SAH-bing
/ˈsɑbɪŋ/
sobbing is pronounced SAH-bing (/ˈsɑbɪŋ/). Sobbing refers to the act of crying noisily, often with convulsive breaths and audible crying sounds. It denotes a sustained, emotional response characterized by deep, audible sighs and tears, typically expressing sadness or overwhelming emotion. In phonetic terms, the word stresses the first syllable and ends with a voiced nasal and a soft vowel, reflecting its emotional, high-intensity usage.
Sobbing refers to the act of crying noisily, often with convulsive breaths and audible crying sounds. It denotes a sustained, emotional response characterized by deep, audible sighs and tears, typically expressing sadness or overwhelming emotion. In phonetic terms, the word stresses the first syllable and ends with a voiced nasal and a soft vowel, reflecting its emotional, high-intensity usage.
- You might over-elide the /ɒ/ to a schwa; practice the rounded back vowel by shaping lips into a small circle and keeping the jaw slightly dropped before the /b/. - The /b/ can be too soft or merged with /ɪ/; ensure a clear stop and abrupt transition to the lax /ɪ/; pause briefly after /b/ to avoid “bebing”.
"- She was sobbing uncontrollably after hearing the news."
"- The child started sobbing when the story ended sadly."
"- He tried to stay calm, but he began sobbing in the doorway."
Pronunciation: SOB-ing with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK: /ˈsɒb.ɪŋ/. Start with an open-back rounded /ɒ/ (or /ɒ/ depending on accent), then a brief /b/ stop, followed by a lax /ɪ/ in the unstressed second syllable and an final velar nasal /ŋ/. Keep the mouth slightly rounded for /ɒ/ and release quickly into /b/ and /ɪŋ/.
Common mistakes: (1) Slurring the /b/ into /ɪ/ making /sbɪŋ/; ensure a clean /b/ closure before /ɪ/. (2) Substituting /ɒ/ with /ɑː/; use a shorter, rounded /ɒ/ as in 'cot.' (3) Misplacing stress to the second syllable; keep primary stress on first syllable SOB-. Corrections: articulate a distinct stop after /s/ to release into /ɒ/ firmly, then lightly release to /ɪ/ and finally nasal /ŋ/ without adding a glide between /ɪ/ and /ŋ/.
US/UK/AU differences: US often uses /ˈsɑː.bɪŋ/ or /ˈsɒbɪŋ/ with rhotic influence and a more open /ɒ/ or /ɑ/. UK typically /ˈsɒb.ɪŋ/ with shorter /ɒ/ and less diphthongal change; AU tends toward /ˈsɒb.ɪŋ/ but may reduce vowel length and have a slightly flatter intonation. All share /ŋ/ ending; the /ɒ/ vs /ɑ/ distinction and vowel timing differ slightly, with US often shifting to a more open back vowel in stressed position.
Key challenges: the first syllable requires a precise /s/ + /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ vowel with rounded lips, followed by a clean /b/ stop–avoid voicing blends. The second syllable reduces to /ɪŋ/, which must blend without an intrusive vowel or extra consonant. The final nasal requires keeping voicing through /ŋ/ while the jaw relaxes; in fast speech, V1 can weaken and cause /sɒbɪŋ/ to become /sɒbɪŋ/ with reduced vowel clarity.
Yes—stress is on the first syllable SOB-, a 1-syllable prefix with a clear kick leading into the vowel. The suffix -bing behaves as a light, unstressed ending, with the /ɪŋ/ closely tied to /ŋ/. This contrasts with words where -ing carries more vowel length (e.g., singing). The phonetic emphasis remains on the onset consonant group, which guides the following schwa-like relaxation in the next syllable.
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- US: /ˈsɒb.ɪŋ/ with possible /ɑ/ in some regions; keep rhoticity muted in non-rhotic pockets. Vowel /ɒ/ may approach /ɑː/ in some Boston/New England speakers. - UK: /ˈsɒb.ɪŋ/ with shorter, clipped /ɒ/; less rhoticity, crisp /b/. - AU: /ˈsɒb.ɪŋ/ with flatter intonation, vowel qualities close to UK with some American influences; watch vowel length and final nasal clarity.
Sobbing comes from the verb sob, which traces to the Old English word so bian, associated with cryings and laments, and the Proto-Germanic *saup- meaning ‘to cry’ through related Germanic languages. The sense of the word broadened in Middle English to include the act of crying with convulsive breath, often with tears. The morphological addition of -ing to form a present participle/gerund retains the core sense of ongoing crying. First written attestations appear in Middle English texts referencing “sobbing” as a continuous, audible weeping rather than mere quiet crying. Over time, the word has kept its emotional charge, frequently appearing in narrative prose to convey intense sorrow, grief, or overwhelming relief. In modern usage, sobbing commonly collocates with adjectives like “uncontrollable,” “bitter,” or “hysterical,” emphasizing its visceral, audible component. The phonetic syllable structure lli- sob-bing mirrors the typical English pattern of a closed syllable followed by an open syllable, with stress falling on the first syllable, reflecting the emotional emphasis and energy of the act.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "sobbing" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "sobbing"
-ing sounds
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