Strength is a noun meaning the quality or state of being physically strong or having the capacity to withstand force or effort. It also refers to the degree of intensity or power in something, such as a argument or product. The term emphasizes robustness, resilience, and capability in various contexts.
US: /strɛŋkθ/ with a slightly lax /ɛ/ and a crisp /θ/. UK: /streŋkθ/ with a slightly less open vowel and crisp /θ/; AU: /strɛŋkθ/ similar to US, sometimes softer on /θ/ depending on speaker. Across accents, the key is maintaining the /ŋk/ cluster before /θ/, ensuring the tongue contacts for /θ/ without voicing. IPA references: US /strɛŋkθ/, UK /strɛŋkθ/, AU /strɛŋkθ/.
"She demonstrated her physical strength by lifting the heavy box."
"The bridge’s strength was proven after the earthquake."
"Her argument had strength, but could still be improved."
"We admired the strength of the team as they worked through the night."
Strength traces to Old English strengðu, related to strengian meaning to stiffen or bind, from strengthian (to make strong). The root is Proto-Germanic strengdō, from streng- meaning stiff, taut. The semantic path moved from physical stiffness and power to general capacity and force, including metaphorical uses like the strength of a argument or argument’s persuasion. By Middle English, strength referred to physical power and muscular capability and gradually extended to figurative efficacy, resilience, and structural integrity. The word’s phonetic form preserved the consonant cluster -ngth, challenging for learners due to the final /θ/ sound being elided and the combination of /ŋ/ and /θ/ or /f/ phonemes depending on dialect. Historical texts record uses of strength in contexts of military prowess and structural strength of buildings. First known English attestations appear in Old English writings, with evidence in legal and poetic documents illustrating the term’s long-standing association with power, durability, and stability across centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Strength" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Strength" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Strength"
-ths sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as /strɛŋkθ/ in standard American, British, and Australian English. The initial cluster is /str/ as in strong, followed by the velar nasal /ŋ/ before the /k/ stop, and finally the voiceless interdental fricative /θ/. The primary stress is on the single syllable: STRENGTH with a short, clipped vowel /ɛ/. Tip: keep your tongue high and back for /ŋ/ and ensure a light release for /θ/. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries online for native audio.
Common errors include substituting /f/ or /t/ for the final /θ/, yielding /strɛŋkf/ or /strɛŋk/. Another error is pronouncing /s/ as a hissy /s/ with a longer vowel, turning it into /strɛŋk/ without the /θ/. To correct: practice the final /θ/ as a light, breathy interdental fricative, placing the tongue tip between the upper and lower teeth and letting a small stream of air pass, with the tongue relaxed.
Across US/UK/AU, the only major difference lies in the vowel quality of /ɛ/ and the realization of /θ/. US English often voices a slightly tenser /ɛ/; UK and AU variants can have a more centralized or open-mid /ɛ/. Rhoticity does not affect this word, as the final /θ/ is alveolar and not rhotic. In all three, the /str/ onset and /ŋk/ cluster remain stable; ensure the interdental /θ/ is audible in careful speech.
The difficulty comes from the tricky final /θ/ in /strɛŋkθ/ and the tight /ŋk/ cluster. Learners often fuse the /ŋ/ and /k/ too quickly, or replace /θ/ with /f/ or /t/. Slow practice with syllable-breaking—strike /str/ + /eŋ/ + /kθ—helps. Eye on mouth position: tip of tongue just behind upper teeth for /θ/, back of tongue for /ŋ/. The word’s compact, one-syllable profile also makes it prone to reduction in rapid speech.
A unique aspect is maintaining a precise interdental fricative /θ/ after a velar nasal /ŋ/ and stop /k/. Many learners glide into a /t/ or loose the /θ/ in casual speech. Practicing with minimal pairs or sequences like /strɛŋk θ/ (with a small pause) can help you stabilize the /θ/ while keeping the /ŋk/ sequence intact.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Strength"!
- Shadowing: Listen to a native speaker say Strength in slow, then normal speed; imitate exactly the rhythm and mouth movements. - Minimal pairs: test /strɛŋk/ with /stræng/ and /θ/ vs /f/ variations to train the interdental fricative awareness. - Rhythm practice: Place the primary beat after /str/ to emphasize the brief vowel /ɛ/ before rapid /ŋ/ and /k/ closure. - Stress practice: Though one-syllable, manage the tension and release of the /θ/ to avoid trailing weak sound. - Recording: Use your phone or a recorder to capture clear /θ/ and compare to a native sample. - Contextual sentences: practice with phrases like “the strength of the bridge” and “inner strength” to model natural usage.
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