3 syllables: e, la, ted. Stress on la.
il-AY-tuhd
/ɪˈleɪtəd/
elated is pronounced il-AY-tuhd (/ɪˈleɪtəd/). It has three syllables (e-la-ted), with the stress on "la". Elated describes a strong, joyful happiness or excitement, often felt after a success or fortunate event. It conveys a heightened emotional state, brighter and more intense than simply happy. The word signals a buoyant mood and uplifting sentiment, typically used in positive, upbeat contexts.
Elated describes a strong, joyful happiness or excitement, often felt after a success or fortunate event. It conveys a heightened emotional state, brighter and more intense than simply happy. The word signals a buoyant mood and uplifting sentiment, typically used in positive, upbeat contexts.
"She felt elated after receiving the acceptance letter from her dream university."
"The team was elated by their stunning victory in the championship final."
"On hearing the good news, he walked with an elated skip in his step."
Pronounce it as ih-LAY-tid, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: ɪˈleɪtɪd. Begin with a short, relaxed initial vowel sound, then a clear long A as in lay, followed by a light 'tid' ending. Mouth positions: lip rounded slightly for the /ɪ/ initial, move to an open-mid front position for /ˈleɪ/, and finish with a short, clipped /tɪd/. You’ll hear a crisp T and a reduced final syllable; practice with a brief pause between syllables to ensure the stress lands on /ˈleɪ/.
Common mistakes include swallowing the second syllable, saying /ˈeɪ.leɪd/ or dropping the /ɪ/ of the final syllable. Another frequent error is misplacing stress, producing e-LA-ted with incorrect emphasis. To correct: ensure primary stress on the second syllable /ˈleɪ/, keep the final /ɪd/ light and quick, and avoid vowel reduction in the middle syllable. Practice with slow, then normal speed to feel the two-syllable rhythm clearly.
US and UK both use ɪˈleɪtɪd with primary stress on the second syllable, but vowel quality on the /ɪ/ initial differs slightly; US tends to a firmer, closer /ɪ/, UK can have a slightly more centralized onset and a crisper /tɪd/. Australian tends toward a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a lighter /t/ tap in casual speech. Overall, the core /ˈleɪ/ syllable carries the stress across accents.
The challenge lies in the two-part vowel nucleus /ɪˈleɪ-/ where you move quickly from a short /ɪ/ to a long /eɪ/ diphthong, and the final unstressed /ɪd/ which often weakens in fast speech. Beginners often misplace stress or merge /leɪ/ with /leɪd/. Focus on the central diphthong /eɪ/ and keep the final /ɪd/ light and quick to avoid an extra syllable.
A key feature is the clear onset consonant cluster around the nucleus /l/ within /əl-eɪ-/. Some speakers assimilate the /əl/ as a syllabic /l/ or reduce it to a quick schwa plus l combination. Also, the middle diphthong /eɪ/ should stay distinct from /eɪd/ in less careful speech. Keeping the /t/ crisp and the final /d/ voiced helps preserve the word’s precise pronunciation.
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Elated comes from Middle English elat(e) meaning caused to rise, from the Latin tilīc- or lat- meaning lifted or raised, connected to elation and to elevate. The form derives from the verb to elevate, with the suffix -ed indicating a past participle/adjective meaning “having been raised in mood.” Its earliest use in English appears in the 17th century, often in literary contexts, to describe spirits raised or lifted by joy or triumph. Over time, elated has shifted from a more general sense of “raised up” to a precise emotional state of joyful exhilaration. The word shares roots with other emotional descriptors that imply upward movement like elevation and exaltation, reflecting the metaphorical ascent of mood and feeling. In modern usage, elated commonly collocates with nouns such as mood, reaction, and feelings, as in elated mood, elated reaction, or feel elated after good news. Historically, the term bridged religious and secular uses of “elevated” to describe both spiritual uplift and worldly happiness, retaining a sense of buoyancy across contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "elated" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "elated"
-ted sounds
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