The 3 different ways to pronounce -ed endings in English
The past simple form and past participle of regular verbs end in -ed in English. There are also many adjectives that end in -ed.
The -ed ending has three different pronunciations. Luckily, there are rules to help us know which pronunciation is correct!
1. /ɪd/, /əd/ → use after /d/ or /t/
We use /ɪd/ (or /əd/) after verbs whose base form end in a /d/ sound or a /t/ sound.
❗These words do not necessarily end in the letters D or T. The important thing is the sound. For example, “decide” ends in -e. However, the pronunciation is /dɪˈsaɪd/, so it ends in /d/. Similarly, “create” ends in -e, but the pronunciation is /kriˈeɪt/, so the final sound is /t/.
If we add an -ed or a -d to these words, we pronounce the final syllable as /ɪd/ (or /əd/). There is an extra syllable.
For example:
- need → needed
/niːd/ /ˈniː.dɪd/ - decide → decided
/dɪˈsaɪd/ /dɪˈsaɪ.dɪd/ - wait → waited
/weɪt/ /weɪ.tɪd/ - create → created
/kriˈeɪt/ /kriˈeɪ.tɪd/
Note: In dictionaries, it usually says that these words end in /ɪd/. However, many native speakers actually pronounce these -ed endings as /əd/ (yes, with a schwa). So, for example, instead of saying /ˈniː.dɪd/, they say /ˈniː.dəd/. Many North Americans and Australians use this pronunciation. Both versions are correct.
Here are some more examples of words that end in /ɪd/ (or /əd/) :
- grade → graded
- land → landed
- add → added
- pretend → pretended
- taste → tasted
- heat → heated
- visit → visited
- shout → shouted
Another small pronunciation point…
In American English, if you add an -ed to a word that ends in /t/, that /t/ transforms into a flap T , which looks like this in phonetic transcription: /t̬/. (It is essentially a soft /d/ sound.) For example, in American English, “heated” is pronounced /ˈhiː.t̬ɪd/ (or /ˈhiː.t̬əd/).
2. /d/ → use after voiced sounds
The -ed ending can also be pronounced as /d/. This is similar to the previous ending, but there is no /ɪ/ or /ə/. In other words, there is no extra syllable.
This is for verbs that end in a voiced consonant (apart from /d/) or a vowel sound.
A voiced consonant is when there is vibration in your voice box. If you put your hand on your throat, you can feel it. For example, /d/ is a voiced consonant.
Another voiced consonant is /b/. A verb that ends in /b/ is “grab” (/ɡræb/). With the -ed ending, this becomes “grabbed” (/ɡræbd/). In other words, we do not say “grabb-ed”, we say “grabbd”.
Vowel sounds are also voiced.
💡 Simple tip: If the end of a verb is voiced, the -ed ending is pronounced /d/, which is also voiced. Voiced goes with voiced.
Here are some other examples of verbs that end in voiced consonants:
- /dʒ/
manage → managed
/ˈmæn.ɪdʒ/ /ˈmæn.ɪdʒd/ - /g/
hug → hugged
/hʌɡ/ /hʌɡd/ - /v/
arrive → arrived
/əˈraɪv/ /əˈraɪvd/ - /ð/
breathe → breathed
/briːð/ /briːðd/ - /z/
sneeze → sneezed
/sniːz/ /sniːzd/ - /m/
dream → dreamed
/driːm/ /driːmd/ - /n/
clean → cleaned
/kliːn/ /kliːnd/ - /ŋ/
bang → banged
/bæŋ/ /bæŋd/ - /l/
pull → pulled
/pʊl/ /pʊld/
Here are some examples of verbs that end in vowel sounds:
- lie → lied
/laɪ/ /laɪd/ - play → played
/pleɪ/ /pleɪd/ - enjoy → enjoyed
/ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/ /ɪnˈdʒɔɪd/
Another voiced consonant is /r/. Let’s compare American and British English for a verb that ends in /r/.
In American English, “cover” is pronounced /ˈkʌv.ər/. There is a /r/ at the end. “Covered” is pronounced /ˈkʌv.ərd/.
In British English, “cover” is usually pronounced /ˈkʌv.ə/. The letter R is not pronounced and there is a vowel sound (/ə/) at the end. “Covered” is pronounced /ˈkʌv.əd/
In other words, the ending is the same in American and British English. Whether there is a /r/ or a vowel sound, the -ed is pronounced /d/.
