SWAH-loh-ing
/ˈswɑloʊɪŋ/
swallowing is pronounced SWAH-loh-ing (/ˈswɑloʊɪŋ/). Swallowing refers to the act of moving or causing a liquid or food to pass from the mouth through the pharynx and esophagus into the stomach. It involves coordinated oral, laryngeal, and esophageal movements, and is essential for safe, efficient ingestion. In linguistics, swallowing can describe the rapid, often subtle closure of the mouth or the assimilation of sounds in connected speech.
Swallowing refers to the act of moving or causing a liquid or food to pass from the mouth through the pharynx and esophagus into the stomach. It involves coordinated oral, laryngeal, and esophageal movements, and is essential for safe, efficient ingestion. In linguistics, swallowing can describe the rapid, often subtle closure of the mouth or the assimilation of sounds in connected speech.
- You may deliver /sw/ too abruptly, producing a harsh onset; fix by starting with a rounded, controlled /sw/ blend, then release into /ɒ/. - Second syllable often swallowed by the third; ensure there is a definite vowel nucleus in each syllable: /swɒl.oʊ.ɪŋ/ or /swɒ.ləʊ.ɪŋ/. - Final /ŋ/ can be mis-timed; keep the /ŋ/ with a full mouth position at the end, not a nasalized vowel; close with a clear velar nuzzle behind the teeth.
"The swallowing reflex protects the airway when you swallow."
"She practiced swallowing techniques to improve her speech after the surgery."
"He felt a lump in his throat while swallowing the large pill."
Pronounce it as /ˈswɒl.oʊ.ɪŋ/ (US) or /ˈswɒl.əʊ.ɪŋ/ (UK). The primary stress is on the first syllable SWAL-, with an initial /sw/ cluster, the /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ vowel in the first syllable, a light /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the second, and a final /ɪŋ/. Ensure the tongue blade closes briefly for the /l/ and the /l/ is darker; finish with a clear velar nasal /ŋ/. See audio reference in Pronounce for precise timing.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, pronouncing SWAL-lowing as a flat two-syllable with even stress; keep primary stress on SWAL-. 2) Slurring the second syllable, producing /swɒlˌoʊ.ɪŋ/ as a quick 'oh-ee' run; keep a distinct /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ vowel. 3) Mispronouncing /sw/ cluster, sometimes de-voicing or turning it into /swo/; start with a hard /sw/ and release into /ɒ/ without adding extra vowel before /l/. Practice with slow exag: /ˈswɒl.oʊ.ɪŋ/ to fix rhythm.
US: /ˈswɒl.oʊ.ɪŋ/ with rhotic-ish /ɹ/? Not present here; US often reduces /oʊ/ to a closer, greener diphthong; UK: /ˈswɒl.əʊ.ɪŋ/ with a lighter /əʊ/ in the second syllable; AU: /ˈswɒl.əɪŋ/ or /ˈswɒləɪŋ/ leaning toward a reduced second vowel; rhotics are less pronounced in GA; perceivers may hear subtle vowel shifts in the /ɒ/ and /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/; ensure you keep the /ŋ/ final crisp in all accents.
Because it blends a consonant cluster initial /sw/ with a sequence of vowels in unstressed positions, creating multiple delicate vowel glides across syllables: /swɒl/ + /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the middle, and a final velar nasal /ŋ/. The (/l/) side closure requires precise tongue contact without adding an extra vowel, and the final nasal can bleed into preceding vowels in fast speech. Practice isolating the three syllables and then connecting them slowly before increasing tempo.
A key nuance is the subtle vowel change from first to second syllable: /ɒ/ to /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK). Many learners also unintentionally produce a long /i/ or a loose /ɪ/ before the final /ŋ/. Focus on maintaining a crisp /l/, avoiding a darkened /l/ into a vowel, and keeping the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ as a distinct, smoothly articulated glide rather than merging it with the /ŋ/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "swallowing"!
US: pronounce /oʊ/ clearly; UK: stronger /əʊ/ with a lighter /ɒ/; AU: often /ɒləɪŋ/ or /ɒləŋ/ with a flatter vowel in the second syllable. Emphasize rhotic clarity; UK/AU speakers preserve more vowel length contrasts; US speakers may lengthen /oʊ/ slightly in rapid speech.
Swallowing comes from the Old English swalian, related to swila or swala meaning throat or throat muscle, and ultimately to Proto-Germanic swalwōną (‘to swallow’). Early forms appeared in Old English texts as swalian and swilyan, reflecting the core idea of drawing something down the throat. The noun swallowing traces to the gerund of the verb, with usage expanding in medical and physiological contexts in the 17th–19th centuries as anatomy and physiology developed as scientific fields. In modern use, swallowing encompasses both the physiological reflex involved in deglutition and, in linguistics, the broader notion of how sounds can be absorbed, elided, or minimized in connected speech. First known use as a term for the act of moving material by mouth appears in medieval medical texts, with evolving definitions tied to anatomy and later to speech pathology and phonetics.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "swallowing" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "swallowing" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "swallowing" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "swallowing"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
