2 syllables: a, dored. Stress on dored.
uh-DAWRD
/əˈdɔɹd/
adored is pronounced uh-DAWRD (/əˈdɔɹd/). It has two syllables (a-dored), with the stress on "dored". Adored is the past tense verb meaning to have loved or been held in deep affection for something or someone. It also functions as an adjective meaning intensely beloved or cherished. The pronunciation is a two-syllable word with primary stress on the second syllable, and the sound sequence features a clear /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ vowel before the /d/ cluster, followed by a light /ɪ/ vowel in some speakers when reduced in fast speech.
Adored is the past tense verb meaning to have loved or been held in deep affection for something or someone. It also functions as an adjective meaning intensely beloved or cherished. The pronunciation is a two-syllable word with primary stress on the second syllable, and the sound sequence features a clear /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ vowel before the /d/ cluster, followed by a light /ɪ/ vowel in some speakers when reduced in fast speech.
"She adored her grandmother and visited every Sunday."
"The little cafe is adored by locals for its cozy atmosphere."
"The novel was adored by critics and readers alike."
Pronounce as ə-ˈdɔːr(d). The first syllable is a schwa /ə/ (relaxed, neutral vowel). The second syllable carries stress: /ˈdɔːr/ in US and UK, with the final consonant /d/. In American English you’ll likely hear /əˈdɔɚd/ or /əˈdɔɹd/ depending on rhoticity, and in some fast speech, the /r/ may become a reduced rhotic approximant. Use mouth positions: start with relaxed lips for /ə/, then open jaw for /ɔː/ and finish with a light touch of the tongue to touch the alveolar ridge for /d/. Audio reference: try a standard dictionary pronunciation demo and mirror lip movement as you listen.
Common mistakes include: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable; deliver the stress on the second syllable as in the word’s natural 2-syllable pattern. 2) Slurring the second syllable into /ɔr/ or /ɔɹ/ without a clear /d/ at the end; ensure a crisp /d/ release. 3) Tinking the middle vowel as /oʊ/ rather than the /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ depending on accent; keep a mid-back rounded vowel. Correct by isolating /ə/ + /ˈdɔː/ + /d/ and practicing slow, then increasing speed with a final tapped/dropped /d/.”
In US English, /əˈdɔɚd/ often rhymes the second syllable with “board,” with an rhotic /ɚ/ or /ɹ/ depending on dialect. UK English can be /əˈdɔːd/ with a longer vowel in the second syllable and typically non-rhotic blocking of postvocalic /r/, producing a clearer /d/ at the end. Australian English tends to have /əˈdɔːd/ with a broad /ɔː/ and a flapped or fully pronounced /d/ depending on speaker, but generally non-rhotic in careful speech. The main difference is vowel length and rhoticity, not the consonant /d/ itself.
The difficulty often lies in the mid-front/back vowel contrast in the second syllable: both US and UK speakers produce a stressed /ɔː/ or /ɔ/ that can feel unfamiliar if your native language lacks that tense back vowel. Additionally, the final /d/ requires a clear alveolar stop release, which can be weak in rapid speech. Achieving a crisp /d/ after a long vowel, and ensuring the schwa before it doesn’t swallow the second syllable, are key challenges.
Is the second syllable always stressed in 'adored'? Yes. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: a-DOR-ed. This stress pattern emphasizes the long back vowel /ɔː/ in many accents. To verify, practice saying “adored” with your lips rounded and jaw dropped slightly in the first vowel, then push the second syllable with stronger breath and tip of the tongue behind the upper teeth to release the /d/. IPA guidance: /əˈdɔːd/ (UK/US common forms).
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Adored comes from the past participle of the verb adore, which derives from the Old French adorer, from Latin adorare, formed from ad- ‘to’ + orare ‘to speak, pray’ (implying prayerful worship). The medieval Latin sense shifted from “to speak highly of” to religious worship, expanding in English to romantic or affectionate devotion. In Middle English (14th–15th c.), adored appeared as the past participle of adoren, used in religious contexts and as a general term of high regard. The modern sense broadened to describe deep affection for people, pets, objects, and ideals, retaining the sense of veneration and warmth. First known use of the modern sense appears in the 16th–17th centuries, aligning with religious and courtly language that expressed devotion and intense liking, later secularizing into everyday praise and fond attachment.
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Words that rhyme with "adored"
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