WEE-kuh-ning
/ˈwikənɪŋ/
weakening is pronounced WEE-kuh-ning (/ˈwikənɪŋ/). Weakening refers to the process of reducing strength, power, or intensity, often gradually or through external causes. In everyday usage it can describe diminished influence, vitality, or force, as well as structural or material degradation. The term spans formal and conversational contexts, from physics and chemistry to psychology and social commentary.
Weakening refers to the process of reducing strength, power, or intensity, often gradually or through external causes. In everyday usage it can describe diminished influence, vitality, or force, as well as structural or material degradation. The term spans formal and conversational contexts, from physics and chemistry to psychology and social commentary.
- You may substitute the long vowel /iː/ with a short /ɪ/ sound in WEAK; ensure the correct vowel length by stretching the /iː/ slightly. - The middle syllable often becomes a weak /ən/ or even a full schwa; avoid over-pronouncing it; keep it light. - Final -ing should be a distinct /ɪŋ/ instead of a clipped or dropped /ŋ/; practice with a lingering nasal. - For clarity, practice in connected speech and maintain the rhythm WEAK-en-ing, not WEAKN-ing. Focus on timing and quiet transitions between syllables.
"The weakening of the bridge prompted an immediate inspection by engineers."
"Public support for the policy is showing signs of weakening."
"Her resolve weakened after the long negotiation."
Pronounce it WEAK-en-ing with primary stress on WEAK. Phonetically: /ˈwiː.kən.ɪŋ/. Start with a long /iː/ in WEAK, then a schwa or reduced /ən/ for the middle, and end with a clear /ɪŋ/. Keep the jaw slightly dropped for the final syllable. You’ll hear a smooth transition from the long vowel to the unstressed syllables in connected speech.
Common errors: (1) Treating WEAK as a short /ɪ/ instead of the long /iː/; (2) Over-strong emphasis on the middle /kən/ or mispronouncing /k/ as hard rather than a softened realization; (3) Dropping the final -ing or making it a flat /ɪŋ/ without cadence. Correction: pronounce /ˈwiː.kən.ɪŋ/ with the long /iː/ in WEAK, a reduced /ə/ or /ən/ for the middle, and a crisp final /ɪŋ/. Practice slow, then speed up; use minimal pairs to fix vowel length and syllable boundaries.
In US/UK/AU, the initial WEAK is the same /wiː/ vowel; rhoticity affects the preceding context but not this word’s core. Consonants stay /kən/ with a silent-ish /w/ in some fast speech. Australians may reduce the middle vowel slightly more toward schwa, while Americans tend to clear the /ɪŋ/ ending with more tongue elevation. The main variation is vowel quality of the first syllable and how openly the /ˈwiː/ is sung in rhythm. Overall: primary rhythm remains WEAK-en-ing across varieties.
The challenge lies in maintaining length contrast for /iː/ and the unstressed /ən/ and the final /ɪŋ/. It’s easy to shorten /ˈwiː/ to /ˈwɪ/ or to mispronounce the middle как /ən/ with too much vowel or a heavy /ŋ/. Focus on a clean long /iː/ in WEAK, then a quick but distinct /ən/ before the nasal /ɪŋ/. Use mouth positioning cues: tongue high for /iː/, then relax jaw for /ən/, and finish with a forward /ɪŋ/.
The word ends with the -ing suffix that attaches to a stem ending in -k, which can cause a subtle vowel or consonant coarticulation. The cluster /kən/ often merges lightly, so many speakers produce a near-syllabic /kən/ with reduced vowel quality. Also, the second syllable often carries a reduced vowel, which can blur the boundary if you speak quickly. Emphasize the separation of WEAK, then a crisp /ən/ and finish with /ɪŋ/ for clarity.
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- US: keep r-colored or non-r-colored context out; emphasize /iː/ and maintain light /ən/ before /ɪŋ/. - UK: maintain non-rhotic crossing; keep vowels crisp and fast within the syllables; the /ɪŋ/ should be clear but quick. - AU: slight vowel quality shifts toward a centralized /ə/ in the middle syllable in casual speech; preserve /iː/ in WEAK and real /ŋ/ at end. Use IPA references /ˈwiː.kən.ɪŋ/.
Weakening comes from the verb weaken plus the present participle suffix -ing. The root weaken originates in Old English. The word weak meant lacking physical or moral strength, and -en as a verb-forming suffix created the verb weaken (“to make weak”). The present participle -ing forms the noun/gerund weakening, indicating the action or process. The sense expanded beyond physical strength to include subtle reduction in force, influence, or intensity. In the history of English, weaken appears in early medieval texts and has maintained stable semantics with gradual semantic broadening. First known use is attested in Old English sources with related forms in Middle English; the noun form weakening appears in later Middle English/early Modern English as usage grew in academic and scientific discourse. Over time, weakening became common in technical writing (physics, economics) while remaining natural in everyday speech to describe gradual decline or attrition.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "weakening" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "weakening"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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