Endangered is an adjective describing species or things at risk of extinction or serious harm. It denotes vulnerability due to factors like population decline, habitat loss, or imminent danger, and is often used in ecological, legal, and safety contexts. The term implies urgency without immediate certainty of extinction.
"The red panda is endangered and conservation efforts are critical."
"Some ancient languages are endangered but still taught in universities."
"The endangered status of the coral reefs highlights the impact of climate change."
"Public awareness campaigns aim to protect endangered species from further decline."
Endangered comes from the verb endanger, formed from the prefix en- (a variant of in- meaning 'in' or 'toward') combined with danger. The noun danger dates back to Middle English, from Old French dangier, from Latin deinare ‘to threaten’ (from de- ‘down, away’ + danger 'danger'). The en- prefix fused with danger to create endanger, meaning to put in danger. The participial adjective endangered emerged in the 19th century as a back-formation indicating the state of being in danger, particularly in natural contexts like wildlife. The modern ecological usage—specifically concerning species at risk of extinction—became widespread in the 20th century with the rise of conservation biology and international agreements that classify populations as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. First widely cited publications tying endangered to species status appeared in conservation literature and policy frameworks, as science and policy began quantifying risk and urgency for protection.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Endangered" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Endangered" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Endangered"
-ded sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as in-ˈdeɪn-dʒərd in US; UK typically ɪn-ˈdeɪn.dʒəd, with a light schwa in the second syllable. The primary stress is on the second syllable: DAN. Final -ed is pronounced as a soft 'd' or 't' depending on speaker: -ed often yields /d/ in this word, so /ˈdʒərd/ or /ˈdʒəd/ with a rhyming ending. IPA references: US /ɪnˈdeɪndʒərd/, UK /ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/; AU similar to UK. You’ll want to keep the /dʒ/ cluster clear and avoid additional vowel sounds between /n/ and /dʒ/. Audio guidance: listen to pronunciation resources on Pronounce and Forvo for region-specific nuances.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying en-DEN-gered; 2) Dropping the /dʒ/ or mispronouncing it as /dʒ/ as /j/ or /dʒə/; 3) Reducing the second syllable too much to /ɪ/ or /ə/ without the proper /deɪ/ diphthong. Correction: emphasize the /ˈdeɪ/ in the second syllable, keep /n/ tightly attached to it, and articulate the /dʒ/ as a single phoneme /dʒ/ with a clear release. Practice with minimal pairs and slow tempo until the cluster flows smoothly.
In US English, you hear /ɪnˈdeɪndʒərd/ with a rhotic final /ɹ/ or /ərd/ depending on speaker. UK English tends to /ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/ with a non-rhotic ending and a lighter final /ɪən/. Australian often mirrors UK but with broader vowels: /ˈɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/ and slightly flatter /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ before the final syllable. The stressed syllable remains /ˈdeɪndʒ/ across accents; the main variation is the ending: rhotic /-ərd/ vs non-rhotic /-əd/. IPA references help: US /ɪnˈdeɪndʒərd/, UK /ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/, AU /ɪnˈdeɪndʒəd/.
Difficulties stem from the /dʒ/ affricate in the middle and the final /d/ or /ɜː/ sound depending on accent, plus the diphthong /eɪ/ in the stressed second syllable. Speakers often mispronounce /deɪn/ as /den/ or merge /ndʒ/ with /n/ or /ʒ/. Focus on the juicey /deɪ/ in the second syllable, then release into /ndʒ/ without adding extra vowels. Use slow, precise articulation to avoid flapping the consonant cluster.
A topic often asked: does the final -ed sound in endangered pronounce as /d/ or /ɪd/? In standard pronunciation, it’s typically /ərd/ with an /ər/ before the final /d/ in US and /əd/ in UK. The /dʒ/ sound in the middle is the trickiest part; keep it as a single affricate, not two separate sounds. Intentional practice with controlled syllables helps you time the transition smoothly.
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