2 syllables: ap, prised. Stress on prised.
uh-PREYEZD
/əˈpɹaɪzd/
apprised is pronounced uh-PREYEZD (/əˈpɹaɪzd/). It has two syllables (ap-prised), with the stress on "prised". Apprised means informed or notified about something. It describes having knowledge of a fact or development. Used in contexts where someone is updated or made aware, often in formal or written communication.
Apprised means informed or notified about something. It describes having knowledge of a fact or development. Used in contexts where someone is updated or made aware, often in formal or written communication.
Tips: Practice minimal pairs with 'prize' vs 'praised' to reinforce the /praɪzd/ nucleus, use slow repetition linking /ə/ to /ˈpraɪzd/.
"- You’ll be apprised of any changes to the schedule as soon as they happen."
"- The committee was apprised of the latest findings before the briefing."
"- Staff were apprised of safety procedures during the training session."
Say /əˈpraɪzd/. Start with a schwa, then a clear stressed diphthong /aɪ/ in the second syllable, followed by the voiced cluster /zd/ as in ‘z-d’ without a strong stop between them. Tip: finish with a light, lingering /d/. Audio reference: you can compare to ‘advised’ /ədˈvaɪzd/ to hear the vowel quality, but keep the /aɪ/ as a bright diphthong. IPA guide: US/UK/AU share /əˈpraɪzd/.
Common errors: misplacing the primary stress (saying a-PPRISED) or weakening the second syllable (/əˈpraɪzd/ vs /əˈprɪzd/). Another error is pronouncing the final cluster as /zd/ with an unreleased or aspirated stop; aim for a clean /zd/ sequence. Correct by ensuring the /aɪ/ diphthong is bright, not reduced, and the final /zd/ blends smoothly into a final voiced alveolar stop with a light release.
In US, UK, and AU, the core vowel sounds are similar: /əˈpraɪzd/. The main variation is rhoticity and vowel quality; US is rhotic with the /r/ presence in other contexts, but this word doesn’t feature /r/ after schwa. The /ɪ/ and /aɪ/ remain stable; Australians may have a slightly flatter /aɪ/ and a quicker transition to /zd/. Overall, the word remains non-rhotic in stress placement; differences come down to surrounding vowel quality and flapped vs. precise /r/ in connected speech.
The difficulty lies in the two-part structure: a stressed secondary syllable with a sharp /aɪ/ diphthong and the final /zd/ cluster that follows a vowel with minimal interruption. The /ˈpraɪ/ portion requires a precise glide from /a/ to /ɪ/, and the /zd/ needs a smooth, voiced transition without an extra stop. Mastery comes from practicing the vowel shift, linking the diphthong to the final consonants, and maintaining stress movement across the two syllables.
Note the final /zd/ cluster: do not pronounce as /zɪd/ or /zəd/. The correct sequence is /z/ followed immediately by /d/, with the voice of /z/ continuing into /d/. In connected speech, you may hear a slight reduction if rapid, but aim for a clean release—/ɜː/ types not used here. IPA: /əˈpraɪzd/.
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The word apprised derives from the Middle English phrased form apprise, which itself comes from the Old French apris, past participle of aprendre meaning ‘to learn, inform.’ The root is Latin apprendere (ad- ‘toward’ + prendere ‘to seize, grasp’), with sense development from ‘to grasp information quickly’ to ‘to inform someone of information.’ In English, apprise appeared in the 15th–16th centuries in the sense of ‘inform’ or ‘make aware.’ Over time, apprised became the past participle/adjective form, commonly used in formal contexts to indicate that someone has been alerted or informed about a matter. The evolution reflects serialization of information and official tone, transitioning from general ‘to learn’ to a precise state of being informed. First known uses occur in legal and administrative correspondence where accuracy and currency of information were paramount, mirroring the broader shift in English toward standardized, formal declarative phrases in governance, diplomacy, and business communications.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "apprised" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "apprised"
-sed sounds
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