One syllable: Zinc.
zingk
/zɪŋk/
Zinc is pronounced zingk (/zɪŋk/). It has one syllable (Zinc), with the stress on "Zinc". Zinc is a metallic element used to galvanize steel, in alloys, and as a nutrient. It is a chemical symbol Zn and appears in biology, industry, and nutrition. In pronunciation, the word begins with an unvoiced /z/ approximated like a buzz, then has a short /ɪ/ vowel and ends with /ŋ/ or /k/ depending on dialectal influence in rapid speech.
nounZinc is a metallic element used to galvanize steel, in alloys, and as a nutrient. It is a chemical symbol Zn and appears in biology, industry, and nutrition. In pronunciation, the word begins with an unvoiced /z/ approximated like a buzz, then has a short /ɪ/ vowel and ends with /ŋ/ or /k/ depending on dialectal influence in rapid speech.
"I need a zinc supplement for my immune system."
"The zinc coating protects steel from rust."
" zinc can be used in batteries and alloys."
Zinc is pronounced /zɪŋk/. The initial sound is a voiced-almost-z-like /z/, followed by a short, lax vowel /ɪ/ as in 'bit,' and ends with the velar nasal + stop /ŋk/ as in 'king' plus a hard 'k' release. Stress is on the single syllable. In casual speech, you’ll hear it as a compact unit: /zɪŋk/ (no extra syllables). For audio reference, listen to standard pronunciations on pronunciation resources.
Common mistakes include over-articulating the final /ŋ/ or separating the /ŋ/ from the /k/, which makes it sound like 'zing-k' or 'zing-uh-k.' Another frequent error is substituting /z/ with /s/ or mispronouncing /ɪ/ as a long vowel /iː/. To correct: keep the vowel short and lax /ɪ/, and glide quickly from /ŋ/ into /k/ with a crisp release. Practice with minimal pairs like /zɪŋk/ vs /zɪŋ k/ to reinforce the tight cluster.
Across accents, /zɪŋk/ stays largely the same, but rhoticity affects surrounding words in connected speech. In US and many UK pronunciations, /z/ can be slightly more voiced, with sharper tongue tip contact. The vowel /ɪ/ remains near-close near-front; some UK speakers may have a slightly more centralized /ɪ̞/. Australian speakers typically maintain /zɪŋk/ but with a slightly flatter vowel and faster final consonant release. Overall the core form is /zɪŋk/ in all three, with minor variance in vowel quality and clipping.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the tight /ŋk/ cluster end without inserting an extra vowel or separating the sounds. Many speakers insert a schwa before the final /k/ (zɪŋ-kə) or drop the nasal entirely, producing /zɪk/. The key challenge is the rapid transition from /ŋ/ to /k/ in a single, compressed release. Pay attention to the tongue body position: keep the back of the tongue raised for /ŋ/ and thenspring into the hard /k/ with a clean release.
A unique point is the single-syllable structure with a compact onset /z/ and a tight coda cluster /ŋk/. Unlike some other words ending in -nk, zinc requires not prolonging the vowel and not articulating a separate vowel between /ŋ/ and /k/. The challenge is producing a clean nasal stop transition in a fast speech context. Use quick, controlled movements: tip of the tongue to alveolar ridge for /z/, middle tongue for /ŋ/, back of tongue to velum for /ŋ/→/k/ transition, and a crisp /k/ release.
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- US: /zɪŋk/ with a slightly more pronounced final /k/ release; maintain rhotics in surrounding words but not within zinc. - UK: /zɪŋk/ with crisp /z/ and slightly clipped vowel; some speakers may have a tiny diphthongal tilt in /ɪ/. - AU: /zɪŋk/ typically with flat vowel and quicker /ŋk/ transition; less vowel reduction in connected speech. - Across all, keep the vowel short, avoid schwa, and ensure the /ŋ/ and /k/ form a tight cluster. Reference IPA /zɪŋk/ and practice with minimal pairs to feel the boundary between /ŋ/ and /k/.
Zinc traces its etymology to the German word zinc, which itself may derive from zinke (‘prong, point’) reflecting its use in early alloys and the jagged appearance of some zinc ores. The term passed into English through medieval Latin zincum and French zinc, with earlier accounts from alchemical texts in the 16th century. The element was known in various cultures but isolated as a distinct metal in the 18th century by chemists such as Andreas Marggraf, who identified zinc oxide and metallic zinc in 1746. Its name was recorded in English in the early 18th century, aligning with other mineral names borrowed from European languages. Over time, zinc’s role expanded from pigment and alloying agent to a critical trace nutrient essential for enzymatic function, immune response, and metabolism. The word’s usage expanded into industrial contexts (galvanization, zinc oxide in ceramics) and nutritional science, cementing zinc as both a chemical element and a dietary mineral in modern language.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Zinc" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Zinc" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Zinc" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Zinc"
-ink sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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