"Hemming hawings" is a phrase that refers to the act of hesitating or stuttering while speaking. Its spelling can be explained through the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as follows: /ˈhɛmɪŋ ˈhɔɪŋz/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "e" sound and the second with a "long o". The second word begins with an "h" sound and is followed by a rounded "o" sound (the "o" in "go"), then a "y" sound, and finally a nasal "ng" sound. Altogether, the phrase has a whimsical, rhythmic quality to it.