3 syllables: Ex, cit, ed. Stress on cit.
ik-SEYE-tuhd
/ɪˈksaɪtəd/
Excited is pronounced ik-SEYE-tuhd (/ɪˈksaɪtəd/). It has three syllables (Ex-cit-ed), with the stress on "cit". Excited means feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm, often with a sense of anticipation. As an adjective, it describes a state of aroused interest or emotion, usually about something forthcoming or enjoyable. The term can imply energetic emphasis in speech when describing reactions or events.
adjectiveExcited means feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm, often with a sense of anticipation. As an adjective, it describes a state of aroused interest or emotion, usually about something forthcoming or enjoyable. The term can imply energetic emphasis in speech when describing reactions or events.
- People often mis-stress the word, treating it as ex-CI-ted; keep the stress on the second syllable /ˈsaɪ/. - The /t/ can be softened or skipped in fast speech, causing an /ɪd/ ending to blend; aim for a crisp /t/ before /ɪd/. - Some speakers replace /ɪ/ with a more central vowel or reduce the ending to /d/; maintain /ɪd/ for clarity. - Final sentence: record yourself and compare to a reference.
"She was excited to start her new job and meet the team."
"The crowd grew excited as the fireworks lit up the sky."
"He sounded excited about the upcoming trip and the stories he’d tell."
Pronounce as /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/. Start with a short, lax /ɪ/ as in 'kit', then a strong, stressed /ˈsaɪ/ diphthong (like 'sigh'), followed by a reduced /tɪd/ ending. Pay attention to the /t/ release before the /ɪd/ suffix; the t-tap or light release can blur in fast speech. Visualize: ihk-SY-tid. Audio reference: [link to audio in video tutorial].
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress as exˈcit-ed or eˈxited with even stress; 2) Slurring the /t/ into /d/ or losing the /t/ before the final /ɪd/; 3) Mispronouncing the /aɪ/ diphthong as /eɪ/ or /aɪə/. Correction: keep the primary stress on the second syllable and clearly release the /t/ before the final /ɪd/. Practice with careful punch of /t/ and crisp /d/ in /ɪd/.
In US, US English typically has a tighter /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/ with a rhotic influence on related words, but /r/ is not present in excited. UK speech tends to be non-rhotic; the /ɪ/ in first syllable can be shorter, with a crisper /t/ and slightly less vowel reduction in /ɪd/. Australian can have slightly broader vowel quality in /ɪ/ and /aɪ/ with a quicker /t/ release; overall, the second syllable remains the strongest. IPA references: US /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/, UK /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/, AU /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/.
Key difficulties include the tight, high front vowel /ɪ/ in the first syllable, the closed, tense /aɪ/ diphthong in the stressed syllable, and the rapid /t/ before the /ɪd/ suffix, which can sound like a de-voiced or dropped /t/ in fluent speech. The /ɪd/ ending requires a clear alveolar stop plus a light, almost nasal /d/ without harshness. Practicing the sequence slowly helps you align tongue position and air flow.
A distinctive feature is the crisp syllabic boundary between /saɪ/ and /tɪd/, where the main vowel chain ends with a strong /t/ release before a light /ɪd/ suffix. Emphasizing the /t/ release without merging into /d/ helps preserve the word’s energy. Visualize a clear stop at the syllable boundary: ex-ci-ted.
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- US: rhotic schwa influence is minimal; emphasize /ɪ/ and /aɪ/. - UK: non-rhotic tendency, crisper /t/ and slightly reduced first syllable; keep non-rhotic /r/ absent. - AU: broader vowel qualities, slightly longer /ɪ/ and quicker /t/ release; keep a clear /t/ before /ɪd/. IPA references: /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/ across regions.
Excited comes from the Latin ex- meaning out, and cit- from citare or citare (to set in motion, to arouse), ultimately linked to citus and citare; the Latin past participle exci- arose in the sense of arousing, stirring up. The modern English form developed in the 17th–18th centuries, adopting -ed as a standard past participle/adjective marker. Early usages tied to “roused” or “stirred” emotions, before narrowing to the sense of aroused enthusiasm or emotion in contemporary usage. The prefix ex- conveys outward movement or action, while cit- relates to calling forth or stirring. Over time, excited broadened to describe not only emotional arousal but also heightened, anticipatory states in daily speech. First known printed uses appear in psychological and literary texts of the late 1600s to 1700s, reflecting growing interest in inner states and vocal expression as social signals. By the 19th century, excited became common in both formal and informal registers to indicate positive emotional arousal, with intensity modifiers increasingly used in conversational speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Excited" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Excited" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Excited"
-ted sounds
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