Entitled is an adjective describing someone who claims a right or privilege, often without justification, or something that is titled or named. It can also imply a perceived sense of deserving privilege. In usage, it frequently conveys judgment about attitude or entitlement in social or legal contexts.
- You often hear Entitled pronounced like en-tilt-ed or in-tit-led; fix by targeting the strong /aɪ/ in the second syllable and crisp /t/ before /l/. - The final /tld/ sequence is tough; practice a clean /t/ bite, quick /l/ release and a final /d/ without vocalization of the onset of the following vowel. - Avoid dropping the first /ən/ into a schwa; in natural speech you’ll hear a lighter /ɪn/ or /ən/ depending on speed. - Misplacing stress to the first syllable; ensure primary stress on the second syllable (in-TAI-tled).
- US: rhoticity is typically present in connected speech, but Entitled ends with a non-rhotic sounding tail; maintain crisp /t/ and /l/ with a light /d/. - UK: sharper /t/ release before /l/, slightly tighter vowels; stress remains on the second syllable. - AU: similar to US but with slightly more centralized vowels and a softer /ɪ/ in the first syllable; maintain clear /aɪ/ in the second syllable. - IPA references: /ɪnˈtaɪ.təld/ (US/UK/AU). - Common vowel shifts: avoid ending with a vented vowel; keep the /ə/ before /ld/ minimal.
"She felt entitled to the best seats at the concert, even though others had waited longer."
"The book is entitled The Quiet Path, and it explores mindfulness."
"Some employees are entitled to paid vacation after one year of service."
"He spoke in an entitled tone, assuming everyone would agree with him."
Entitled derives from late Middle English entitled, from late Latin titulus ‘title, label’ (also the root of English title) and the French -é, a past participle suffix forming adjectives. The core idea centers on a label or designation that confers a claim or right. In medieval and early modern usage, to be entitled was to bear a title or be legally designated by an official label, which over time broadened to include the sense of possessing a perceived right or privilege. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the meaning evolved toward the modern social sense of deserving privilege, sometimes with a critical tone regarding attitude. The noun form title acts as the base dispatch for the adjective sense, with entitlements now common in legal, social, and cultural contexts. First known use appears in English in the 16th century via Latin-influenced forms, with the sense expanding in legal and social discourse as institutions formalized rights and privileges. In contemporary usage, entitled often carries evaluative connotations—positive when legally entitled, negative when suggesting an undeserved sense of privilege.—
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Entitled" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Entitled" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Entitled" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Entitled"
-ted sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as in-TAI-tld, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ɪnˈtaɪ.təld/. Start with a short, unstressed first syllable, then a strong /aɪ/ vowel in the second syllable, followed by a light /t/ and a dark /l/ before a final schwa+d blend? Actually the final consonant is a clear /d/ in most careful speech: /ɪnˈtaɪ.tld/ or /ɪnˈtaɪ.təld/. In fast speech you may hear a syllabic /l/ or a softer ending: /ɪnˈtaɪtld/. The key: stress on the second syllable, accurate /aɪ/ diphthong, and crisp /t/ before the /l/; avoid adding a full /ə/ before the /d/.
Common mistakes: 1) Flattening the /aɪ/ to a short /ɪ/ or /eɪ/, making it sound like 'in-tited'. Correction: open your jaw a bit more for the /aɪ/ diphthong and finish with the /t/ crisply before the /l/. 2) Dropping the /t/ or turning it into /d/ too early, yielding /ɪnˈtaɪdld/. Correction: maintain the t-release before l. 3) Over-adding a schwa before the final /d/, saying /ɪnˈtaɪ.təld/ with an extra syllable; aim for /ɪnˈtaɪ.tld/ without an extra vowel. Practice with word pairs to feel the clean /t/ and /ld/ sequence.
In US, UK, and AU, the main differences involve rhoticity and vowel quality on the second syllable. US and AU typically maintain a rhotic /r/ in related words, but Entitled ends with a non-rhotic tld cluster; the /ɪnˈtaɪ.təld/ shows minimal rhotic influence. UK tends to have a slightly tighter /t/ release before the /l/. AU speakers may have a lighter /ɪ/ and a more open /aɪ/ diphthong. Across all three, the primary stress remains on the second syllable; the differences are subtle in vowel height and the final tld articulation.
Entitled challenges a learner due to the /aɪ/ diphthong, the smooth /t/ release into /l/ and the final /d/ in a consonant cluster. The sequence /tld/ can be tricky: keep the /t/ audible, avoid a strong /d/ that blurs the preceding /l/, and ensure the /l/ is light, not vocalized as a vowel. The stress on the second syllable makes timing crucial; misplacing stress can sound like 'en-til-ted' rather than 'in-TAI-tled'.
Why is the ending 'tled' pronounced with a compact cluster rather than a separate syllable? The ending /tld/ results from rapid consonant cluster reduction common in English; the tongue moves from alveolar /t/ to the alveolar /l/ while the tongue tip taps the alveolar ridge for the /d/ release. In careful speech you clearly articulate /t/ then /l/ and finish with /d/; in casual speech, the /l/ can be syllabic and the /d/ may be de-emphasized.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Entitled"!
- Shadowing: listen to 3 native speakers pronouncing Entitled and repeat in real time, matching tempo. - Minimal pairs: entitle / enticed, entitled / entirety? Focus on the second syllable /aɪ/ vs /aɪ/; pairs like in-TAI-tled vs in-TAI-tl’d (casual). - Rhythm practice: use tapping to mark the second-syllable beat; practice clapping on syllables to reinforce stress. - Stress practice: practice emphasizing the /ˈtaɪ/ portion; say the word in a sentence with emphasis on entitlement context. - Recording: record and compare with a native speaker; analyze /t/ release and /l/ clarity. - Context usage: practice sentences that place Entitled in professional contexts to maintain formal tone.
No related words found
See how this word is used in our articles
