a- -ing

Questions

How do you pronounce a- -ing?

The recorded pronunciation is /ə- -ɪŋ/.

What does a- -ing mean?

Used to form present participles and verbal nouns; and, (dialectal) circumfixed to words which function as part of a verb phrase (e.g. “he went a-hunting”)

Where does a- -ing come from?

The a is a reduced form of the preposition on, which was used in Old English with nouns indicating actions or states (e.g. iċ wæs on huntoþe, “I was hunting”). This is the source of such words as asleep and alive, which also show reduction of on to a. In the Middle English period, the preposition came to be used with the present participles of verbs as well (formed in -ing), eventually coming to be perceived as a mere prefix.

How to pronounce a- -ing

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “a- -ing”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ə- -ɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “a- -ing”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “a- -ing” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.