2 syllables: com, bined. Stress on bined.
kuhm-BEYEND
/kəˈmbaɪnd/
combined is pronounced kuhm-BEYEND (/kəˈmbaɪnd/). It has two syllables (com-bined), with the stress on "bined". Combined is an adjective or verb form meaning joined or merged, or an action done by uniting two or more things. In pronunciation, it is typically stressed on the second syllable in noun forms and on the second syllable in verb forms when used as past tense or in certain constructions, though stress can vary with part of speech and emphasis. Overall, it describes the act or result of bringing elements together.
Combined is an adjective or verb form meaning joined or merged, or an action done by uniting two or more things. In pronunciation, it is typically stressed on the second syllable in noun forms and on the second syllable in verb forms when used as past tense or in certain constructions, though stress can vary with part of speech and emphasis. Overall, it describes the act or result of bringing elements together.
- You may pronounce it as /ˈkɒmɪnd/ or /ˈkɒmbɪnd/, misplacing the /aɪ/ and reducing the diphthong. Correct by ensuring the second syllable carries a clear /aɪ/ before /nd/, so it sounds like COM-bynd, not COM-bin-d. - Another error is weakening the final /nd/ into /n/ or a dental nasal; you should release the /d/ and avoid nasalizing the ending. - A third issue is a blurred boundary between /m/ and /baɪn/, sometimes heard as /m bɪnd/; keep the /m/ closed with no vowel between /m/ and /b/. Practice by isolating /kɒm/ and /baɪnd/ then blending, with a firm /d/ at the end.
"The combined effort of the team led to a successful launch."
"A combined approach blends strategies from different fields."
"The two gases formed a combined compound under heat."
Combined is pronounced with stress on the first syllable in most common usages: /ˈkɒm.baɪnd/ in US/UK/AU. The first syllable uses a short open o /ɒ/ (as in 'cot' in British varieties) or /ɑ/ in some American speakers, followed by /m/ and then an /aɪ/ glide before /nd/. The /nd/ ends with a clear dental-n as in 'and' digraph. Visualize: COM- would be dominant with crisp /m/ closure, then a rising /aɪ/ to connect to /nd/. For clarity, a brief model: k-om (short o) + /baɪnd/. Audio reference tips: compare to 'comb' for the first syllable and 'bind' for the second.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the /m/ or creating an incorrect /k/ onset (e.g., /kɔm-bɪnd/). Correction: keep a crisp /m/ immediately after /k/, with no vowel between /k/ and /m/. 2) Misplacing the /aɪ/ glide, causing an /aɪ/ to merge with a short /ɪ/ or /ə/; ensure a distinct /aɪ/ diphthong before /nd/. 3) Weakening the final /nd/ into /n/ or a nasalized vowel; maintain a clear alveolar /d/ release followed by /n/ closure if present, or a clean /nd/ cluster. Practice by isolating /baɪnd/ and then attaching /kɒm/ without altering the diphthong.
US/UK/AU share the /ˈkɒm.baɪnd/ skeleton, but vowel quality differs: UK may use a more open /ɒ/ in the first syllable and a shorter, crisper /aɪ/; US often uses /ɑ/ in the first syllable depending on region, with a bright /aɪ/ before /nd/. Australian tends to be flatter with less rhoticity, and vowel shifts can yield a slightly more centralized /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ depending on speaker. Stress remains on the first syllable; linking and flapping in rapid US speech can affect the exact cadence but not the basic phoneme inventory.
The difficulty lies in the precise /k/ + /m/ sequence followed quickly by the diphthong /aɪ/ before the /nd/ cluster. Some speakers insert an extra vowel or mispronounce /m/ as a nasalized bilabial approximant. The /nd/ cluster requires crisp alveolar timing; rushing can blur the /d/ or nasalize the ending. Practicing the transition from /m/ to /aɪ/ to /nd/ with slow, deliberate pronunciation helps. IPA cues guide you to maintain accurate tongue position as you move from bilabial closure to high-front vowel glide.
A unique aspect is balancing the primary stress on the first syllable with natural syllable weight as a word that can function as a verb or adjective. When used as a verb, you may hear a reduced vowel in the second syllable in rapid speech, but standard careful speech keeps /baɪnd/ intact with clear /aɪ/ before /nd/. Also, watch for a subtle vowel reduction in fast speech if followed by function words; keep the main stress on the first syllable to preserve the word’s integrity.
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- US: rhoticity affects only the /r/; here there is no /r/. The first vowel tends to be a low-back vowel near /ɑ/; ensure a clear /ɒ/ or /ɑ/. The /aɪ/ diphthong should be bright and accurate, with a gentle glide into /nd/. - UK: shade the first vowel toward /ɒ/ and keep a crisp, non-rhotic /r/ absence; /aɪ/ remains prominent. - AU: expect less rhotic influence; vowel qualities can lean toward a centralized quality; maintain a clear /aɪ/ and a precise /nd/. IPA references: US /ˈkɒm.baɪnd/, UK /ˈkɒm.baɪnd/, AU /ˈkɒm.baɪnd/; focus on /ɒ/ vs /ɑ:/ and the diphthong /aɪ/.
Combined derives from the late Middle English combinende, from the verb combine, which stems from the Latin com- (together) + binare (to put in two). The root binar- suggests “two” or “paired,” reflecting the sense of joining two parts. The term traces back to Latin combinare, meaning to unite or join together, formed by com- (together) and bi(n)are (to form two). In Old French and English, the word evolved through Middle English as combineden in phrases like ‘to be combined’ and later shortened to combined. The core meaning—joined or together—shifted slightly toward a sense of synthesized or unified results as modern usage expanded into technical fields (chemistry, statistics, mechanics) and everyday language. By the 18th and 19th centuries, combined appeared frequently in scientific and legal contexts to describe integrated elements, components, or outcomes, preserving its general sense of two or more items acting as a single unit.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "combined" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "combined"
-ind sounds
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