Teaching

How to spell teaching

8 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce teaching

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does teaching mean?

1. nounThe work or profession of instructing students; the act of imparting knowledge or skills.
2. nounA principle, doctrine, or body of ideas that someone advocates or instructs others in.

Teaching in a sentence

• She left a corporate job to go into teaching at a local school.

• The core teaching of the philosophy is that small daily habits shape character.

• Teaching requires patience, preparation, and a genuine interest in your students.

• Much of his moral teaching centred on honesty and personal responsibility.

Where does teaching come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

The core of this word is the Old English verb tǣcan, which meant 'to show, point out, or instruct', and which in turn grew from the same root as the word 'token', a sign or mark that points something out. The connection makes good sense: to teach was originally to show someone the way by signs. The noun form 'teaching', built with the productive Old English suffix -ing that turns a verb into the name of its action, was in use very early to mean both the act of instructing and the body of doctrine that is instructed. Although the verb shifted in pronunciation over the centuries, the spelling kept the soft 'ch' ending typical of native English verbs like reach and preach. Because the word is thoroughly native and follows the regular teach + ing pattern, its spelling holds few surprises beyond remembering the simple 'ea' vowel pair.

How the word is built

• teach (from Old English tǣcan: to show, instruct)
• -ing (noun/gerund suffix)