3 syllables: en, gen, dered. Stress on gen.
en-JEN-durd
/ɛˈndʒɛndɚd/
engendered is pronounced en-JEN-durd (/ɛˈndʒɛndɚd/). It has three syllables (en-gen-dered), with the stress on "gen". Engendered means caused, generated, or brought into existence. It refers to the act of producing a particular feeling, situation, or result, often implying a causal or formative process. The term is common in formal writing and discussion of origins or effects.
Engendered means caused, generated, or brought into existence. It refers to the act of producing a particular feeling, situation, or result, often implying a causal or formative process. The term is common in formal writing and discussion of origins or effects.
"The policy debate engendered a wide range of opinions among citizens."
"Her actions engendered a sense of trust and cooperation within the team."
"The new reforms engendered substantial economic growth over the following year."
Pronounce as /ɪnˈdʒɛn.dɚd/ in US and /ɪnˈdʒɛn.dəd/ in UK/AU. Stress falls on the second syllable: en-JEN-derd. The initial syllable is a short, lax 'in' sound, the middle features a /dʒ/ like judge, followed by a schwa or a reduced /ə/ in the final syllable. Tip: start with ‘in’ then glide into the /dʒ/ cluster quickly, keeping the /ɪ/ lax and the final /d/ or /ɚd/ light and rapid. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Oxford audio pronunciations for bevested vowels.
Two main errors: (1) Misplacing stress by saying en-GEN-dered with primary stress on the first or final syllable; (2) Flattening the /dʒ/ into a simple /d/ or mispronouncing the final /ərd/ as //d/ or /ɪd/. Correction: maintain /ɪnˈdʒɛn.dɚd/ in US; keep /ɪnˈdʒɛn.dəd/ in UK/AU, ensuring the /dʒ/ stays affricate and the final cluster is light and non-syllabic when possible. Practice saying the middle ‘jen’ clearly, then release into the reduced final.” ,
US tends to favor /ɪnˈdʒɛn.dɚd/ with a rhotic ending /ɚd/. UK/AU often realize the final syllable more as /dəd/ or /dərd/ with a less rhotic 'r' tone. The /ɪ/ in first syllable remains short; /dʒ/ remains an affricate. Australian English may feature a more centralized vowel in the second syllable and a slightly quicker, more clipped final /d/—but retains the primary stress on the second syllable. Listening to native samples helps, especially for the subtle vowel quality shifts.
The difficulty comes from the cluster /dʒ/ after a stressed syllable and the final weak syllable containing a reduced vowel with a postvocalic /d/ or /ɚ/. Maintaining the contrast between /ɛn/ and /ɛn.dər/ while keeping the final /d/ light can be tricky, especially in rapid speech. Focus on isolating the affricate /dʒ/ and practicing the sequence en- + /dʒɛn/ with strong, precise mouth movement, then smoothly release into the unstressed final.
A unique aspect is the shift in vowel quality between the stressed middle syllable and the final unstressed syllable. The middle syllable uses a sharp /ɛn/ with a clear /dʒ/ onset, while the final syllable often reduces to a lighter /dərd/ or /dəd/ depending on accent. The presence of the /ɚ/ rhotic or non-rhotic ending impacts perceived accuracy; listening to native speech in context clarifies whether the ending should be more rhotic or schwa-like.
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Engendered comes from the verb engender, which itself traces to the Middle English in- (in, into) + genaer — from Old French engendrer, derived from the Latin generare meaning to beget or to produce. The root word genera indicates birth, race, or kind, related to gene and generation. The modern form engendered (past tense) emerges in the 16th–17th centuries as English adopted French verb forms, with -ed marking past tense. The sense expanded from biological begetting to more abstract production, influence, or creation of non-biological outcomes (ideas, conditions, emotions). Over time, engender has retained its core meaning of bringing something into existence or causing a specific result, though usage can be more formal or academic. First known uses appear in scholarly, legal, and religious writing where causation and origin were central themes, before spreading to general literary and rhetorical contexts. The word has remained relatively stable in meaning, though modern writers may prefer beget or generate for certain nuances. The past tense engendered is commonly used to describe actions that produced effects, consequences, or developments in various domains including sociology, politics, and policy analysis.
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Words that rhyme with "engendered"
-red sounds
-der sounds
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