3 syllables: com, men, ted. Stress on com.
KAH-men-tuhd
/ˈkɑmɛntəd/
commented is pronounced KAH-men-tuhd (/ˈkɑmɛntəd/). It has three syllables (com-men-ted), with the stress on "com". Commented is the past tense of comment, meaning you expressed an opinion or remark about something. It denotes adding spoken or written remarks, often in response to a topic or event. The pronunciation centers on a stressed syllable in ‘com-’ with a final osed cluster that forms a smooth “-id” ending in typical English speech.
Commented is the past tense of comment, meaning you expressed an opinion or remark about something. It denotes adding spoken or written remarks, often in response to a topic or event. The pronunciation centers on a stressed syllable in ‘com-’ with a final osed cluster that forms a smooth “-id” ending in typical English speech.
"She commented on the report, pointing out several inconsistencies."
"During the meeting, he commented that the timeline was too optimistic."
"The editor commented that the article needed more data and sources."
Pronounce as /ˈkɒmənˌtɪd/ (US) or /ˈkɒmənˌtɪd/ (UK/AU). Start with COM as in ‘comb,’ then /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with an explicit /tɪd/. The stress lands on the first syllable: COM- mon- TED, with the final /ɪd/ cluster. Tip: keep the t crisp; avoid blending it with the preceding /n/ by briefly releasing your tongue. Voice the final /d/ clearly for a clean ending.
Common errors include: (1) underpronouncing the final -ed as /ɪd/ becoming /d/ or /t/, (2) misplacing the primary stress, either stressing the second syllable (COM-en-ted) or flattening it so the word sounds like ‘comment’ in past tense, and (3) blending the /t/ with the preceding /n/ making /nt/ sound muddy. Correct by ensuring you articulate a clear /t/ before the final /ɪd/, keep stress on the first syllable, and slow the transition from /n/ to /t/ to keep /n/ and /t/ distinct.
In US, you’ll hear /ˈkɒmənˌtɪd/ with non-rhotic-like oversimplification sometimes, but generally /ˈkɒmənˌtɪd/ is maintained; in many northern speakers the /ɒ/ can be more open, and /t/ can be flapped to a quick /ɾ/ in rapid speech, though final /d/ remains. UK typically uses /ˈkɒmənˌtɪd/ with a stronger /t/ and crisp /d/, and AU leans toward /ˈkɒmənˌtɪd/ with clear /t/ as well; rhotics are generally non-rhotic in both UK and AU contexts, so /ɹ/ is not pronounced. The vowel in the first syllable remains /ɒ/ in most dialects.
The difficulty lies in the two-part stress pattern and the final -ed cluster. You must maintain clear primary stress on the first syllable while executing a precise, unreduced /ə/ in the second syllable, then release an explicit /t/ before the /ɪd/ suffix. Coarticulation between /m/ and /t/ can blur the boundary, and some speakers reduce /ən/ to a schwa quickly, risking an indistinct /tɪd/. Focus on a clean /t/ onset and crisp /d/ release to anchor the ending.
Watch the boundary between the /n/ and the /t/ in the second syllable. They are adjacent but require a brief, articulatory pause for a distinct /t/ onset, especially in careful speech. Another unique feature is the final /ɪd/ which ensures the suffix is heard as a distinct syllable rather than a merged /d/ with the previous /t/. Training to produce a light, quick /ɪd/ after a clear /t/ prevents the word from sounding like ‘comment’ or ‘commentate.’
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Commented originates from the verb comment, derived from Old French coment, meaning ‘to observe, remark, or explain,’ which came from Latin commentum, literally ‘a thing thought, a thought, observation.’ The English verb formed in the mid-16th century, adopting the -ed suffix to form past tense in standard pronunciation. The root comment itself traces to late Latin commentarius (journal, notebook, commentary), from com- ‘with, together’ + mentum ‘mind, thought,’ evolving to denote an expressed remark or observation. Over centuries, “comment” broadened from a spoken remark to written annotations, tangential opinions inserted into dialogue or text. The past participle “commented” retains the core sense of having made a remark, with stress typically on the first syllable in most dialects, though some rapid speech may blur adjacent consonants, yielding a lighter final onset. First known usage in English literature appears in the 1500s, with increasing frequency in editorial, academic, and online discourse as commentary became a central aspect of public conversation.
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Words that rhyme with "commented"
-ded sounds
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