Chosen is an adjective meaning selected or picked as a preferred option. It often conveys a sense of intentional selection, sometimes with a sense of exclusivity or importance. In usage, it can describe people, things, or decisions that have been deliberately decided or singled out.
"The chosen candidate will lead the project."
"She wore her chosen outfit for the formal dinner."
"The chosen path was uncertain, but it felt right."
"Only the chosen few were invited to the reveal event."
Chosen comes from the past participle of the verb choose, which itself derives from Old English ceosan, from Proto-Germanic keusanan, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots *gheh- meaning to seize or take. The form chosen appears in Middle English as chusen or chosen in later spellings, reflecting the shift from strong verb conjugation patterns to a fixed participle in modern English. The sense evolved from simply picking or selecting something to carrying a sense of deliberate, preordained choice (as if already decided). The term gained widespread usage in legal, religious, and literary contexts where particular individuals or outcomes are designated as “chosen” or “elect.” First known uses in written records appear in Old English and early Middle English texts, with the modern form stabilized by Early Modern English times. Over centuries, “chosen” has retained both the act of selection and the notion of special status implied by being singled out.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chosen" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Chosen"
-ken sounds
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Pronounce as /ˈtʃoʊ.zən/ in General American, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable has a long diphthong /oʊ/ as in ‘goat,’ followed by the syllabic /z/ and a schwa in the second syllable: zən. In many UK varieties, the first vowel is closer to /əʊ/ and the second vowel remains a reduced vowel. Mouth: start with a rounded lip shape for /oʊ/, then glide into /z/ and finish with a relaxed /ən/.”,
Common errors: (1) Stressed second syllable by over-emphasizing the second vowel, which makes it sound like /zən/ is stressed; fix by keeping primary stress on /ˈtʃoʊ/. (2) Ending as /tʃoʊˈzən/ or with a clear /ə/ instead of a reduced schwa; correct to a quick /zən/ with a subtle schwa. (3) Muddling the /tʃ/ with /dʒ/ or failing to lip-round for /oʊ/; ensure a clear /tʃ/ onset with rounded lips. Practicing slow, then natural speed helps embed the correct rhythm.”,
US tends to stress the first syllable: /ˈtʃoʊ.zən/, with a clear /oʊ/ and a soft, unstressed final /ən/. UK often uses /ˈtʃəʊ.zən/ with a more centralized or relaxed first vowel and a non-rhotic tendency; final /n/ is clear. Australian English generally aligns with UK qualities but may feature a slightly flatter /əʊ/ and a broader vowel transition before /zən/. Across all, rhotics vary in the US, typically pronounced with /r/ only if followed by a vowel in connected speech; otherwise, non-rhotic effect can appear in UK/AU variations.”,
The difficulty often lies in the quick, two-syllable rhythm and the transition from a rounded, high-front vowel /oʊ/ to a voiced alveolar /z/ then to a reduced /ən/. The first syllable has a tense diphthong that can blur in rapid speech, and the final schwa can be elided in casual speech, resulting in /ˈtʃoʊz.n̩/ or /ˈtʃoʊ.zən/ depending on tempo. Focusing on keeping the first syllable distinct and the /z/ as a crisp, short consonant helps clarity.”,
A word-specific nuance is the explicit separation between the /z/ and the trailing syllable; avoid blending /zən/ into a single syllable via a strong smoothing of the transition. Practicing with minimal pairs where a similar shape is /tʃoʊːn/ vs /ˈtʃoʊ.zən/ helps you keep the /z/ as a distinct consonant and the second syllable reduced. Remember the first syllable carries the primary stress and the long /oʊ/ glide, while the second syllable remains weak, ending in a light vowel sound.
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