3. /t/ → use after unvoiced sounds
Finally, -ed can be pronounced /t/.
This rule is very simple. -ed is pronounced /t/ after verbs that end in an unvoiced consonant (apart from /t/). There is no extra syllable.
An unvoiced consonant is when there is no vibration in the voice box. For example, /t/ is an unvoiced consonant.
💡 Simple tip: If the end of a verb is unvoiced, the -ed ending is pronounced /t/, which is also unvoiced. Unvoiced goes with unvoiced.
Here are some other examples of verbs that end in voiced consonants:
- /p/
help → helped
/help/ /helpt/ - /tʃ/
watch → watched
/wɒtʃ/ /wɒtʃt/
(US: /wɑːtʃ/, /wɑːtʃt/) - /k/
like → liked
/laɪk/ /laɪkt/ - /f/
laugh → laughed
/lɑːf/ /lɑːft/
(US: /læf/, /læft/) - /s/
dance → danced
/dɑːns/ /dɑːnst/
(US: /dæns/, /dænst/) - /ʃ/
wish → wished
/wɪʃ/ /wɪʃt/
Summary
- Verb ends in a /t/ or /d/ sound → /ɪd/ or /əd/ (extra syllable)
- Verb ends in a voiced sound → /d/
- Verb ends in an unvoiced sound → /t/
Useful pronunciation tips
1.
The most important rule out of these three is really the first one.
In other words, you only pronounce the E in -ed if the word ends in /d/ or /t/, like in “needed” and “visited”.
If you mix up the other two rules, it does not really matter.
Yes, if you want to speak very correct English with perfect pronunciation, it is something that you should pay attention to. But in reality, most people will not notice.
For example, for the verb “arrive”, if you say /əˈraɪvt/ instead of /əˈraɪvd/, many people will not notice, especially if it is in the middle of a sentence.
However, people WILL hear a difference if you say /əˈraɪ.vɪd/ (“arriv-ed”).
In summary, only pronounce -ed as /ɪd/ or /əd/ if the verb ends in a /t/ sound or a /d/ sound.
2.
Here is a tip if you find it difficult to pronounce words like “arrived” and “watched” correctly.
(In other words, if you keep pronouncing the E and you say “arriv-ed” and “watch-ed”.)
Try saying “arrive do”. Then say it a bit faster: arrivedo, arrivedo. Then try to say it without the O. You can try this with any word in which the -ed is pronounced /d/.
If the last sound is a /t/ like in “watched”, try saying “watch to”. Again, try saying it a bit faster: watchto, watchto. Then try to say it without the O.
Exceptions
There are a few exceptions to these rules. These concern some adjectives that have an -ed ending. If an adjective ends in -ed, most of the time the rules outlined above apply.
For example:
- disappointed
/ˌdɪs.əˈpɔɪn.tɪd/ - bored
/bɔːd/ - astonished
/əˈstɒn.ɪʃt/
But there are a few exceptions.
Here are some that you might know already. In these words, we pronounce -ed as /ɪd/ or /əd/, even though the previous sound is not /d/ or /t/:
- naked
/ˈneɪ.kɪd/
(It is not /ˈneɪkd/.) - sacred
/ˈseɪ.krɪd/ - wicked
/ˈwɪk.ɪd/
There are also a couple of words whose meanings change depending on the pronunciation.
This word, for example, can be pronounced two different ways:
- aged
/eɪdʒd/ OR /ˈeɪ.dʒɪd/
When it is pronounced /eɪdʒd/, it means of the age of.
For example: Mike’s children are aged three and five.
(That means that Mike has one child who is three years old and one child who is five years old.)
When it is pronounced /ˈeɪ.dʒɪd/, it is a formal word meaning very old.
For example: My aged grandparents are still able to live independently.
Another example is:
- learned
/ˈlɜːnd/ OR /ˈlɜː.nɪd/
(US: /ˈlɜːrnd/, /ˈlɜːr.nɪd/)
When it is pronounced /ˈlɜːnd/, it means acquired by learning.
For example: a learned skill; a learned behaviour
(These are things that you were not born with. You learnt them during your life.)
When it is pronounced /ˈlɜː.nɪd/, it is a formal way of saying having a lot of knowledge thanks to study or reading.
For example: a learned professor; a learned scholar