What is bring? Pronunciation and usage in English

bring means . Learn how to pronounce and use bring through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of bring

bringverb

/brɪŋ/
Definition & pronunciation of bring

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "bring" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

  • /brɪŋ/ (rhymes with "ring")

Let's break it down further:

  • "br": This is pronounced like the "br" in "brother" or "bread". It's a single sound.
  • "i": This sounds like the "i" in "bit" or "sit". A short, quick vowel sound.
  • "ng": This is pronounced like the "ng" in "sing" or "song". It's a nasal sound – it resonates in your nose.

Putting it together: Practice saying "br-ih-ng" smoothly. Focus on getting that nasal "ng" sound right.

Here are some tips:

  • Listen to examples: The best way to learn is to hear it. Here are some resources:

    • Google Search: Search for “how to pronounce bring” on Google and listen to the audio results.
    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/bring/ - This website has pronunciations recorded by native speakers.
    • YouTube: Search for “how to pronounce bring” on YouTube.

  • Record yourself: Record yourself saying the word, then compare it to a native speaker's pronunciation.

  • Focus on the nasal 'ng': This is often the hardest part. Pretend you're gently blowing air through your nose as you say the "ng" sound.

Regional Variations:

While /brɪŋ/ is the standard, there might be slight regional variations:

  • Some speakers in the US (particularly in the South) might pronounce it closer to /brɪŋɡ/ (with a more pronounced "g" sound at the end). However, this isn't the primary pronunciation.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from (generally)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) This can help me anticipate any regional differences.

Usage and examples with the word bring in English

Let's break down how to use the word "bring" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with many different meanings and ways to use it! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. To Carry Something (Most Common)

  • Basic Meaning: To carry something from one place to another.
    • "I'll bring you a drink." (You're carrying the drink.)
    • "Please bring your books to class." (You're transporting the books.)
    • "Can you bring me that file?" (You’re carrying the file.)

2. To Introduce Something (Ideas, People, Topics)

  • Introduce a Topic: "Let’s bring up the issue of funding." (Start talking about the issue.)
  • Introduce a Person: “I’d like you to bring my friend, Sarah.” (Introduce Sarah to someone.)
  • Introduce an Idea/Suggestion: “I bring a suggestion – let’s try a different approach.”

3. To Cause Something to Happen (Often with 'on’)

  • Bring on: To cause something to start.
    • "The rain will bring on a flood." (Cause the flood.)
    • "His anger brought on a fight." (Caused the fight.)
    • "The music really brought on a feeling of nostalgia." (Evoked nostalgia.)

4. To Recall or Remind (Often with ‘back’)

  • Bring back: To remember or recall.
    • "I bring back happy memories of my childhood." (I remember happy memories.)
    • "The smell of cookies brings back memories of my grandmother." (It reminds me of my grandmother.)
  • Bring back (something): To return something.
    • "Can you bring back my keys?" (Return the keys.)

5. To Include or Add (Often with ‘to’)

  • Bring to: To include in something.
    • "Let's bring this to the attention of the manager." (Include this information with the manager.)
    • "I’ll bring him to the party.” (Include him at the party.)

6. Phrasal Verbs – Where ‘Bring’ is Combined with a Verb

This is where things get really interesting! “Bring” is used with lots of verbs to create new meanings. Here are a few common ones:

  • Bring up:
    • Child: "She brought up three children." (Raised)
    • Topic: “Don’t bring up that subject.” (Mention)
  • Bring down:
    • "The scandal brought down the government.” (Cause to fail)
  • Bring about:
    • "The new policy brought about significant changes.” (Cause to happen)
  • Bring forward:
    • “The lawyer brought forward evidence.” (Present / Advance)
  • Bring on: (already mentioned – but important enough to repeat)
  • Bring out:
    • "The new phone brings out its best features." (Reveal/Show)

7. As a Verb in the Present Participle (acting as an adjective)

  • "I'm bringing a cake to the party." (Here, "bringing" describes who is bringing the cake – it’s acting like an adjective.) This is less common but important to recognize.

Tips for Using “Bring” Correctly:

  • Context is Key: The meaning of “bring” changes significantly based on the surrounding words.
  • Prepositions: Pay attention to prepositions like “to,” “on,” and “back” as they greatly affect the meaning.
  • Phrasal Verbs: Learn common phrasal verbs that use “bring” – they’re extremely common in spoken and informal English.

Can you give me a sentence where you want to use the word "bring"? I can help you craft it correctly! Or, would you like me to focus on a particular usage of "bring" (e.g., phrasal verbs, or using it to introduce a topic)?

Synonyms for the word bring

Idioms of the word bring

bring it
to make a great effort and perform well
  • We'll show you how Canada brings it!
bring it on!
(informal)used to express confidence about a challenge
  • We've trained hard and we're ready. Bring it on!

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