3 syllables: Ex, alt, ed. Stress on alt.
ig-ZAWL-tid
/ɪˈɡzɔltɪd/
Exalted is pronounced ig-ZAWL-tid (/ɪˈɡzɔltɪd/). It has three syllables (Ex-alt-ed), with the stress on "alt". Exalted is an adjective meaning praised or held in very high regard, often implying elevated status or character. It can describe a mood of triumph or reverence, or refer to something that has been elevated in rank or esteem. The term conveys a sense of grandeur and lofty moral or social standing.
adjectiveExalted is an adjective meaning praised or held in very high regard, often implying elevated status or character. It can describe a mood of triumph or reverence, or refer to something that has been elevated in rank or esteem. The term conveys a sense of grandeur and lofty moral or social standing.
"The crowd cheered as the exa lted guest entered the hall, a symbol of the organization’s prestige."
"His exalted position within the company came with responsibility and scrutiny."
"The choir’s exalted lyrics lifted the audience into a moment of collective awe."
Pronounce as /ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd/ in US and UK. The stress falls on the second syllable: ex-AL-ted, with the vowel in the second syllable a broad /ɔː/ (as in 'caught'). The final -ed is a unstressed /ɪd/ or /ɪd/ in connected speech, sounding like -təd. Practically: start with a light 'ig' before the main stress, then ‘zawl’ (zɔːl) and finish with 'tid' (tɪd). Listen for the long /ɔː/ and a clean /lt/ cluster in the core syllable.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying ex-AL-ted with weak emphasis on the second syllable; (2) Slurring the /z/ into the vowel, producing /ɪɡˈzɔːltᵊd/ or /ɪkˈzɔːltɪd/; (3) Not pronouncing the /lt/ cluster clearly, leading to /ˈɛgzɔːltɪd/ without the proper onset for -lt-. Correction: keep /z/ clearly after the /ɡ/ and enunciate the /l/ and /t/ in the middle, ensuring the /lt/ is crisp before the final /ɪd/.
US/UK/AU share /ɪɡˈzɔːltɪd/ but vowel qualities vary: US often has a flatter /ɔː/ and shorter r-less influence; UK keeps a more rounded /ɔː/ with less vowel reduction; AU tends to a slightly more centralized /ɔː/ and clearer /t/ in casual speech. The rhoticity is not prominent in any, but the exact vowel height and length can shift slightly by speaker and region.
Key challenges: the /ɡz/ sequence after the initial /ɪ/ can blur in rapid speech, and the mid-stressed /ɔː/ must be held long enough to distinguish from /ɔ/ variants. The final /ltɪd/ cluster can be rushed, causing a blending of /t/ and /d/. Focus on the core /zɔːlt/ syllable with a crisp /l/ and a clean /t/ before the final /ɪd/.
There is no silent letter in non-derivative standard pronunciations of exalted. All letters contribute to the syllable structure: ex- (e and x), -alted (a-l-t-e-d). In careful speech, you’ll hear the /z/ clearly and the final /d/ in /ɪd/. In some rapid speech, the final /t/ and /d/ may coalesce softly, but there is no conventional silent letter.
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Exalted comes from the Latin exaltatus, past participle of exaltare, meaning to lift up, raise, or extol. The root ex- means out, upward, or away, and alta, from altus, means high. The term entered English via Old French exalté in the late Middle Ages, with senses centered on lifting up in status, praise, or elevating spiritually. Over time, exalted acquired nuances of grandeur, nobility, and ceremonial elevation. In modern English, exalted stresses elevated status, often in virtue, achievement, or formal honor, and is frequently used in formal or elevated registers. First known uses appear in religious and literary contexts, with the sense expanding to social rank and celebrated achievement as institutions and discourse became more ceremonial. 2000s-era usage continues to reveal exalted as both a moral descriptor (exalted virtue) and a dramatic, almost poetic, designation (exalted heights, exalted feelings).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Exalted" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Exalted"
-ted sounds
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