SPEN-ding
/ˈspɛndɪŋ/
spending is pronounced SPEN-ding (/ˈspɛndɪŋ/). Spending is the act of using money to purchase goods or services, or the period during which one spends. In broader terms, it can refer to the allocation or consumption of resources over time. The word emphasizes the expenditure itself rather than the outcome, and it often appears in discussions of budgets, economics, or personal finance.
Spending is the act of using money to purchase goods or services, or the period during which one spends. In broader terms, it can refer to the allocation or consumption of resources over time. The word emphasizes the expenditure itself rather than the outcome, and it often appears in discussions of budgets, economics, or personal finance.
"I’ve been carefully tracking my spending this month to stay within budget."
"Her spending on luxury items surprised her accountant."
"The government announced new policies aimed at reducing public spending."
Say SPEN-ding with primary stress on SPEN. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈspɛn.dɪŋ/. The first syllable has /ɛ/ like bed, the second syllable uses a reduced /ɪ/ in typical fast speech. Make sure the /d/ is a clean alveolar stop and the final /ɪŋ/ blends as a nasal + front vowel. In careful speech, avoid adding a second vowel after the /n/—keep it as one syllable transition to -ding. For audio reference, imagine saying 'spend' and then add a soft -ing suffix without a strong 'ee' sound.
Two common errors: (1) Pronouncing as two clear syllables with a long -ing: SPEN-ding with an extra vowel between n and g; correct is a quick /dɪŋ/ cluster. (2) Reducing the first vowel to /ɪ/ or using /æ/ as in cat; use /ɛ/ as in bed. To fix: hold the /n/ to flow into /d/ and keep the /ɪŋ/ tightly bound. Practice with minimal pairs like /ˈspɛn.dɪŋ/ vs /ˈspən.dɪŋ/ and ensure your tongue lands for /d/ before the velar nasal in ‘ding.’
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on SPEN; the /ɛ/ vowel stays similar, but rhoticity can affect surrounding vowels in connected speech. The main difference is the quality of the /ɪ/ in -ing and the speed of the suffix. US speakers often have a slightly tenser /ɪ/ in rapid speech; UK speakers may use a slightly longer /ɪ/ in some regions; Australian speakers may experience more vowel reduction in informal speech, and the final /ŋ/ can sound lighter or more nasal depending on the speaker. IPA remains /ˈspɛn.dɪŋ/ across accents, with subtle vowel shifts.
The difficulty lies in seamlessly blending the alveolar stop /d/ with the following velar nasal /ŋ/ as in -ding, creating a quick /dɪŋ/ cluster. The /ɛ/ in the first syllable can be challenging for learners whose native language has a different vowel inventory, and the final /ŋ/ requires the tongue to stay high and back while producing nasal airflow. Smooth linking from /n/ to /d/ without an extra vowel, plus keeping the vowel length subtle in casual speech, are key phonetic challenges.
Yes. The initial /sp/ is a consonant cluster that requires immediate blending of /s/ and /p/ without a vowel between. You should have a quick, crisp /s/ release into the /p/. Many learners insert a tiny vowel between them, producing something like /ˈspɪspɛn.dɪŋ/. To master it, practice holding a light air release during the /s/ and then a clean /p/ with a short stop before the /ɛ/; keep the tongue apex close to the alveolar ridge for both sounds.
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Spending comes from the verb spend, which derives from the Old English spentan, itself from the Proto-Germanic spentanam, and related to the Old High German spantan. The core concept centers on consuming or using up resources. Over time, “spending” broadened from a plain act of using money to also describe the broader allocation or consumption of time and resources. By Middle English, “spenden” carried the sense of paying out money in exchange for goods or services, while the modern sense extended into budgeting and financial planning. The word has maintained its economic focus through centuries, with “spend” appearing in various legal and fiscal texts, often contrasted with “save.” The noun form “spending” is a gerund, aligning with other abstract nouns formed from verbs that denote ongoing action. Its common collocations—spending habits, government spending, consumer spending—reflect its entrenched role in discussions of economics and personal finance. First known use in print aligns with medieval and early modern economic texts where expenditure was a central concern of trade, taxation, and household management, gradually expanding into contemporary discussions of budgets and fiscal policy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "spending" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "spending" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "spending"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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