3 syllables: Em, broi, dered. Stress on broi.
em-BROY-durd
/ɛmˈbɹɔɪdɚd/
Embroidered is pronounced em-BROY-durd (/ɛmˈbɹɔɪdɚd/). It has three syllables (Em-broi-dered), with the stress on "broi". Embroidered is an adjective describing fabric decorated with needlework or stitched designs. It conveys a crafted, ornamental quality and often implies careful, decorative stitching. The term can describe textiles, garments, or even metaphorically detailed, intricately designed elements.
adjectiveEmbroidered is an adjective describing fabric decorated with needlework or stitched designs. It conveys a crafted, ornamental quality and often implies careful, decorative stitching. The term can describe textiles, garments, or even metaphorically detailed, intricately designed elements.
"The shirt featured embroidered flowers along the collar, giving it a delicate, artisanal look."
"She wore an embroidered shawl that added a splash of color to her outfit."
"The heirloom napkins were embroidered by hand, preserving family tradition."
Phonetic guide: US: /ɛmˈbrɔɪdərd/; UK/AU: /ɛmˈbrɔɪdəd/. Primary stress on the second syllable: em-BROID-ered. The core vowel in the stressed syllable is the /ɔɪ/ diphthong as in 'boy'; the second 'er' reduces to a schwa in many speakers, resulting in /dərd/ or /də/ in rapid speech. Start with an initial short /e/ sound, then the /br/ cluster, followed by /ɔɪ/ and the final /dərd/-like ending. Audio reference: you can compare to 'embroider' /ɛmˈbrɔɪ.dər/; practice by tightening lips for /ɔɪ/ and relaxing the jaw for the schwa in 'ed'.
Two frequent errors: misplacing the stress on the first syllable (EM-broi-derd) and mispronouncing the /ɔɪ/ as a pure /ɔ/ or /aɪ/ in the non-stressed syllable. Another common pitfall is pronouncing the ending as /id/ rather than /ərd/ or /əd/; keep the ending light and rhotic-friendly. Correct by emphasizing the /brɔɪ/ cluster with a clear diphthong /ɔɪ/ and softening the final /dərd/ into /dərd/ or /də/.
US: /ɛmˈbrɔɪdərd/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ quality in the post-stress segment and a clearer /ɔɪ/; UK/AU: /ɛmˈbrɔɪdəd/ or /ɛmˈbrɔɪdə/ with a reduced ending and a less pronounced /ɹ/ in non-rhotic varieties. Australian English often shows a slightly more centralized vowel quality and a very light or elided final /d/ in rapid speech. The stressed /ɔɪ/ remains consistent; the main variation is the vowel reduction and rhotics.
It combines a non-native vowel sequence /ɔɪ/ with a multi-consonant onset and a final delayed consonant cluster. The /ɔɪ/ diphthong demands tongue advancement and lip rounding, while the /br/ cluster requires precise timing to avoid slurring. The trailing /ərd/ can reduce in natural speech, making it easy to say /əd/ or /dɚd/ quickly. Focus on sustaining /ɔɪ/ before the /d/ and keeping the final /r/ light in non-rhotic accents.
Yes: anchor the syllable boundary at em-BROID-ered and treat /ɹ/ as a linking, soft sound in rhotic accents. Practice the /brɔɪ/ sequence slowly to avoid blending into /brɔɪd/. When modeling, start with /ɛm/ + /ˈbrɔɪ/ then add the final /dərd/ or /də/ depending on accent. Visualize the mouth shaping: lips rounded for /ɔɪ/ and a light, almost closed jaw for the final schwa-like segment.
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US/UK/AU differences: • US speakers: rhotic /r/ in all environments; differentiate /ə/ vs /ɚ/ in the ending, often sounding /ərd/. • UK speakers: non-rhotic tendency; final 'ed' may sound more like /əd/ or /d/ with a softer ending; /ɔɪ/ remains prominent. • AU speakers: similar to UK in rhoticity in careful speech but may use a slightly higher vowel height; final /d/ can be flapped or glottalized in rapid speech. IPA references: US /ɛmˈbrɔɪ.dərd/; UK/AU /ɛmˈbrɔɪ.dəd/ or /ɛmˈbrɔɪ.dərd/ depending on formality.
Embroidered derives from the verb embroider, which comes from Old French embroidiere, from embroiderer, from en- ‘in, into’ + broder ‘to decorate with needlework,’ ultimately from Germanic roots linked to ‘broder’ (to sew or stitch). The modern sense centers on decorated textiles created by stitching patterns into fabric. In Middle English, embroider meant to ornament with raised stitching and later expanded to refer to the craft itself as textile decoration became a valued art. By the 16th–17th centuries, embroidered fabrics signified refinement and social status; in fashion and household textiles, elaborate embroidery often indicated wealth and taste. The word’s evolution tracks the broader history of needlework across Europe, shifting from utilitarian decoration to a symbol of artistry and fashion, while retaining its core meaning: to decorate by sewing stitches into fabric.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Embroidered" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Embroidered"
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