STRAWNG-guhst
/ˈstɹɔŋɡəst/
strongest is pronounced STRAWNG-guhst (/ˈstɹɔŋɡəst/). Strongest is the superlative form of strong, used to describe the greatest degree of strength or power among a group. It implies peak capability and resilience, often in physical, emotional, or metaphorical contexts. The word is compact, monosyllabic at its core, but the final -est adds emphasis and certitude.
Strongest is the superlative form of strong, used to describe the greatest degree of strength or power among a group. It implies peak capability and resilience, often in physical, emotional, or metaphorical contexts. The word is compact, monosyllabic at its core, but the final -est adds emphasis and certitude.
"She is the strongest climber on the team, able to haul the heaviest packs up steep trails."
"Among all the contestants, his argument was the strongest, presenting clear evidence and organized reasoning."
"The storm proved strongest in the afternoon, bringing relentless winds and heavy rain."
Pronounce it as /ˈstrɒŋ.stəst/ in UK/AU and /ˈstrɔŋ.stɪst/ in many US dialects; the exact US form may be /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/ with a light g sound? Note: The standard US pronunciation is /ˈstrɔːŋ.stəst/ or /ˈstrɔŋ.stəst/ depending on speaker. Stress falls on the first syllable: STRONG-est. Begin with /str/ (lip corners spread, tip of tongue near alveolar ridge), then /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ as the vowel in 'strong', then /ŋ/ (velar nasal), then /st/ cluster, and finalize with /əst/ or /əst/. Audio reference: try online dictionaries with sound samples.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the /ŋ/ into a hard /g/ or /ŋɡ/ making /ˈstrɔŋɡəst/ instead of /ˈstrɔŋ.stəst/. 2) Dropping the second syllable symbol and saying /ˈstrɔŋst/ or /ˈstræŋst/; keep the -est as two distinct syllables. 3) Misplacing the /t/ and /s/—insert a clear /t/ release before /st/ to avoid a rushed /st/ sequence. 4) Vowel reduction in the first syllable in rapid speech; maintain a full tense /ɔː/ (US /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ UK). Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation then speed up.
US tends toward /ˈstrɔŋ.stəst/ with rhoticity in surrounding vowels, and the second syllable often more clearly reduced to /stə/. UK/AU typically use /ˈstrɒŋ.stəst/ with shorter /ɒ/ in 'strong' and less vowel length; AU may lean to non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers, softening postvocalic r in surrounding words. The /ŋ/ remains, and the /t/ is a crisp stop, while the second syllable often features a schwa-like /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on speed. In rapid connected speech, the -est may compress.
The difficulty lies in sequencing three consonant clusters: /str/ onset, a velar nasal /ŋ/, and the final /st/ plus /əst/ ending. The cluster /st/ immediately after /ŋ/ can blur in fast speech, making it hard to hold the /t/ release before /s/. Additionally, the final syllable reduces to a weak vowel, which can blur vowels; speakers unfamiliar with keeping a distinct, short /ə/ before the /st/ can mispronounce as /ˈstrɔŋ.stɪst/ or /ˈstrɔŋ.sta/. Precise tongue positions help: tip behind upper front teeth for /t/, tongue blade near the alveolar ridge for /s/.
Is there any silent letter in strongest? No; all letters contribute to sound; there is no true silent letter in strongest. The challenge is maintaining the contrastive /ŋ/ before /st/ and ensuring the final -est is released clearly as /stəst/ rather than merging with /st/.
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US: rhotic or nonrhotic depending on region; typically /ˈstrɔŋ.stəst/ with a strong/r sound in a preceding context, and a light /ə/ in the second syllable. UK/AU: /ˈstrɒŋ.stəst/ with shorter /ɒ/ vowel, less rhoticity pressure; final /st/ crisp. Vowel quality differences: US often uses a longer /ɔː/ or /ɔ/ in 'strong', UK/AU may reduce to /ɒ/. Consonant notes: keep /str/ cluster clean, avoid adding a vowel between /r/ and /ɒ/; ensure /ŋ/ is velar soft to prevent /ŋk/ blends. IPA references: see /ˈstrɔŋ.stəst/ (US), /ˈstrɒŋ.stəst/ (UK/AU). Analyze surrounding vowels for rhoticity and schwa usage.
Strongest derives from strong + the suffix -est, forming the superlative. Strong itself traces to Old English strang, related to German stark and Dutch sterk, rooted in Proto-Germanic *strangaz and Proto-Indo-European *strenk-. The transition from Proto-Germanic to Old English yielded strang, with sense of tautness, force, and difficulty. In Middle English, form variants like strangest appeared before standardization, but by early modern English strongest had consolidated as the preferred superlative. The degree marker -est is common in adjectives of one-syllable length in English, signaling the utmost degree and often paired with adverbs to heighten emphasis. The semantic shift focuses on peak power, capacity, and intensity across physical, mental, and metaphorical domains, with usage intensifying in competitive or evaluative contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "strongest"
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