noun Uncommon

eng

ehng

Eng (noun) means the name of the letter ŋ, used in phonetic alphabets to represent the "ng" sound. Example: “The IPA symbol eng represents the sound at the end of "sing.”

noun

The name of the letter ŋ, used in phonetic alphabets to represent the "ng" sound.

"The IPA symbol eng represents the sound at the end of "sing.""

The velar nasal consonant sound heard at the end of words like "song" or "wink."

"Linguists use eng to transcribe that final nasal sound."

How to use eng

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA linguistics term for the "ng" sound and its phonetic symbol.

When to use it

A specialist term used mainly in linguistics and phonetics.

Word forms

engs plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “eng” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The IPA symbol _____ represents the sound at the end of "sing."

Etymology

Probably from Dutch eng ("narrow"), related to Old English enge and German eng.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

View more →

velar nasal

Rhymes for eng

peng feng leng heng keng Deng Zeng Meng Seng Teng sheng zheng

See all rhymes for eng →

Frequently asked questions

What does “eng” mean?

The word “eng” means the name of the letter ŋ, used in phonetic alphabets to represent the "ng" sound. In plain terms, a linguistics term for the "ng" sound and its phonetic symbol.

How do you pronounce “eng”?

“Eng” is pronounced ehng (/ɛŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “eng” in a sentence?

Here is “eng” used in a sentence: “The IPA symbol eng represents the sound at the end of "sing.".”

What part of speech is “eng”?

“Eng” is a noun.

Where does the word “eng” come from?

The word “eng” comes from Old English. Probably from Dutch eng ("narrow"), related to Old English enge and German eng.

Is “eng” a common word?

“Eng” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “eng” have?

“Eng” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the name of the letter ŋ, used in phonetic alphabets to represent the "ng" sound.

What is the difference between eng and the letter n?

The letter eng, written ŋ, represents a single velar nasal sound heard at the end of words like "song" or "wink," a sound distinct from the alveolar nasal represented by the letter n in words like "sun." English spelling does not have a dedicated letter for this sound, writing it instead as "ng" or "n" before certain consonants, which is why eng exists as a separate phonetic symbol.

Where is the symbol eng used?

Eng is used in phonetic alphabets, most notably the International Phonetic Alphabet, to precisely represent the "ng" sound in transcription. It also appears in the standard alphabets of some languages that treat this sound as its own letter.