4 syllables: cir, cu, la, ted. Stress on cir.
SUR-kyuh-lay-tid
/ˈsɝkjəˌleɪtɪd/
circulated is pronounced SUR-kyuh-lay-tid (/ˈsɝkjəˌleɪtɪd/). It has four syllables (cir-cu-la-ted), with the stress on "cir". Circulated describes something that has been passed around or distributed among people or places. It often refers to information, a document, or an object moving through a group or system. In formal contexts, it can also mean circulated circulation of air or currency within a network or area.
Circulated describes something that has been passed around or distributed among people or places. It often refers to information, a document, or an object moving through a group or system. In formal contexts, it can also mean circulated circulation of air or currency within a network or area.
"The memo circulated quickly through the department after the meeting."
"News of the merger circulated among investors before the official announcement."
"The air was circulated by the fan to keep the room comfortable."
It’s pronounced sur-KYOO-lay-tid, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK: /ˈsɜːrkjəˌleɪtɪd/. The sequence /ˈsɜːr/ sounds like 'ser' with a rhotic 'r' in US; the /kj/ is a 'kyoo' blend like in 'cute' followed by a 'l' onset for the /lə/ part. End with /tɪd/ as a light, quick 'tid'. A good cue is: circle around a central syllable, then -laid with a light t-d blend at the end.
Two common errors are: 1) misplacing stress, saying cir-CU-lated or CIR-cu-lated; 2) mispronouncing the /kj/ cluster as 'k-ye' or separating it as 's-urk-kyoo-lay-tid'. Correct approach: keep the /ˈsɜːr/ syllable closed with an 'er' vowel, then glide quickly into /kjə/ to produce 'kyoo'. End with a clear /tɪd/ with a t-d blend. Practice by saying 'ser-kyoo-lay-tid' in a smooth, single breath.
In US and UK, the initial /ˈsɜːr/ is similar, but rhoticity affects USA: the /r/ is more pronounced; UK typically has a shorter /ɜː/ with less rhotic emphasis in some dialects. The /kjə/ sequence remains a tight glide in all; Australian often has a slightly broader vowel in /ɜːr/ and a more clipped /tɪd/ ending. Overall, the main variance is vowel length and rhotic realization, with the US favoring a more pronounced rhotic middle and AU showing mild vowel broadening.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /ˈsɜːrkjə/ after the stressed syllable: the /r/ and /kj/ sequences require precise tongue positioning to avoid breaking the glide. The syllable boundary with /-lə-/ can blur in fast speech, and the final /-tɪd/ can be devoiced or reduced to /-tɪd/ with a light tap. Also, non-native speakers often misplace the stress or mispronounce /kj/ as /k/ plus /j/.
Yes: the /kj/ cluster in the middle, producing the 'kyoo' sound, is a distinctive feature. You want a smooth, palatalization glide from /k/ into /j/ to form /kjə/. The secondary feature is the fast, light -t/ ending; avoid fully articulating a separate 'ted' syllable in rapid speech. Focus on a tight core vowel in /ˈsɜːr/ and then run into the /kjə/ before a quick /tɪd/.
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Circulate comes from Latin circulare, meaning to go around, from circulus ‘a small circle’ (diminutive of circus ‘circle’). The suffix -ate forms verbs indicating action or process. Circulare entered English in the 15th century via French circuler and Medieval Latin circulare. The sense evolved from physical movement around a center to figurative movement of information, goods, or air. Early uses described circular motion of physical objects or coins, gradually widening to include information—letters, edicts, or rumors—spreading through networks. By the 17th-18th centuries, it took on the meaning of “to be circulated or dispersed among people,” with extended uses in geography and physiology (blood/circulation). In modern usage, circulate is ubiquitous in business, media, and science, carrying implications of efficiency, reach, and accessibility. First known English attestations appear in legal and correspondence contexts, where notices or memos were circulated for awareness and deliberation.
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Words that rhyme with "circulated"
-ted sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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