3 syllables: ex, poun, ded. Stress on poun.
ik-SPOWN-duhd
/ɪkˈspaʊndəd/
expounded is pronounced ik-SPOWN-duhd (/ɪkˈspaʊndəd/). It has three syllables (ex-poun-ded), with the stress on "poun". Expounded means to explained in detail or to set forth (a theory, idea, or viewpoint) systematically. It implies thorough elaboration and careful argumentation, often in a formal or public context. The act of expounding involves clarifying, organizing, and presenting facets of a subject so others can understand or critique it.
Expounded means to explained in detail or to set forth (a theory, idea, or viewpoint) systematically. It implies thorough elaboration and careful argumentation, often in a formal or public context. The act of expounding involves clarifying, organizing, and presenting facets of a subject so others can understand or critique it.
- You’ll often hear people misplacing the stress on the first syllable (ek-SPON-ded) or flattening the /sp/ into a single unit, making the middle sound stale. - The /aʊ/ diphthong is easy to compress to /a/ or /ɔː/, so you get a dull /ˈspaʊndɪd/; keep a clear glide from /a/ to /ʊ/. - Final /dɪd/ can glaze into a simple /d/ or a muted /t/ in fast speech; practice finishing with a crisp /dɪd/ or ensure the /ɪ/ remains audible. - In connected speech, you might drop the /n/ or merge it with following consonants; maintain the nasal /n/ before the final /d/.
"The professor expounded the theory with careful rigor, outlining its premises and implications."
"In her lecture, she expounded how the policy would affect various stakeholders."
"The memoir expounds the author’s beliefs about justice and freedom, linking personal experience to universal themes."
You pronounce it as /ɪkˈspaʊn.dɪd/. Stress is on the second syllable: eks-PAUND-ed. The first syllable is a light /ɪk/ before the main stress. The middle vowel is the diphthong /aʊ/ in “pound,” followed by a short /ɪ/ in the penultimate syllable and a final /d/ plus a light /d/ ending. Mouth position: start with a relaxed /ɪ/, glide into /k/, open to /spɔʊn/ with a rounded lips for the /aʊ/ diphthong, then finish with a light /d/.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (ek-SPAUND-ed) instead of the second. 2) Slurring the /sp/ cluster into a single murmur, producing /ɪkˈpaʊndɪd/ with weak consonants. 3) Mispronouncing the /aʊ/ as a simple /a/ or /æ/—keep the diphthong as /aʊ/ with a smooth glide. Correction: emphasize the /ˈspaʊn/ portion, ensure the /sp/ remains crisp, and articulate /aʊ/ as a genuine diphthong before finishing with /dɪd/.
US: /ɪkˈspaʊn.dɪd/ with strong rhotics and a clear /d/ ending. UK: /ɪkˈspaʊn.dɪd/ similar, but the /r/ is absent and vowels can be slightly less centralized; non-rhotic. AU: /ɪkˈspɒndɪd/ in some regions or /ɪkˈspaʊn.dɪd/ in others; vowel quality in the first stressed syllable can be more rounded and the /aʊ/ diphthong may be realized with a tighter glide. Pay attention to the second syllable /ˈspaʊn/ in all varieties; the final -ed remains /dɪd/ or /ɪd/ depending on voicing of the preceding consonant in connected speech.
The difficulty centers on the /ˈspaʊn/ cluster and the /aʊ/ diphthong, which requires a precise tongue rise from /a/ to /ʊ/ within a tight vowel space. The consonant cluster /sp/ before /ɑʊ/ challenges many non-native speakers to keep the two consonants distinct while maintaining a smooth glide. Additionally, the final /dɪd/ in rapid speech can reduce to /dɪ/ or even {d} when linked, so careful articulation and slow practice help stabilize the pronunciation.
A unique aspect is the strong, stressed /spaʊn/ that makes the diphthong /aʊ/ prominent. The vowel transition must be clear: starting with /a/ and gliding to /ʊ/ before the nasal /n/; then the embedded /d/ closure at the end. It’s a good example of a word with an abrupt medial emphasis and a heavier syllable in its stressed position, distinguishing it from simpler verbs like 'expand' variants.
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- US: emphasize the second syllable with a bright /aʊ/; keep rhotic influence minimal since expounded is typically non-rhotic in careful speech. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; keep the /ɪ/ in the final syllable clear; slight rounding of the /ɒ/ or /a/ depending on speaker. - AU: broader vowel variations; some speakers may lengthen the diphthong slightly and use a slightly more open vowel in the first syllable; maintain the /aʊ/ glide. IPA anchors: US /ɪkˈspaʊn.dɪd/, UK /ɪkˈspaʊn.dɪd/, AU /ɪkˈspaʊn.dɪd/ (or /ɪkˈspɒndɪd/ in some regional variants). - Focus on: /sp/ crisp, /aʊ/ glide, and final /dɪd/ or /dɪd/.
Expounded comes from the prefix ex- (out, thoroughly) + pound (from Latin fundere to pour out, to set forth), with the past participle -ed forming expounded. The sense shift from physically pouring out to verbally laying out ideas emerged in Middle English and Early Modern English, aligning with scholarly and rhetorical traditions. The verb pound here is linked to pouring forth content in a structured manner, akin to laying out arguments or explanations. The word appeared in English literature and scholarly discourse by the 16th to 17th centuries, often in formal contexts where a speaker or writer is presenting comprehensive arguments or details. Over time, expound retained its formal nuance, contrasting with simpler verbs like explain or tell, signaling a more extended, careful treatment of a subject. The evolution mirrors a broader linguistic trend where elaboration terms like expound become markers of rigor and depth in discourse. First known use traces to early modern English writings on philosophy and rhetoric, where scholars would expound complex theories to teach or persuade audiences.
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Words that rhyme with "expounded"
-ded sounds
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