in the first syllable may become /ə/, which weakens the word. Practice with a crisp /æ/ or /e/ to keep the rhythm. - The /ɡlaɪ/ cluster can blur with the following /dɪŋ/. Separate the glide and the nasal by a crisp transition: /ɡlaɪ/ + /dɪŋ/. Practice slow to fast to avoid loss of the /ŋ/.
How to Pronounce Paragliding
"I took a paragliding class this weekend and learned how to launch safely."
"We watched the paragliding competition from the mountainside."
"Her dream is to become a professional paragliding instructor."
Pronounce as pa‑ra‑GLY‑ding with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌpær.əˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ/ (US) or /ˌpeə.rəˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ/ (UK). Start with /p/ then /æ/ (as in cat), quick schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, then /ˈɡlaɪ/ (glide), and finish with /dɪŋ/. In US you may hear a lighter second vowel; UK tends to stronger initial vowel length in /peə/. For an audio cue, think “pair-uh-GLY-ding.”
Common errors: (1) pronouncing /ˈɡlaɪ/ as /ɡlaɪ/ with reduced tilt causing a weaker diphthong; (2) misplacing stress on the first syllable (pa-ra-GLY-ding is wrong for most speakers); (3) linking /də/ or mispronouncing /dɪŋ/ as /ənɡ/ at the end. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable, ensure the /ˈɡlaɪ/ cluster is a clear glide vowel, and articulate the final /ŋ/ as a velar nasal with the tongue touching the soft palate. Practice slow, then speed up with consistent mouth positions.
US: rhotic /r/ is present; initial /pær/ with clear /æ/; UK tends to a closer /ɜː/ in some contexts? Not typically for paragliding; UK commonly uses /ˌpeə.rəˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ/ with a lighter first vowel and a non‑rhotic accent affecting the /r/; AU typically similar to US but with widened /æ/ and longer /ɪ/ in /dɪŋ/. Emphasize the /ˈɡlaɪ/ diphthong; rhoticity differences influence the first syllable; keep the ly sound distinct across all. IPA references: US /ˌpær.əˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ/, UK /ˌpeə.rəˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ/, AU /ˌpæɹ.əˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ/.
The main challenges are the two‑syllable rhythm and the /ˈɡlaɪ/ cluster that merges quickly with the following /dɪŋ/. The /æ/ or /ə/ in the first two syllables can drift, making the second syllable carry less stress than expected. Also, the final /ŋ/ requires the tongue to stay high in the velum while finishing with /dɪŋ/. Practice with slowed articulation and clear separation of syllables to stabilize rhythm.
There is no silent letter in paragliding; all letters contribute to the spoken form. The complexity comes from combining the two primary phoneme clusters: /ˌpær/ (first syllable) and /ˈɡlaɪ/ (second stressed syllable). The ending /dɪŋ/ is clearly pronounced; ensure you do not drop the /d/ or nasal /ŋ/ when speaking quickly.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /r/ and clear /æ/; use a stronger /ɡlaɪ/; keep /dɪŋ/ crisp. - UK: lighter first vowels, non-rhotic /r/ (if applicable in your accent), ensure /ɡlaɪ/ retains the diphthong clarity. - AU: broader vowel qualities, slightly longer vowels; practice /æ/ and /ɜː/ variations, keep /ŋ/ stable.
Paragliding derives from the combination of para- (beside, alongside) and gliding, with paragliding forming in the late 20th century as the sport evolved from tan‑gar or paragliding design. The parafoil wing concept predates the term, with early uses in parachuting and sail wing development, but the modern term “paragliding” crystallized as ultralight, foot‑launched gliding became distinct from parachuting and hang‑gliding around the 1980s. The root para- traces to Greek para (beside, alongside). Gliding comes from Old English glidan, related to glide, indicating smooth, controlled flight. The first known uses align with early sport aviation literature and paragliding clubs documenting dawn of standardized equipment and techniques in the 1980s and 1990s.
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Words that rhyme with "Paragliding"
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