How to Pronounce “compelling”

American (US)

/kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/

British (UK)

/kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/

adjective — very interesting; able to capture and hold one's attention.

Example: The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.

Where the stress falls. “compelling” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "compelling" mean?

compelling (adjective): very interesting; able to capture and hold one's attention. For example — The novel was so compelling that I couldn't put it down.

How do you pronounce "compelling" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "compelling", /kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "compelling"?

/kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/ in American English, /kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "compelling"?

“compelling” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /kəmˈpɛlɪŋ/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.