2 syllables: Es, poused. Stress on poused.
is-POWZD
/ɪˈspaʊzd/
Espoused is pronounced is-POWZD (/ɪˈspaʊzd/). It has two syllables (Es-poused), with the stress on "poused". Espoused is the past tense verb meaning to adopt, support, or advocate a belief, cause, or way of life. It also forms part of the phrase espoused to mean openly embraced or professed. In usage, it often appears with beliefs, principles, or policies that someone has publicly taken up or endorsed.
verbEspoused is the past tense verb meaning to adopt, support, or advocate a belief, cause, or way of life. It also forms part of the phrase espoused to mean openly embraced or professed. In usage, it often appears with beliefs, principles, or policies that someone has publicly taken up or endorsed.
"She espoused a new ethic of environmental responsibility after the conference."
"The candidate espoused strong Free Trade policies during the campaign."
"He espoused the cause of social justice, dedicating his career to reform."
Espoused is pronounced i-SPAUDZ, with the primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪˈspaʊzd/. Start with a short, lax initial vowel /ɪ/ as in “kit,” then a stressed diphthong /aʊ/ as in “how,” followed by the voiced consonant cluster /zd/ at the end. The /z/ and /d/ are clearly enunciated in sequence as a single affricate ending, not a separate z and d. If you record yourself, you should hear a tight closure before the /d/ release. Audio references: Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries provide example pronunciations in IPA: /ɪˈspaʊzd/.
Common mistakes include treating the ending as /z/ only or dropping the final /d/, saying /ɪˈspaʊz/ or /ɪˈSPAʊzd/ with excessive contrast. Another frequent error is misplacing the stress, saying /ˈɛs.pauzd/ or /ɪsˈpaʊzd/ with incorrect syllable emphasis. To correct: ensure the final is the voiced alveolar affricate /zd/—think of it as a single, concise /z/ with a quick /d/ release—and keep the second syllable as the primary stress with /aʊ/ as a rounded diphthong. Practice with minimal pairs: “spouse” vs. “espoused” to feel the /sp/ onset and the /aʊ/ diphthong clearly.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the core /ɪˈspaʊzd/ pattern remains, but rhoticity affects surrounding vowels in connected speech; non-rhotic UK speakers may have shorter r-like influences even if often silent, which slightly relaxes surrounding vowels. Vowel quality in the /aʊ/ diphthong can vary: US tends toward a more centralized /aʊ/ while some UK speakers resemble /ɒʊ/ in faster speech. Australian accents generally maintain /ɪˈspaʊzd/ with a slightly broader vowel space and less vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. Overall, the main challenge is the /zd/ ending; ensure complete release without voicing leakage differences by accent.
The difficulty comes from the final /zd/ cluster, which requires a smooth transition from /z/ to /d/ without an audible vowel between them, plus correctly placing primary stress on the second syllable. The /aʊ/ diphthong also demands rounded lips and a swift gliding movement, which can blur in rapid speech. Additionally, casual speech may lead to syllable reduction, turning /ɪˈspaʊzd/ into /ˈspaʊzd/ or /ɪsˈpaʊzd/. Focusing on keeping the /d/ released as a separate but swift element helps clarity across registers.
No part of espoused is silent in standard English pronunciation. Every phoneme in /ɪˈspaʊzd/ is articulated: the initial /ɪ/ vowel, the stressed /ˈspaʊ/ onset with /s/ and /p/, the diphthong /aʊ/ in the nucleus, and the final voiced /zd/ ending. Common misperceptions involve omitting the final /d/ or muting the /z/; practice the full sequence slowly, then integrate into running speech. Using a mirror to monitor lip rounding around /aʊ/ and a light tongue contact for /z/ and /d/ can help solidify articulation.
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Espoused comes from the verb espouse, which originates from Old French espouser, meaning to marry or to take as a spouse. The French term itself stems from Latin sponsus ‘betrothed, promised, engaged,’ derived from spons- ‘a betrothal, promise.’ In Middle English, espouse acquired broader meanings beyond marriage, evolving to mean to adopt, embrace, or advocate a belief or cause. The shift from literal wedding-related sense to figurative endorsement likely occurred as marriage implied commitment and vow-taking; thus, to espouse a doctrine suggested a formal, committed endorsement. First known use in English appears in the 15th-16th centuries, with documents and writings showing espousing beliefs or principles in political, religious, and social contexts. Over time, modern usage retains this commitment sense, though it is frequently used in formal or literary prose, highlighting a strong, public support for an idea rather than a casual agreement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Espoused" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Espoused"
-sed sounds
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