3 syllables: con, cer, ted. Stress on cer.
kuhn-SUR-tuhd
/kəˈnsɝtəd/
concerted is pronounced kuhn-SUR-tuhd (/kəˈnsɝtəd/). It has three syllables (con-cer-ted), with the stress on "cer". Concerted describes actions taken jointly or in coordinated effort by multiple people or groups. It emphasizes deliberate, collaborative momentum toward a common goal, often implying formal planning or unified execution. In use, it signals a synchronized, collective push rather than isolated individual effort.
Concerted describes actions taken jointly or in coordinated effort by multiple people or groups. It emphasizes deliberate, collaborative momentum toward a common goal, often implying formal planning or unified execution. In use, it signals a synchronized, collective push rather than isolated individual effort.
"The protesters organized a concerted boycott across several cities."
"Researchers called for a concerted international response to the health crisis."
"The team undertook a concerted effort to meet the deadline."
Pronounce as con-CER-ted with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US kənˈsɜːrtɪd, UK kənˈsɜː(r)tɪd, AU kənˈsɜːtɪd. Start with a neutral schwa in the first syllable, then a clear stressed /˜ɜːr/ vowel, then a light /tɪd/ or /tɪd/ ending. Ensure the /r/ is rhotic in US, non-rhotic in many UK accents before a consonant, but here it’s a syllabic consonant sound influenced by following /t/. Mouth: lax jaw, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge for /n/ and /t/, lips neutral. Audio reference: you’ll hear the stressed vowel clearly in spoken examples; use shadowing with a native speaker for accuracy.
Common mistakes include flattening the second syllable vowel (say-ing ‘con-surt-ed’) and misplacing the stress, sometimes doubling the first syllable. Another error is merging /t/ with the following /ɪ/ creating a blurred ending. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with /ˈsɜːr/ and pronounce a crisp /t/ before the final /ɪd/. Practice minimal pairs like ‘concerted’ vs ‘concert’ to lock the final cluster; use slow deliberate articulation before speeding up.
In US English, /kənˈsɜːrtɪd/ with rhotic /r/; UK often sounds /kənˈsɜːtɪd/ with non-rhotic prestige in anticipation of following consonant; AU blends US and UK traits, with a clear /ɜː/ but a more clipped final -ed. The main difference lies in rhotics and vowel quality: US maintains /r/; UK typically drops rhotics in many contexts; AU varies with speaker. Keep the stressed /ˈɜːr/ or /ˈɜː/ vowel steady, final /tɪd/ or /təd/ depending on tempo.
It hinges on the mid-central vowel in the stressed syllable plus a crisp, unreleased or lightly released /t/ before a syllabic -ed ending. Some speakers merge the /rt/ sequence, making /ˈsɜːrtd/ if the /t/ blends with the /d/. The two consonants around the vowel require careful articulation to avoid sounding like 'consurted' or 'concert.' Focus on sustaining the /ɜːr/ in the second syllable and a clear /t/ before /ɪd/.
A key nuance is the /r/ coloring of the stressed syllable in rhotic accents and how it can influence the following /t/. In many speakers, the /rt/ reduces toward a single alveolar stop before the -ed, so you may hear a quick transition from /ɜːr/ to /tɪd/. Practice maintaining a strong /ɜːr/ nucleus and then a separate /t/ release to avoid a blending that muddies pronunciation.
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Concerted comes from the Middle French concerté, a past participle of concerter, meaning to agree, unite, or bring into harmony. The root is Latin concertare (con- “together” + certare “to contend, strive, settle”), from which English inherited sense development toward ‘united by agreement or action.’ In English, the term appeared by the 16th century, initially signifying things that are brought into harmony or agreement among parties. Over time, the sense broadened to describe coordinated, mutually agreed actions among people or groups, especially in contexts like politics, labor, or performance planning. Its phonological form stabilized in modern English as /kənˈsɜːrtɪd/ in General American, with UK pronunciation /kənˈsɜː(r)tɪd/ and Australian /kənˈsɜːtɪd/, retaining the stress on the second syllable. The word’s usage tends to appear in formal or semi-formal discourse, often in contexts that imply strategy, planning, or collaborative execution. First known uses cluster around policy or organizational language in early modern English colloquial and legal registers, later expanding into everyday descriptive usage for coordinated efforts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "concerted" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "concerted"
-ted sounds
-red sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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