The word "trying" can be broken down into sounds, aiding in its pronunciation for both British and American English. Here are the IPA transcriptions for each:
- American Pronunciation: /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
- Begins with the /ˈtr/ sound, where the 't' is pronounced by touching the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge, followed by the 'r' sound, produced by rounding the lips slightly and curling the tip of the tongue up without touching the roof of the mouth.
- Followed by the /aɪ/ sound, similar to the 'i' in "like," where the mouth opens wide and the tongue moves high and forward.
- Ends with the /ɪŋ/ sound, a combination of a short, relaxed 'i' as in 'sit', and the 'ng' sound made by pressing the back of your tongue against the soft palate.
- British Pronunciation: /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
- The pronunciation is nearly identical to the American, with subtle differences in the quality of the 'r' sound and the vowels. The /ˈtr/, /aɪ/, and /ɪŋ/ sounds are pronounced similarly, with the 'r' perhaps being less pronounced or softer in some British accents.
The word "trying" comes from the verb "try," which has roots in the early 14th century, derived from the Old French "trier," meaning "to pick out, cull" (12th century), from a Gallo-Romance root *triare, of unknown origin. The sense of "to make an effort to do something" emerged in English by the late 14th century. The adjective form, meaning "difficult to endure," is attested from the early 17th century. The present participle form "trying" conveys an ongoing action or effort and, as an adjective, describes something that is challenging or arduous.