2 syllables: Queu, ing. Stress on Queu.
KYOO-ing
/ˈkjuɪŋ/
Queuing is pronounced KYOO-ing (/ˈkjuɪŋ/). It has two syllables (Queu-ing), with the stress on "Queu". Queuing (noun) refers to the act of forming or organizing in a line, typically to wait for service. It can also describe a sequence or assignment of tasks awaiting processing. The term is commonly used in everyday conversation and in contexts like customer service, computer systems, and workflow management, where orderly waiting or sequencing is implied.
nounQueuing (noun) refers to the act of forming or organizing in a line, typically to wait for service. It can also describe a sequence or assignment of tasks awaiting processing. The term is commonly used in everyday conversation and in contexts like customer service, computer systems, and workflow management, where orderly waiting or sequencing is implied.
- Mispronouncing the /juː/ as two separate vowels, leading to /ˈkjuːˈɪŋ/ or /ˈkjuːiŋ/. Keep the glide tight and continuous, then drop to /ɪ/ before the final /ŋ/. - Dropping the /j/ so it sounds like /ˈkuːɪŋ/ or /ˈkwiːŋ/. Ensure the consonant sequence includes the /j/ sound after /k/. - Final /ŋ/ improperly released; avoid a stop, let it softly nasalize without extra vowel after. Use a short but clear nasal closure. Practice with slow tempo, then speed up.
How to Pronounce Queuing
"We joined the queue early to buy tickets for the concert."
"The software paused, then resumed, queuing the tasks for later execution."
"In the grocery store, the line of customers is called a queue."
Pronunciation is /ˈkjuːɪŋ/. Stress on the first syllable. The first part sounds like 'cue' (/kjuː/), followed by a short /ɪ/ and the final -ng /ŋ/. When saying it, keep the lips rounded for /juː/ and then move to a relaxed tongue for /ɪŋ/. Audio references: listen to Cambridge or Forvo entries to hear the /ˈkjuːɪŋ/ pattern.
Common errors include softening the /j/ into a simple /j/ blend with /uː/ so you get /ˈkjuːɪŋ/ instead of crisp /ˈkjuːɪŋ/, and misplacing the /ɪ/ making it /ˈkjuːŋ/ or /ˈkwuːɪŋ/. Another pitfall is unclear final nasal; ensure you release /ŋ/ with a clean velar nasal closure. Practice by isolating the /juː/ cluster first, then add the /ɪŋ/.
In US, UK, and AU, /ˈkjuːɪŋ/ remains the core, but vowel quality shifts: US tends to slightly reduce the /juː/ to a tighter /u/ with a hint of /ju/, UK retains a clearer /juː/ glide, and AU often shows a flatter /ɪ/ in /ɪŋ/ with less diphthongal distinction. Rhoticity is generally non-issue here; focus on the length and rounding of /juː/ and the final velar /ŋ/.
The difficulty lies in the /juː/ glide followed by a short /ɪ/ before /ŋ/, requiring precise tongue position: start with a rounded /j/ sound, then a long /uː/ glide, and abruptly switch to a short /ɪ/ before the velar nasal /ŋ/. Small differences in vowel duration and mouth shape across accents can alter clarity, especially in rapid speech. IPA helps you anchor position.
A common search query is whether to pronounce the 'ue' as a separate /juː/ or a simpler /uː/ sequence. In queuing, the standard is /ˈkjuːɪŋ/, where the /j/ sound forms part of the /juː/ glide and you follow with a short /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. Keeping the glide distinct helps avoid a mistaken /ˈkwiːŋ/ or /ˈkjuːŋ/.
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- US: Rhoticity is typically still non-issue here, but ensure the /ɹ/ remains not involved; practice the U-shaped /juː/ with rounded lips. - UK: Emphasize the /juː/ glide; keep length and maintain clear /ɪŋ/; the /i/ before /ŋ/ is shorter than the preceding /juː/ and should not be rounded. - AU: Often less vowel distinction; ensure /ɪ/ remains clear before /ŋ/ and avoid over-lengthening the glide. IPA: /ˈkjuːɪŋ/.
Queuing derives from the noun queue, which traces to the Old French cue, meaning tail or line, and from the Latin cauda ‘tail.’ The English spelling and pronunciation shifted in the 18th–19th centuries to reflect the modern concept of a line or sequence awaiting service or processing. The noun queuing as a gerund form emerged from the verb queue, which itself developed from the sense of forming a line. Early uses appear in British English banking and railway contexts describing orderly lines of customers. The term broadened in tech contexts to describe sequences of tasks, requests, or processes waiting their turn. The grapheme -ue- in queue solidified the long /uː/ vowel and the trailing -ing suffix, while the pronunciation /ˈkjuːɪŋ/ became standard in modern usage. First known uses are recorded in late 18th century dictionaries that document queue as a line, with queuing as the present participle illustrating ongoing action in forming or maintaining that line or sequence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Queuing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Queuing" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Queuing"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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