One syllable: Strength.
strengkth
/stɹɛŋkθ/
Strength is pronounced strengkth (/stɹɛŋkθ/). It has one syllable (Strength), with the stress on "Strength". 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.
nounStrength 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.
How to Pronounce Strength
"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."
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.
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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/.
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.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Strength" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 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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