2 syllables: dis, tilled. Stress on tilled.
dis-TILD
/dɪˈstɪld/
distilled is pronounced dis-TILD (/dɪˈstɪld/). It has two syllables (dis-tilled), with the stress on "tilled". Distilled describes a substance that has been purified or concentrated through the process of distillation, typically by vaporizing a liquid and then condensing its vapors. In everyday usage, it can also refer to something that's been reduced to its essential elements or most refined form. The term often appears in chemistry, beverage production, and metaphorical language. It conveys clarity, purity, and concentration.
Distilled describes a substance that has been purified or concentrated through the process of distillation, typically by vaporizing a liquid and then condensing its vapors. In everyday usage, it can also refer to something that's been reduced to its essential elements or most refined form. The term often appears in chemistry, beverage production, and metaphorical language. It conveys clarity, purity, and concentration.
"The distilled water is free of minerals and impurities."
"The theory was distilled into a few key principles."
"Wine may be distilled to produce brandy."
Pronounce as dɪˈstɪld. The syllable break is dis- + tilled, with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a light /d/, then the short /ɪ/ vowel, followed by /st/ cluster, a clear /ɪ/ in the stressed peak, and end with /ld/. In connected speech, the /t/ can be lightly released before the /l/; keep the /d/ audible to avoid slurring. Listen for a precise, clean consonant sequence: d - ɪ - s - t - ɪ - l - d.
Common errors include pronouncing the second vowel as a long /i:/ (dɪˈstiːld) or merging the /t/ and /l/ into /ɹ/ or /ɫ/ clusters. Another frequent pitfall is softening the final /d/ too much so it sounds like /t/ or dropping the /l/ — resulting in dis-tild. To correct: keep the /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable, articulate the /t/ crisply before the /l/, and finish with a clear final /d/.
In US English, the /d/ at the end remains clear and the /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable is short. In UK English, the /d/ is crisp, and the /l/ sometimes sounds lighter due to non-rhotic tendencies affecting adjacent vowels less here; the vowel quality remains /ɪ/. Australian generally follows a similar pattern to US but with more centralized vowel qualities; the /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable may be marginally closer to /ə/ in fast speech. Overall, stress position and the crisp /t/ before /l/ are the defining cross-accent cues.
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /st/ followed by /ɪl/ and the final /d/. The brief /t/ before /l/ must be released clearly to avoid blending with the following /l/. Also, the second vowel in the stressed syllable is a short /ɪ/ that must be held just long enough to signal the syllable boundary without sounding like /iː/. Mastery requires precise tongue tip placement for /t/, a light contact for /l/, and a crisp final /d/.
Distilled is unique because it has a two-syllable structure with a heavy second syllable and a consonant sequence /st/ before a light /l/ and final /d/. The combination of /st/ and /l/ can tempt learners to blend into a simpler sound or confuse the /t/ and /l/. The relief between the alveolar stop /t/ and the lateral /l/ is essential; pronounce them separately for clarity.
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US: Distilled often uses a rhotic, crisp final /d/. UK: Slightly more conservative vowel quality, the /ɪ/ remains short; final /d/ is clear but not heavily aspirated. AU: Tends toward a slightly vowel-reduced /ɪ/ in quick speech; maintain clear /t/ before /l/ and final /d/. IPA references: US /dɪˈstɪld/, UK /dɪˈstɪld/, AU /dɪˈstɪld/. Focus on keeping tongue tip on alveolar ridge for /d/ and /t/; mouth stays relaxed." ,
The word distilled comes from the verb distill, which derives from the Latin distillare, literally distilling or dripping down. distillum is Latin for a drop or droplet, from the res—component in the act of dripping. distillare itself arises from dis- (apart, away) + stallare (to trickle, drip). The sense in English emerged in the late Middle Ages, originally tied to the process of extracting essential vapors from liquids in alchemy and early chemistry. By the 16th-17th centuries, distill became common in technical language describing purification by vaporization and condensation, and distillation found broader metaphorical use to mean extracting the essential meaning or most important aspects of something. The adjective distilled, masc. past participle, shows a state achieved by this process, whether physically purified liquid or metaphorically refined ideas. First known uses appear in pharmacopoeias and scientific texts of the Renaissance, with longer literary usage becoming common in the Enlightenment and modern scientific writing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "distilled" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "distilled" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "distilled"
-led sounds
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