One syllable: Strong.
strawng
/stɹɔŋ/
Strong is pronounced strawng (/stɹɔŋ/). It has one syllable (Strong), with the stress on "Strong". Strong is a sturdy, high-intensity adjective describing substantial force, durability, or influence. In everyday use it conveys physical power or strong character, and can modify nouns or be used predicatively. The term often implies robustness or resilience in objects, actions, or personalities, without implying harshness or aggression.
adjectiveStrong is a sturdy, high-intensity adjective describing substantial force, durability, or influence. In everyday use it conveys physical power or strong character, and can modify nouns or be used predicatively. The term often implies robustness or resilience in objects, actions, or personalities, without implying harshness or aggression.
"The bridge withstood the storm; it’s remarkably strong."
"She has a strong work ethic that drives her success."
"The coffee had a strong aroma that filled the room."
Pronounce as /strɔŋ/ (US) or /strɒŋ/ (UK/AU). Begin with the cluster /str-/ with a light-but-secure lift of the tongue for the /ɹ/ or /r/ element in rhotic vs non-rhotic contexts, then the vowel is a back open sound, then end with the velar nasal /ŋ/. Stress is on the only syllable; ensure the /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ is long enough to prevent it merging with /ŋ/. Listen to model sounds and match the mouth shape: lips relaxed, jaw dropped slightly for /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ before rounding. Audio reference: use a native speaker clip from Pronounce or Forvo for real-time comparison.
Common errors: (1) Shortening the vowel too much, like /stræŋ/; correct to /strɔŋ/ or /strɒŋ/ depending on accent. (2) Dropping the /r/ in rhotic contexts for US speakers, making it sound like /stɔŋ/; keep the /r/ sound or chew into a rhotic cue in connected speech. (3) Prolonging the /ŋ/ or nasal incorrectly; aim for a clean final /ŋ/ without extra vowel after it. Practice with minimal pairs and mirror cues. Corrective cue: hold the vowel slightly longer before the nasal and keep the tongue high and back, not fronted.
In US English, /strɔŋ/ can have a back rounded /ɔ/ with rhoticity depending on speaker; vowel may be tenser. In UK English, /strɒŋ/ tends to be shorter with a more open back vowel in non-rhotic varieties, and final /ŋ/ is clear. Australian English often favors a centralized to back /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ with reduced rhoticity; the /r/ is not pronounced in most dialects, but the /str/ onset remains. Across all, the initial consonant cluster /str/ remains strong; the key is vowel quality and whether the speaker rhoticizes. Listen to native examples to internalize subtle shifts.
The difficulty stems from the initial consonant cluster /str/ which requires precise timing between /s/ /t/ and /r/. The mid- or back-vowel /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ can be tricky, especially for speakers whose L1 has a different vowel inventory or lacks rhoticity. Finally, the final velar nasal /ŋ/ must blend seamlessly without adding an extra vowel; many learners substitute /ŋ/ with /ŋk/ or /n/ at end. Practicing with tongue position exercises, minimal pairs, and soft fricative-to-velar transitions can alleviate this.
No silent letter here, but the vowel and nasal are central to the sound. The word is a single syllable with a strict CVCC pattern ending in a velar nasal; the
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Strong comes from Old English strong, from Proto-Germanic strango- (strong, firm) and Proto-Indo-European root merk- meaning ‘stiff, tight, hard.’ In Old English, strong described physical strength and firmness of will. The word evolved through Middle English with similar senses, reinforcing both physical power and intensity. By the 16th century, strong extended to metaphorical strength (e.g., strong flavor, strong arguments). The spelling stabilized to Strong in Modern English, retaining its core sense of endurance, resilience, and power. Throughout its history, strong has been a flexible descriptor across domains—physical capability, character, flavors, storms, metals, and social or political stances—always signaling robust quality or force. First known use as a fixed adjective in texts dates back to early medieval English, consistent with Germanic cousins that express force and durability. In contemporary usage, strong remains a versatile, high-impact term trusted in both casual and formal registers, often paired with intensifiers (very, exceedingly) or qualifiers (incredibly, exceptionally) to amplify its degree of strength.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Strong" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Strong" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Strong"
-ong sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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