2 syllables: bor, rowed. Stress on bor.
BAH-rohd
/ˈbɑˌɹoʊd/
borrowed is pronounced BAH-rohd (/ˈbɑˌɹoʊd/). It has two syllables (bor-rowed), with the stress on "bor". Borrowed describes something obtained from another person or source with permission or as a temporary use. In linguistics or finance, it denotes items or terms taken from one context or language and used in another. The term often implies a transient status, not permanently owned, and may carry connotations of reliance or imitation.
Borrowed describes something obtained from another person or source with permission or as a temporary use. In linguistics or finance, it denotes items or terms taken from one context or language and used in another. The term often implies a transient status, not permanently owned, and may carry connotations of reliance or imitation.
"She borrowed a coat from her sister for the party."
"The term 'feng shui' is borrowed from Chinese and used in English."
"He borrowed ideas from early philosophers to shape his argument."
It’s pronounced with two syllables: /ˈbɒr.əʊd/ in British English and /ˈbɒr.ə(d)/ in American English, with a light, unstressed second syllable. The first syllable has the short o as in 'cot' and the second features a rounded /oʊ/ glide toward /d/. Your mouth starts with a rounded, slightly open jaw for /bɒr/, then relaxes into /əʊ/ for the second syllable before finishing with /d/.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the second vowel into a full /oʊ/ without the reduced schwa, making it sound like /ˈbɒroʊd/; 2) Voicing issue on the final /d/, especially in fast speech where it becomes a tapped or de-voiced sound; 3) Stress placement muddled, sometimes heard as /ˈbɪr.əˌd/ or /ˈbɒr.ɚd/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, articulate /ɒ/ clearly, insert a schwa in the second syllable before the /d/ (or consonant cluster if the word is reduced in connected speech), and ensure the final /d/ is a crisp voiced stop.
US: /ˈbɔːr.oʊd/ with a rhotic /r/ and a longer first vowel; UK: /ˈbɒr.əʊd/ with non-rhotic /r/ and clearer /ɒ/ and /əʊ/; AU: /ˈbɒː.rəd/ or /ˈbɒː.rɔːd/ with a broader, flatter vowel and often a more relaxed /ə/ in the second syllable. Key features include rhoticity (US/rhotic vs UK/AU non-rhotic), vowel quality (/ɔː/ vs /ɒ/), and the tendency to reduce the second syllable to a schwa in some varieties.
The difficulty stems from the sequence of a tense first vowel /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ followed by a mid/back /əʊ/ or /ə/ with a final /d/. Coarticulation makes /r/ coloration (in rhotic accents) or lack thereof (non-rhotic accents), plus potential vowel reduction in connected speech. Practicing the glide from /ɒ/ to /əʊ/ while finishing with a crisp /d/ helps keep the pronunciation distinct and natural.
What affects the second syllable’s vowel length in borrowed across accents? In many varieties, the second syllable carries a reduced vowel (schwa-like) or a short /ə/ before the final /d/, and the exact vowel height and length shifts with pace and emphasis. Staying aware of whether you pronounce /əʊ/ as a glide or reduced vowel helps you tailor your pronunciation to your target accent.
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Borrowed derives from the verb borrow, with the -ed suffix indicating past tense or past participle usage. The word originates in Old English bearmian? No—actually, from Old English borian (to borrow), evolving through Middle English forms such as borwe and borwed before stabilizing as borrowed. Its semantic trajectory tracks a common Indo-European root relating to taking with the intent of temporary use. In Germanic languages, cognates reflect a similar concept of obtaining something temporarily and returning it. The prefix be- and the root borrow evolved to indicate completed action in past contexts, distinguishing borrowed items from those that are permanently owned. Over centuries, borrowed came to serve both literal and figurative meanings—physically taking an object, or linguistically adopting phrases, styles, or cultural practices. First attested in Middle English writings around the 12th to 14th centuries, borrowed appears in legal and everyday speech as a standard descriptor for temporary possession or use. In modern English, it frequently pairs with prepositions such as from (borrowed from), for (borrowed for), or as a modifier in compounds (borrowed-time, borrowed funds). The word’s evolution mirrors social practices of lending and reciprocal exchange, embedding a sense of temporariness and dependency on others’ resources or norms. This lineage emphasizes its casual, everyday applicability across domains—from tangible possessions to intangible ideas.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "borrowed" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "borrowed" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "borrowed"
-wed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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