STAY-ning
/ˈsteɪnɪŋ/
staining is pronounced STAY-ning (/ˈsteɪnɪŋ/). Staining refers to the act of applying a dye or pigment to a surface so that it penetrates or colors it, or to a discoloration itself caused by such a process. In general usage, it can describe marks left by dye, medicine, or other substances. The term can also function as a present participle verb, as in staining furniture or stained fabrics.
Staining refers to the act of applying a dye or pigment to a surface so that it penetrates or colors it, or to a discoloration itself caused by such a process. In general usage, it can describe marks left by dye, medicine, or other substances. The term can also function as a present participle verb, as in staining furniture or stained fabrics.
"The wood is staining beautifully with a deep oak finish."
"She avoided staining the carpet by using a protective cover."
"The photograph shows staining around the edges of the frame."
Staining is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈsteɪ.nɪŋ/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. The first part uses the long a as in 'stay' (/eɪ/), followed by a short /nɪŋ/ for the second syllable. Your mouth starts with a mid-high position for /eɪ/ then quickly moves to a relaxed, lax /ɪ/ before the velar nasal /ŋ/. Try to keep the /æ/ out; it’s not /steɪnɪŋ/ with a drawn-out 'n' sound. Audio reference: compare with standard dictionaries or pronunciation tools for verification.
Two common mistakes: (1) Slurring the /t/ into a quick /s/ or dropping the /t/ altogether, producing /ˈseɪnɪŋ/. Remember to release the /t/ clearly: a brief release helps the /t/ transition to /eɪ/. (2) Substituting /ɪ/ with /ɪə/ or reducing the /ŋ/ too shortly, yielding /ˈsteɪ.nən/ or /ˈsteɪ.nɪŋg/. Keep the final /ŋ/ as a voiced velar nasal and don’t add vowel after it. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘stain’ vs ‘staining’ to reinforce the final nasal.” ,
In US, UK, and AU, the initial /steɪ/ is consistent with a clear long /eɪ/. The main differences lie in vowel quality and rhoticity context: US rhotic accents keep an independent /r/ only in rhotic contexts; staining itself does not involve /r/. UK non-rhotic speakers may have a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the second syllable, with less vowel reduction, while AU speakers are often closer to US in rhoticity, with similar /ˈsteɪ.nɪŋ/. All share final /ŋ/.
The difficulty lies in the precise tongue position and the clean boundary between /eɪ/ and /n/. You start with a tense, mid-front vowel /eɪ/ that glides into a short /ɪ/; mis-timing the transition creates a blended vowel like /eɪn/ or /eɪŋ/. The final /ŋ/ requires the velar closure at the soft palate without preceding vowel intrusion. Also, many speakers over-draw the /t/ or incorporate a syllabic /n/. Target crisp /t/ release and a clear /ŋ/.
The key is the tense onset /st/ cluster followed by /eɪ/ and then /nɪŋ/. There are no silent letters here, but the /t/ should be released crisply rather than lingered, and the /ɪ/ should be shorter than a full vowel, leading into the nasal /ŋ/. Ensure the /st/ cluster is not reduced to /s/ or /t/; you want a clear, brief /t/ sound before /eɪ/.
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Staining comes from the verb stain, which derives from Old English stænan (to stain, dye) related to Middle Low German stænen. The root traces to Proto-Germanic stainaną, with cognates across the Germanic family indicating a concept of dyeing or discoloration. In medieval manuscripts, stain began to refer to both the act of applying a dye and the mark left by it. The suffix -ing attaches to verbs to form present participles and gerunds, indicating ongoing action or result (a stain- ing process or the state of being stained). The modern sense broadened to include any discoloration or pigmentation that alters the surface color, as well as the act of applying stain in crafts and woodworking. First attested senses appeared in Middle English, with usage intensifying in the context of textiles, wood finishing, and medical staining methods, leading to its current dual function as a noun and a present participle verb. Over time, staining also acquired metaphorical uses (staining reputation), though the literal sense remains most common in materials and crafts.
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Words that rhyme with "staining"
-ing sounds
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