riz-EYE-ning
/ɹɪˈzaɪnɪŋ/
resigning is pronounced riz-EYE-ning (/ɹɪˈzaɪnɪŋ/). Resigning refers to the act of voluntarily leaving a job or position, typically formalized through a written resignation or notice. It implies intent to quit and end one’s current association or duties, often with a brief rationale. In pronunciation, the word stresses the second syllable and ends with an -ing suffix that forms a gerund/participle form. Overall, it denotes departure rather than failure or dismissal.
Resigning refers to the act of voluntarily leaving a job or position, typically formalized through a written resignation or notice. It implies intent to quit and end one’s current association or duties, often with a brief rationale. In pronunciation, the word stresses the second syllable and ends with an -ing suffix that forms a gerund/participle form. Overall, it denotes departure rather than failure or dismissal.
- You may unintentionally reduce the second syllable, turning ri-ZY-ning into ri-ZING, which compresses the diphthong and makes the word harder to understand. Focus on maintaining /zaɪ/ clearly before the final /nɪŋ/. •- Fix: say /rɪ/ then /ˈzaɪ/ with a crisp, open mouth for /aɪ/, then /nɪŋ/ with a distinct final nasal. - Another error is mispronouncing the final /ŋ/ as an /ŋk/ or /ŋg/ sound in quick speech. Keep it simple: /ŋ/ followed by an open mouth for the upcoming syllable boundary; if preceded by /n/, ensure the tongue tap doesn’t close prematurely. •- Fix: practice /nɪŋ/ as a tight unit, not /niŋk/. - A third mistake is incorrect stress, saying ri-ZI-ning. The stress should be on the second syllable; treat /ˈzaɪ/ as a strong nucleus between the two halves. •- Fix: tap your finger on the syllable boundary as you pronounce to reinforce the stress cue.
"She is resigning from her role to pursue a new opportunity."
"After months of consideration, he announced he is resigning effective next Friday."
"The company accepted her resignation letter, and a successor was named."
Pronounce as /rɪˈzaɪ.nɪŋ/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: ri-ZY-ning. Begin with /r/ + /ɪ/ (short i), move to /ˈzaɪ/ as in “sigh,” then finish with /nɪŋ/ (/n/ + /ɪ/ + /ŋ/), ensuring the /ɪ/ in the final syllable is reduced and the final -ing blends to /ŋ/. A practical cue: say “ree-SY-ning,” but with the long I in the second syllable pronounced clearly.
Common errors include misplacing stress (say-ing instead of ri-ZY-ning), pronouncing the /zaɪ/ as /zeɪ/ or /zai/ with a hard z, and slurring the final /ŋ/ or turning it into /n/ or /ŋk/. Correct these by emphasizing the /ɪŋ/ ending and ensuring the /aɪ/ is a clear diphthong in the second syllable. Practice with slow, exaggerated segments to lock in the rhythm: /rɪ/ + /ˈzaɪ/ + /nɪŋ/.
In US, the /ɪ/ in the first and final syllables remains relatively lax; the /ɪŋ/ tends toward a lighter, quicker ending. UK tends to be crisper, with clearer /ɪ/ and a more distinct /ŋ/; the /zaɪ/ segment can have a slightly rounded tongue position. Australian English often shows a closer front vowel in /ɪ/ and a slightly flatter /ɪŋ/ ending; the overall rhythm can be more even with a less pronounced vowel movement in the second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the two-part structure: a stressed, high-front diphthong in /ˈzaɪ/ that requires precise tongue height and lip rounding, followed by a trailing /nɪŋ/ with a short, lax /ɪ/ and a velar nasal /ŋ/. The transition between /zaɪ/ and /nɪŋ/ can blur in fluent speech, so speakers often reduce the /ɪ/ or blend the syllables. Practice isolating the diphthong and then attaching the final nasal clearly.
Resigning follows a strong-weak pattern with primary stress on the second syllable (ri-ZY-ning). This is typical for two-syllable verbs formed with the -ing suffix where the root carries the weight of the word's meaning and the gerund/participle suffix is unstressed. The distinct second-syllable stress helps avoid confusion with “re-signing” (signing again) or “resigning” as one word vs. a different structure. In practice, keep the /ˈzaɪ/ segment prominent.
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US: rhotic, more vowels relaxed; UK: sharper vowel clarity; AU: closer front vowel, slightly flatter intonation. For /r/ you may start with a light trillless approximant; in US, the /ɹ/ is rhotic. The second syllable /ˈzaɪ/ demands a higher tongue position and a bit of lip rounding, while the final /ɪŋ/ requires a lax vowel followed by a clear velar nasal; avoid trailing with /ŋɡ/ or /ŋk/. Vowel quality: /ɪ/ in the first and final syllable tends to be reduced in casual speech, but keep it crisp in careful speech. IPA references: US /rɪˈzaɪ.nɪŋ/, UK /rɪˈzaɪ.nɪŋ/, AU /rɪˈzaɪ.nɪŋ/.
The verb resign originates from the Latin resignare, meaning to take back or relinquish. In medieval Latin, resignare combined re- (“back, again”) with signare (“to seal, mark”), extending to the sense of returning a commitment or obligation. The form resigning emerges in English after the adoption of Latin-based verb formations, with the present participle -ing suffix used to indicate ongoing action or a gerund. Early English texts show resigning used in contexts of giving up a role or title, evolving alongside related terms like resign, resignation, and resigned. The usage broadened in the Early Modern period (16th–17th centuries) as bureaucratic and institutional language increased, leading to modern, more generalized usage describing voluntary departure from employment or office. The term’s connotations shifted slightly from formal, duty-bound relinquishment to everyday usage describing personal career moves, while preserving its core sense of giving up a position, not being forced to quit. First known uses appear in legal and ecclesiastical records, later permeating workplace discourse as employers and employees adopted standardized resignation practices. Today resigning commonly appears in HR communications and professional writing, with a neutral to slightly formal tone depending on context.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "resigning" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "resigning"
-ing sounds
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