2 syllables: cher, ished. Stress on cher.
CHER-isht
/ˈtʃɛɹɪʃt/
cherished is pronounced CHER-isht (/ˈtʃɛɹɪʃt/). It has two syllables (cher-ished), with the stress on "cher". Cherished describes something greatly loved and valued, held dear in memory or affection. It conveys a sense of tenderness and importance, often tied to personal significance. The term can refer to objects, memories, relationships, or moments regarded with warm regard, reverence, and continued appreciation.
Cherished describes something greatly loved and valued, held dear in memory or affection. It conveys a sense of tenderness and importance, often tied to personal significance. The term can refer to objects, memories, relationships, or moments regarded with warm regard, reverence, and continued appreciation.
- Misplacing stress on the -ished syllable: train your ear to hear the strong CHER- and lightly reduce emphasis on -ished when speaking quickly. Use a minimal pair drill with menurut: cher-ished vs. cherished?; - Final /t/ is often dropped or softened in fast speech; practice ensuring a crisp /t/. - The /tʃ/ onset should be clear; some speakers substitute /t/ or /dʒ/; practice with /tʃ/ clarity and avoid blending into /ʃ/ or /r/.
"She kept the old locket as a cherished keepsake from her grandmother."
"Their friendship was cherished during trying times, providing comfort and support."
"The letter remains cherished as a reminder of happier days."
Pronunciation: /ˈtʃɛr.ɪʃt/ in US/UK; US often reduces the second vowel slightly to a schwa: /ˈtʃɛr.ɪst/ in rapid speech. Stress is on the first syllable: CHER-ished. Start with the /tʃ/ sound as in choose, then /ɛ/ as in bed, then /r/ with a light American rhotic release, followed by a short /ɪ/ before /ʃt/ cluster. If you’re aiming for careful enunciation, pronounce the /t/ clearly: /ˈtʃɛr.ɪʃt/. Audio reference: you can compare with cues from Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries with the audio button for each variant.
Common mistakes include: misplacing stress (putting emphasis on -ished: /ˈtʃɜː.rɪʃt/), mispronouncing the /tʃ/ as /s/ or /dʒ/, and swallowing or deleting the /r/ (leading to /ˈtʃɛr.ɪʃ/ without the final /t/). To correct: keep primary stress on CHER-; ensure the /t/ at the end is audible in careful speech; and maintain a clear /r/ before the /ɪ/ in rhotic accents. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the final /t/ closure.
In US English, /ˈtʃɛr.ɪʃt/ with a rhotic /r/ before the vowel; the /r/ is pronounced, and the second syllable is shortened. In UK English, /ˈtʃeə.rɪʃt/ or /ˈtʃeər.ɪʃt/ with less rhoticity in non-rhotic varieties; some speakers may elide the /r/ after the vowel. Australian English typically yields /ˈtʃeː.ɹɪʃt/ or /ˈtʃə.ɹɪʃt/, with a broader vowel in the first syllable and a pronounced but softer /r/ depending on speaker. Ensure you practice adding a small pause or linking as appropriate for the accent.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /tʃ-ɪʃt/ at the end and the rhotic vowel in the first syllable in rhotic varieties. Learners often mispronounce the final /t/ or merge /ɪ/ with /ʃ/ sounds. Focus on clearing the /t/ immediately after /ʃ/ and keeping the sequence /ɪt/ compact. Also, ensure the /r/ remains audible before the /ɪ/ in US and some UK accents. Nailing the subtle vowel length and the stop release helps avoid a blended or mis-stressed version.
Why is the sequence CHER- in cherished so distinctive, and how should you shape the tongue for that initial /tʃ/? The combination /tʃ/ requires the tongue’s blade to rise to the postalveolar region, with the tongue tip touching the lower gum ridge briefly as air streams around. This gives a crisp, aspirated onset before the /ɛ/ vowel. Keeping the tongue anchored behind your upper teeth reduces a flat onset. This subtle alignment is what makes CHER- feel natural and unmistakable.
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Cherished originates from the verb cherish, which derives from Old French cherir, meaning to dear or to warm, nurture, or keep close to the heart. The French term itself likely stems from the Latin carus, meaning dear or precious, with the sense evolving to describe something kept close in affection or memory. In Early Modern English, cherish carried intimate, tender connotations of nurturing or fostering, extending from the literal care of a person or thing to the figurative care of memories or values. Over time, the participial adjective cherished emerged to describe people, objects, or memories that are held dear and valued with affection and reverence. First known uses surface in the 14th to 15th centuries as religious or intimate affection terms, but by the 18th and 19th centuries, it broadened to common usage for cherished friends, heirlooms, and moments that are treasured across social contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cherished" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cherished" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cherished"
-hed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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