What is strength? Pronunciation and usage in English

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

Definition & pronunciation of strength

strengthnoun

/strɛŋ(k)θ/
Definition & pronunciation of strength

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "strength" in English. Here's a breakdown:

1. Phonetic Transcription (for accuracy):

  • /strɛŋθ/ (This is the International Phonetic Alphabet - IPA)

2. Breakdown by Sound:

  • str: Sounds like "street" – a quick, crisp "str" sound. The "t" is silent.
  • e: As in "bed" - a short "e" sound.
  • ng: This is a diphthong (a combination of two vowel sounds). It sounds like "sing" – a smooth, gliding "ng" sound. It's kinda like saying “engh” but shorter and more connected.
  • th: This is the voiced "th" sound, like in "this" or "that". Your tongue should be lightly touching the back of your teeth.

3. How to Say it Gradually:

  1. Start with “str” - “str…”
  2. Add the “e” – “stre”
  3. Bring in the “ng” - “streng”
  4. Finish with the “th” – “strength”

4. Tips for Sounding Right:

  • Don’t overemphasize the “t” in “str.” It's silent.
  • The “ng” is key. Make sure it's a connected, flowing sound, not two separate “n” and “g” sounds.
  • The “th” sound needs to be proper. If you’re struggling, practice saying “this” and “that” repeatedly.

Resources for Hearing it:

  • Google Translate: Type “strength” into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/strength/ – This website has pronunciations from native speakers.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation?
  • Give you some practice words involving similar sounds (like "string," "strange," or "thing")?

Usage and examples with the word strength in English

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

1. Physical Strength:

  • Definition: The ability to exert force or power.
  • Examples:
    • "He has incredible strength for his age."
    • "Lifting weights helps to build muscle strength."
    • “The firefighter displayed remarkable strength when rescuing the trapped child.”

2. Mental/Emotional Strength (Resilience):

  • Definition: The ability to withstand hardship, pressure, or adversity; inner fortitude.
  • Examples:
    • “She showed great strength in dealing with the loss of her job.”
    • "It takes strength to admit you're wrong."
    • "He has a lot of strength of character."
    • “Her strength lies in her ability to remain calm under pressure.”

3. The Quality of Something (Often Resilient or Durable):

  • Definition: A characteristic that makes something able to resist damage or wear.
  • Examples:
    • "The bridge has a remarkable strength." (structural integrity)
    • "The wood has great strength and is resistant to rot."
    • "The company's biggest strength is its customer service."
    • "His greatest strength as a leader is his ability to inspire his team.”

4. A Positive Quality (Force, Power, Effectiveness):

  • Definition: A capacity or ability; something that contributes to success. This often overlaps with the mental/emotional strength definition.
  • Examples:
    • "The report’s main strength is its thorough analysis.”
    • "His command of the language is a significant strength."
    • "The team’s strength was their teamwork."

5. As a Noun Phrase (Referring to a group or entity):

  • Definition: A collective force or quality.
  • Examples:
    • “The army's strength was its discipline.”
    • “The team’s strength lay in their diverse skills.”

Phrases Using "Strength":

  • With strength: “She spoke with strength and conviction.”
  • Draw strength from: “He drew strength from his family during the difficult times.”
  • A source of strength: "Her faith is a source of strength for her."
  • Find strength: “She’s learning to find strength within herself.”
  • Demonstrate strength: “The negotiator demonstrated strength in securing the deal.”

Tips for Using "Strength" Correctly:

  • Context is key: The meaning of “strength” is always determined by the context of the sentence.
  • Synonyms: Consider using synonyms like resilience, fortitude, power, capability, or effectiveness to add nuance.

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

  • What are you trying to say? (Can you give me a sentence or a situation where you're thinking about using "strength"?)

Synonyms for the word strength

Idioms of the word strength

go from strength to strength
to become more and more successful
  • Since her appointment the department has gone from strength to strength.
on the strength of something
because somebody has been influenced or persuaded by something
  • I got the job on the strength of your recommendation.
  • She hopes to secure a recording contract on the strength of these songs.
strength in depth
the quality of being strong because you have a great variety of good people, ideas, etc. that can contribute to the success of something
  • The French team does not have the strength in depth that the Australians have.
there's strength in numbers
(saying)being in a group gives you more power
  • There's strength in numbers, so encourage your friends and family to join us.
a tower of strength
a person that you can rely on to help, protect and comfort you when you are in trouble
  • He was a tower of strength to his sisters when their father died.

Practice with vocabulary strength

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The team's greatest ________ lies in its diverse skill set and collaborative spirit.
  2. Despite facing numerous setbacks, her inner ________ allowed her to persevere and achieve her goals.
  3. The bridge's structural ________ was a major concern after the earthquake.
  4. Developing strong communication skills is a crucial ________ for leadership in any organization.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which of the following words can describe a core competence of a company? a) weakness b) limitation c) strength d) drawback

  2. If someone shows great resilience in difficult times, they demonstrate: a) fragility b) vulnerability c) endurance d) strength

  3. What might contribute to the compelling nature of an argument? a) its superficiality b) its logical consistency c) its factual basis d) its inherent strength

  4. A person with high physical stamina exhibits: a) frailty b) vigor c) exhaustion d) feebleness

  5. The ability of a system to continue operating under adverse conditions is its: a) fragility b) resilience c) vulnerability d) robustness

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Her ability to recover quickly from setbacks is truly admirable.
    • Rewrite the sentence, incorporating the word "strength":
  2. The main advantage of this strategy is its adaptability.
    • Rewrite the sentence, incorporating the word "strength":
  3. The company needs to improve its capacity to innovate.
    • Rewrite the sentence, using a suitable replacement word instead of "strength":

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The team's greatest strength lies in its diverse skill set and collaborative spirit.
  2. Despite facing numerous setbacks, her inner strength allowed her to persevere and achieve her goals.
  3. The bridge's structural integrity was a major concern after the earthquake.
  4. Developing strong communication skills is a crucial asset for leadership in any organization.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) strength
  2. c) endurance, d) strength
  3. b) its logical consistency, c) its factual basis, d) its inherent strength
  4. b) vigor
  5. b) resilience, d) robustness

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Her ability to recover quickly from setbacks is a testament to her inner strength.
  2. The primary strength of this strategy lies in its adaptability.
  3. The company needs to enhance its ability to innovate.

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