3 syllables: Pur, sui, ng. Stress on sui.
pur-SOO-ing
/pɚˈsuɪŋ/
Pursuing is pronounced pur-SOO-ing (/pɚˈsuɪŋ/). It has three syllables (Pur-sui-ng), with the stress on "sui". Pursuing is the act of following or chasing something with intent or purpose. In grammar and usage, it often functions as a participial adjective or gerund, describing ongoing action or intent in relation to a noun. The term implies active pursuit, ongoing effort, and forward movement toward a goal or objective.
nounPursuing is the act of following or chasing something with intent or purpose. In grammar and usage, it often functions as a participial adjective or gerund, describing ongoing action or intent in relation to a noun. The term implies active pursuit, ongoing effort, and forward movement toward a goal or objective.
- Common Challenges: 1) Incorrect syllable stress: put primary stress on second syllable; 2) Mis-timing the /j/ glide with /uː/ resulting in /sjuː/ vs /suː/; maintain consonant-vowel glide; 3) Under- or over-pronouncing the final /ɪŋ/; ensure a nasal finish. Corrections: rehearse with a metronome, practice slow isolates: /pər/ + /ˈsuː.ɪŋ/, then combine, check audio to ensure the /j/ glide is audible but not excessive.
How to Pronounce Pursuing
"She is pursuing a career in medicine after volunteering at the hospital."
"The company is pursuing a merger, despite regulatory hurdles."
"He spent the afternoon pursuing the lead across town."
Pursuing is pronounced with stress on the second syllable: pər-SYOU-ing. Start with a weak schwa in the first syllable, then the stressed 'SYOU' (/ˈsjuː/). The final 'ing' is /ɪŋ/. In IPA for US: /pərˈsuː.ɪŋ/ or /pərˈsjuː.ɪŋ/ depending on vowel reduction. For UK/AU, the /juː/ vowel remains. Lip rounding is needed for /juː/, with the tongue approaching high-front position.
Common errors: 1) Stress misplaced on the first syllable (PUR-suing) rather than on the second (pər-SYU-ing). 2) Mispronouncing the /juː/ as a simple /uː/; keep the “y” sound moving toward a /j/ followed by /uː/. 3) Reducing the final /ɪŋ/ too much, causing a clipped ending. Correction: feel the secondary vowel glide from /j/ into the /uː/ then finish with a clear /-ɪŋ/. Slow down at the switch from /s/ to /j/ to avoid stopping the glide.
US: May reduce the first syllable to /pər/, with /ˈsuː/ strong in the second. UK/AU: often clearer /pəˈsjuː.ɪŋ/ with less vowel reduction in the first syllable; rhoticity is similar to US in this word. In all, the key difference is the degree of vowel reduction in the first syllable and how the /juː/ sequence is articulated. Practice both /ˈsjuː/ and /ˈsjuː/ combinations to feel the subtle shifts.
The difficulty lies in coordinating the glide /j/ with the high back rounded /uː/ vowel while keeping the stress on the second syllable. The transition from /s/ to /j/ can sound abrupt if the tongue doesn’t move smoothly; the second syllable also carries the heavier nucleus (/ˈsuː/). Practicing the /j/ onset and correct syllable timing helps avoid a choppy or mis-stressed pronunciation.
Is there a common instance where the 'pursuing' syllable can be reduced in fast speech? Often, in rapid speech, the first syllable reduces toward /pər/ or /pə/, and the /ˈsuː/ portion remains prominent, with the final /ɪŋ/ continuing as a light nasal. The challenge is maintaining the /s/ and /j/ sequence without letting it blend into a single sound. IPA cues: /pərˈsuː.ɪŋ/ and careful glide insertion help clarity.
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US: slight rhoticity; the /r/ is mostly silent in the first syllable before /j/. UK: /əˈsjuː.ɪŋ/ with more precise /j/ and less reduction; AU: similar to UK but with more vowel quality variation. Vowel details: /ə/ vs /ɪ/ in weak syllable; /ˈsuː/ features a long high back rounded vowel; /ɪŋ/ is a nasal vowel not a pure /ŋ/. IPA references: /pərˈsuː.ɪŋ/ (US), /pəˈsjuː.ɪŋ/ (UK/AU).
Pursuing originates from Middle English pursuen, derived from the Old French poursuire, from Latin perseverare ‘to persevere, continue.’ The root perse- meaning ‘through, thoroughly’ plus suer (to pursue, follow) contributes to its sense of persistent chasing or striving. In English, the verb form pursue appeared in the 14th century, with the sense broadened to “follow in order to overtake or capture.” The morpho-phonemic shift to include -ing as a participle/gerund form developed in Early Modern English as -ing suffixing became productive for continuous action. As a noun or gerund, pursuing emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action, contrasting with a single pursuit. First known uses often appeared in legal, military, and hunting contexts where following or tracking something through space, time, or strategy was essential. Over time, the term broadened into everyday usage for both literal chasing and figurative pursuit (goals, careers, objectives), while maintaining its core sense of persistent forward movement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pursuing" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Pursuing"
-ing sounds
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