TAW-king
/ˈtɔkɪŋ/
talking is pronounced TAW-king (/ˈtɔkɪŋ/). Talking refers to the act of engaging in spoken communication, typically involving producing speech sounds in real time to convey information or express thoughts. It often implies ongoing or extended discourse, whether casual or purposeful, and may be contrasted with listening or silent contemplation. In everyday use, it's the present participle form indicating an activity of speaking.
Talking refers to the act of engaging in spoken communication, typically involving producing speech sounds in real time to convey information or express thoughts. It often implies ongoing or extended discourse, whether casual or purposeful, and may be contrasted with listening or silent contemplation. In everyday use, it's the present participle form indicating an activity of speaking.
"We spent the afternoon talking about our future plans."
"She was talking loudly on her phone while crossing the street."
"Talking to yourself can help organize your thoughts."
Phonetically, talking is /ˈtɔː.kɪŋ/ in UK and US IPA. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: TALK- is longer and louder. The second syllable is a quick, reduced -ing /ɪŋ/. Your mouth starts with an open back vowel for /ɔː/ (UK) or the rhotic US /ɔ/ then closes to /t/ then /ɪŋ/. Listen to a native speaker and compare; you’ll hear the longer first vowel and a crisp /k/ before the -ing. For precise reference, check an audio dictionary for pause and emphasis cues.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the /t/ or not releasing it fully before /ɔː/; (2) Using a short /ɪ/ in the -ing, like /tɔː.lɪŋ/ instead of /tɔː.kɪŋ/, and (3) overly long /ɔː/ making it sound like ‘talkin’ with a drawn vowel. Correction: keep /t/ release crisp, maintain the /ɔː/ before /k/, and ensure the final /ɪŋ/ is a quick, soft nasal. Practicing with minimal pairs like talk vs. tak or walk vs. wok can help reinforce proper vowel length and consonant timing, ensuring the -ing ends with a clean nasal.
US pronunciation /ˈtɔː.kɪŋ/ features a rhotic vowel quality initially, and often a more rounded /ɔː/ followed by /ɪŋ/. UK English typically uses /ˈtɔː.kɪŋ/ with non-rhotic influence in some regions, shorter /ɒ/ or broader /ɔː/ and less rhotic coloring. Australian English tends to have a broader diphthong in /ɔː/ and frequently a slightly closer /ɪ/ before -ŋ; some speakers reduce /k/ slightly. In all, stress remains on the first syllable; final -ing remains /ɪŋ/. Listen for vowel rounding and post-vocalic r absence in UK/AU variants.
The challenge lies in coordinating a quick, crisp /t/ release, stable /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ quality before /k/, and the quick /ɪŋ/ nasal finale. It’s easy to blur the /k/ and /ŋ/ boundary or merge the vowel with the following consonant in rapid speech. Tactile cues—tip of tongue to alveolar ridge for /t/, back of tongue moving to velar /k/, and a narrow jaw position for /ɔː/—help. Practicing with slow, exaggerated enunciations and speed progression builds motor memory.
The critical feature is the syllable boundary between /tɔː/ and /kɪŋ/, where many learners run the /t/ into the vowel or drop the /k/ sound before /ɪŋ/. Emphasizing the hard /t/ release and the /k/ onset in the second syllable improves clarity. Including both phonemic representations (/ˈtɔː.kɪŋ/) and practical cues (“talk” + “ing” with a clear stop followed by a quick nasal) can improve SEO and user comprehension.
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The word talking derives from Old English tælian, meaning to tell or recount, linked to the noun tale and ultimately the Proto-Germanic root tali-, meaning counting or numbering, with the sense evolving toward speech as telling. In Middle English, forms like talking emerged as the present participle of the verb tell, paraphrased through old variants such as tale and talk. The modern sense narrowed to the act of producing spoken language itself. Over time, talking also took on idiomatic senses (e.g., “talking shop,” “talking through one’s hat”) and extended to nonverbal or formal discussions in institutional contexts, while retaining its core meaning of vocal expression and discourse. First known usage as a verb in early medieval texts, it has remained among the most frequent English verbs, accompanying auxiliary and modal constructions to express tense, aspect, and mood. The continuous -ing form gradually assumed a broad participial role, enabling ongoing or habitual action and, in phrasal constructs, signaling tone, intent, or emphasis in conversation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "talking" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "talking" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "talking"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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