One syllable: String.
string
/stɹɪŋ/
String is pronounced string (/stɹɪŋ/). It has one syllable (String), with the stress on "String". String (noun) refers to a slender, flexible length used to tie, fasten, or suspend objects; it can also mean a linear sequence in music, computing, or other systems. In everyday talk, it denotes a cord-like material, such as a string of yarn or a guitar string. The term also appears in phrases signaling succession or continuity, like a string of events.
nounString (noun) refers to a slender, flexible length used to tie, fasten, or suspend objects; it can also mean a linear sequence in music, computing, or other systems. In everyday talk, it denotes a cord-like material, such as a string of yarn or a guitar string. The term also appears in phrases signaling succession or continuity, like a string of events.
- You may insert a vowel between /s/ and /t/ (e.g., saying ‘s—t’ring’) or misplace the /r/ causing an awkward /strɹɪŋ/ blend. - The /ŋ/ can be mispronounced as /ŋg/ or a simple /n/; keep it as a nasal closure at the velum. - Some speakers over-articulate the /t/ turning /str/ into /stɹ/ or add a faint vowel after /t/, creating /strɪŋɡ/ or /strɪŋɡ/. Pro tip: practice with a brief, sharp /t/ release and snap into /ŋ/.
How to Pronounce String
"She tied the package with a thin string."
"The guitar string vibrated as he plucked it gently."
"A string of lights lined the porch for the party."
You pronounce it as /strɪŋ/. Start with an initial cluster /st/ produced by a light lift of the tongue, then release into /r/ with a slightly tapped or bunched tongue, followed by the short /ɪ/ vowel as in ‘kit’ and end with the velar nasal /ŋ/ as in ‘sing’. The stress is on the single syllable; try a quick, clean release without adding a vowel after the /ŋ/.
Common errors include turning the /r/ into a rounded, American-like vowel before the /ɪ/ (producing /stɪɹɪŋ/ or /strɪɹŋ/) and adding an unnecessary extra vowel after the /ŋ/ (like ‘string-guh’). Another pitfall is misarticulating the final /ŋ/ as a hard /g/-like stop. To correct: keep /str/ cluster tight, deliver a short /ɪ/ then a clean velar nasal /ŋ/ without vocalizing beyond it.
In US English, /strɪŋ/ has a rhotic /r/ with a crisp /ɪ/. UK English often features a slightly less rhotic surface in some regions, with a shorter /ɪ/ and possibly a softer /ŋ/. Australian English tends to be non-rhotic in some accents but typically retains /r/ after vowels in spelling; for /strɪŋ/ you’ll generally hear /strɪŋ/ with a clear /ŋ/. The vowel may vary slightly in duration and quality across accents, but the core consonants remain stable.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster at the start /str/ and the final velar nasal /ŋ/. Coordinating the tongue to produce the /str/ blend without inserting a vowel and transitioning smoothly into /ŋ/ can be challenging, especially for speakers whose first language avoids clusters or ends words with a nasal. Tongue-tip movement for /s/ and /t/ plus the back-closure for /ŋ/ requires precise timing and control.
A distinctive feature is achieving the /str/ onset without a vocalic interlude and maintaining the alveolar-tap-like quality of /r/ in many dialects. You should try to fuse /s/ and /t/ quickly, then roll into the rhotic /r/ or approximate it depending on your accent, and end with the nasal /ŋ/ without voicing beyond it. Focus on a single, tight aerodynamic stream of air for the entire word.
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US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; keep /r/ fairly retroflex or bunched depending on region; short /ɪ/ like in ‘kit’; final /ŋ/ is velar nasal. UK: non-rhotic or weaker /r/ in some variants; still retain /str/ cluster; /ɪ/ slightly shorter; /ŋ/ remains. AU: often non-rhotic; /r/ after vowels may be less pronounced; maintain /str/ and /ŋ/ with a clear finish; vowel is close to /ɪ/. Use IPA cues to keep accuracy across dialects.
String comes from Old English stringa, related to German Zunge (tongue) and strings in many Germanic languages. The earliest senses referred to a thread or filamental cord. Over time, the meaning broadened to any long, slender filament used to tie or fasten objects, and by the medieval period it also described musical bands (strings on instruments) and a sequence or chain of items. The sense evolution from a physical filament to abstract sequences (a string of events) reflects a common metaphor: a continuous, pliable line that can be extended or tied. The term appeared in written English from at least the 10th century, with the semantic shift to include computer science strings emerging in the late 20th century as programming languages adopted the term for sequences of characters. Today, string is both a physical material and a versatile metaphor in tech, mathematics, and everyday language.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "String" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "String" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "String" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "String"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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