RANG-king
/ˈɹæŋkɪŋ/
ranking is pronounced RANG-king (/ˈɹæŋkɪŋ/). Ranking refers to the act or result of placing items in a particular order according to criteria, often reflecting relative importance or quality. It can describe a standing within a group, a hierarchical position, or the process of evaluating and ordering options. In everyday usage, it also functions as a verb in phrases like 'ranking the candidates' or 'ranking high on search results.'.
Ranking refers to the act or result of placing items in a particular order according to criteria, often reflecting relative importance or quality. It can describe a standing within a group, a hierarchical position, or the process of evaluating and ordering options. In everyday usage, it also functions as a verb in phrases like 'ranking the candidates' or 'ranking high on search results.'
- Common missteps include pronouncing it as /ˈrænkɪŋ/ with an unreleased /k/ or with a hard break between /ŋ/ and /k/. To correct, practice the triplet /ræŋ/ + /k/ + /ɪŋ/ in a single fluid motion, ensuring both the /ŋ/ and /k/ are fully articulated without an extra vowel. - Another frequent error is reducing /ɪ/ too much, yielding /ˈræŋkŋ/ or /ˈræŋkən/. Emphasize a clear /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a light, crisp /ŋ/ before /k/. - Some speakers add an extra vowel after /k/ as in /ˈræŋkɪŋ/ → /ˈræŋkɪŋ/ (not harmful but breaks rhythm); keep a compact, 2-syllable rhythm. Tips: slow practice emphasizing the boundaries with hand-taps, then accelerate while maintaining accuracy.
"The ranking of schools improved after the new curriculum was implemented."
"She is ranking the teams by their win-loss records."
"The product ranked first in the consumer reports for reliability."
Pronounce as /ˈræŋ.kɪŋ/. Stress on the first syllable: RANG-king. The first syllable uses the vowel in 'cat' with an 'ng' nasal as in 'ring' but followed by a quick 'k' onset before 'ing'. The final '-ing' is a reduced, unstressed suffix sound /-ɪŋ/. In careful speech, you’ll hear a clean boundary between /ræŋ/ and /kɪŋ/.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying raŋ-KING; (2) Eliding the /ŋ/ into /n/, saying /ˈrænkɪŋ/ or /ˈræŋkən/; (3) Overemphasizing the /k/ so it sounds like /ræŋkˈɪŋ/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, clearly articulate /ŋ/ before the /k/, and transition smoothly to /ɪŋ/ without adding a vowel between /k/ and /ɪŋ/. Practice by chaining sounds: /ræŋ/ + /k/ + /ɪŋ/ with a light pause.
US/UK/AU share /ˈræŋ.kɪŋ/ but differences appear in rhoticity and vowel quality. US tends to rhotic “r” neutralization and a slightly tighter /æ/ toward /æŋ/; UK often has clearer non-rhoticity in some speakers, with crisper /k/ release; AU typically aligns with non-rhotic tendencies and a more centralized vowel for /æ/. Overall, the core syllable structure stays the same; focus on the /ræŋ/ onset and the /kɪŋ/ ending.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a clean /ŋ/ nasal before a fortis /k/ and then a quick /ɪŋ/ sequence without an intrusive vowel, plus keeping primary stress on the first syllable in rapid speech. The consonant cluster /ŋk/ is tricky because /ŋ/ is velar nasal, and the /k/ onset followed by /ɪ/ can blur in casual speech. Focus on sequencing: /ræŋ/ → /k/ → /ɪŋ/ with minimal vowel between. IPA cues help practice.
No. Though 'ran-' appears as the first syllable, its pronunciation remains the same: the word is pronounced /ˈræŋ.kɪŋ/. The prefix-like appearance does not alter the vowel or consonant sounds; you still deliver the nasal /ŋ/ before the /k/ and the final /ɪŋ/. Awareness of the root word 'rank' can help you remember the exact sequence, but the pronunciation follows the standard /ˈræŋ.kɪŋ/ pattern.
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- US: Pronounce /ˈræŋ.kɪŋ/ with a rhoticity-neutral or mild r-less quality in some regions; keep the /æ/ value bright and the /ŋ/ nasal strong. - UK: Slightly crisper /k/ release; non-rhoticity typical, so the /ɪ/ before /ŋ/ is clear; maintain a forward tongue position for /æ/ and a firm /ŋ/ closure. - AU: Similar to UK with a tendency toward less tense vowel height and often broader /ɪ/; maintain clear /ŋ/ before /k/. IPA references: /ˈræŋ.kɪŋ/ US, UK, AU share the core pattern; adjust vowel quality and rhoticity subtly by dialect. - Focus on mouth: /ræŋ/ uses a low-front /æ/ with a raised velum for nasal; /k/ is a released plosive; /ɪŋ/ is a short lax vowel followed by nasal.
Ranking comes from the noun ranking, derived from rank, which in turn comes from Old French rang (row, line) and from Germanic roots related to arranging in a line. The term adopted a specialized sense in the late Middle Ages, denoting a position in a hierarchy or a degree of precedence. In the 17th–18th centuries, ranking began to be used more broadly to mean the order or grade assigned to items, people, or institutions. In modern usage, ranking retains a dual function: as a noun describing the order itself and as a verb meaning to assign such an order or standing. The first known uses appear in English texts discussing military, social, and administrative hierarchies, with the sense of “placing in rank” evolving alongside the administrative need to categorize and compare performance, status, or quality. The sense broadened further in the 20th century with the rise of data-driven evaluation, search engine results, sports rankings, and market analyses, embedding ranking as a core analytical and communicative tool in many domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ranking" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "ranking" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "ranking"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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