TEN-dur-ing
/ˈtɛndɚɪŋ/
tendering is pronounced TEN-dur-ing (/ˈtɛndɚɪŋ/). Tendering is the gerund or present participle form of the verb tender, used to describe the act of presenting a bid, offer, or proposal, or the act of becoming more gentle or delicate in behavior. In business, it specifically refers to submitting formal bids or bids being opened for contracts. The term can also describe the process of making something tender or soft in general contexts.
Tendering is the gerund or present participle form of the verb tender, used to describe the act of presenting a bid, offer, or proposal, or the act of becoming more gentle or delicate in behavior. In business, it specifically refers to submitting formal bids or bids being opened for contracts. The term can also describe the process of making something tender or soft in general contexts.
"- The company is tendering bids for the municipal contract."
"- During the auction, several bidders were tendering offers simultaneously."
"- She is tendering her resignation, along with a brief explanation."
Pronounce as /ˈtɛn.də.rɪŋ/ in US/UK variants, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with the short, lax E in TEN /tɛn/, then a schwa-like second syllable /də/ before the reduced final /rɪŋ/. Tip: keep the r non-velarized in non-rhotic accents; in rhotic accents, the /ɹ/ is pronounced. Audio reference: you can compare benchmarks on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish using 'tendering' to hear variations. In careful speech, hold the /d/ and avoid an intrusive extra syllable or vowel. You’ll hear the natural rhythm: TEN-der-ing, with the emphasis firmly on TEN.
Common errors include: 1) Reducing or flattening the middle vowel to a pure /ə/ too early, producing /ˈten.dərɪŋ/ without the schwa-length; correct to /ˈtɛn.də.rɪŋ/. 2) Slurring the r and the final -ing, leading to /ˈtɛn.dərn/; keep the final /ɪŋ/ clearly heard. 3) Misplacing stress, saying TEN-der-ing with equal stress; maintain primary stress on the first syllable /ˈtɛn/ to preserve natural rhythm.
US and UK share /ˈtɛn.də.rɪŋ/ vs /ˈten.də.rɪŋ/ with minor vowel length differences; rhotic vs non-rhotic affects the /r/ realization, though in careful speech the /ɹ/ is present in rhotic accents and often less pronounced in non-rhotic accents. Australian pronunciation tends to be similar to non-rhotic British, with a more marked schwa in the second syllable and a slightly more centralized /ə/ sound; final /ɪŋ/ tends to be clear but not heavily vowels. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable in all three, with subtle vowel quality changes: US tends to shorter /ɪŋ/ and a crisper /d/.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the sequence of consonant and vowel sounds in /t/–/ɛn/–/də/–/rɪŋ/ without inserting extra vowels or blending /d/ and /ɹ/. The middle /ə/ can blur to a more compact /ɚ/ or a quick /ə/; ensure /d/ is released clearly before the rhotic or vowel cluster, depending on accent. Also, the final -ing cluster /ɪŋ/ can shorten in rapid speech; practice keeping it distinct to avoid saying /tɛn.dər/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps keep each segment crisp.
The unique aspect is the potential contrast between the gerund form and any noun usage, requiring a steady stress pattern on the first syllable even when used as a noun (e.g., The tendering process). Additionally, the middle syllable can be pronounced with a light schwa that can easily be reduced or lengthened depending on speed and register; speakers often hear a very quick middle /də/ in fast business talk. Being mindful of these subtleties helps maintain clear communication in procurement contexts.
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US vs UK vs AU differences: • US: rhotic /ɹ/ in all positions; clearer /d/ release; shorter vowel in /ɜ/ or /ə/ depending on speaker. • UK: non-rhotic typically; /r/ only before vowels; second syllable often schwa-like; maintain crisp /t/ release. • AU: similar to UK but with less vowel reduction and more centralized vowels; /ɹ/ may be tapped or approximant. IPA notes: /ˈtɛn.də.rɪŋ/; pay attention to rhotics and syllable timing. Accent tips emphasize: keep stress on TEN, crisp /t/ release, schwa in /də/, and clear final /ɪŋ/; practice with minimal pairs to feel the rhythm across accents.
Tendering derives from the verb tender, rooted in Old French tendre (to stretch, to reach, to present) which itself traces to Latin tendere (to stretch, strive) and Indo-European roots *ten-/*ten- meaning to stretch. In English, tender appeared in the sense of offering or presenting something for acceptance by the 14th century, with the prefix -ing later forming gerunds and present participles (tendering). The business sense—submitting a bid or proposal for a contract—emerged in the late 19th to early 20th century as formal procurement processes developed; it captures the act of presenting a formal, competitive offer under structured guidelines. The lexical development also includes senses related to gentleness, kindness, and softening as in “to tender a complaint” or “tender feelings,” showing the breadth of meaning from physical softness to formal presentation. First known uses include legal and commercial contexts where parties tender something to an authority or another party for consideration, with records often showing tendering processes in public contracts and auctions. Over time, the word shifted into common business parlance, retaining ambiguity between the act of offering (bids) and the quality of being tender (soft, delicate).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tendering" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "tendering"
-ing sounds
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