3 syllables: fa, ti, gued. Stress on ti.
/fəˈtiːɡd/
Say it backFatigued describes a state of extreme tiredness or weariness, typically resulting from lengthened exertion or stress. It conveys a condition of being worn down physically or mentally, often with reduced energy and motivation. In use, fatigued can describe people, muscles, or systems that have been pushed beyond their usual capacity and need rest or recovery.
- You might rush the second syllable, producing /təˈɡɪd/ or /təˈɡiɡd/; slow down and articulate the vowel, aiming for /tiː/ or /ti/ depending on your target accent. - Another common error is treating /ɡd/ as two separate sounds; instead, blend into a single coda, lightly voice the /d/ after a soft /g/ transition. - Some speakers replace the /ti/ with a lax /tɪ/ while keeping the stress correctly placed; ensure the stressed syllable carries a clear, long vowel and a crisp /ɡd/ end. - Final consonant voicing can drop in rapid speech; practice with connected speech to maintain /d/.
"After a long shift, she felt fatigued and headed home early."
"The hikers were visibly fatigued but continued toward the summit."
"Chronic fatigue from illness can leave you fatigued for days."
Phonetically: /fəˈtiɡd/ (US) or /fəˈtiːɡd/ (UK/AU). Start with a weak schwa in the first syllable, then the stressed long vowel in the second syllable, and end with a voiced /d/. Tip: the 'ti' often sounds like /ti/ or /tiː/ depending on accent, and ensure the final /ɡd/ cluster is smooth, not separated. Practice with a slight puff of air before the /d/ to avoid devoicing.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (pronouncing fa-TIG-ged), pronouncing the second syllable with a short /ɪ/ rather than /iː/ in UK/AU contexts, and articulating a hard, separate /g/ before the /d/ (giving /ɡd/ as two separate sounds). Correction: keep the primary stress on the second syllable, use a long /iː/ or clear /i/ in that syllable as appropriate, and connect /ɡd/ as a single fluent coda rather than two distinct consonants.
In US English, you often hear /fəˈtɪɡd/ or /fəˈtiɡd/, with a shorter first vowel and a quick, rounded /ɡd/ at the end. UK and AU varieties commonly use /fəˈtiːɡd/, featuring a longer /iː/ in the stressed syllable and a slightly lenient approach to the /ɡ/ before /d/. Rhoticity doesn’t drastically alter the word, but vowel quality and tension shift subtly: American non-rhoticity can reduce post-vocalic cues, while UK/AU may preserve clearer vowel length. Practice with IPA for the target accent.
The difficulty comes from the stressed second syllable with a long front vowel and the /ɡd/ cluster at the end, which can blur into a single /d/ or be overemphasized as /ɡ/ separately. The initial schwa followed by a tense mid-front vowel requires precise tongue height and lip rounding, and the coda /ɡd/ can be tricky in fluent speech. Focused practice on the transition between /ti/ and /ɡd/ helps naturalize the ending.
The unique aspect is the interaction of the second syllable peak with the final voiced stop cluster. In fast speech, many speakers merge /tiɡ/ into a near-diphthong plus a mild /d/, sounding like /ˈtiːɡd/ or /tɪɡd/ depending on the accent. Keeping a clean, slightly elongated /iː/ in the stressed syllable while gently finishing with /ɡd/ yields the most natural, native-like cadence.
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- US: emphasize a shorter first syllable and a crisp /ɡd/; use /fəˈtɪɡd/ in many conversational contexts. - UK: lean toward /fəˈtiːɡd/ with a longer second vowel; ensure the /t/ blends smoothly into /iː/ and the /ɡd/ cluster remains single, not split. - AU: similar to UK but with more rounded vowels; you may hear a slightly higher tongue position for /iː/ and a subtle lengthening due to Australian vowel quality. Use IPA references to monitor changes. - Across all, aim for a relaxed jaw and neutral lips, avoiding excessive rounding on the initial schwa.
The adjective fatigued comes from Middle French fatiguer, meaning to tire or weary, which in turn derives from Latin fatigare, from fatigare, to be weary or tire out. The root fatigare combines fatiga, fatigue, and -are verb formation. The English noun fatigue (tiredness) enters in Middle English via Old French fatigue, with legal and military senses emerging in the 18th and 19th centuries (e.g., fatigue duties, fatigue wear). By the late 19th and 20th centuries, fatigued emerged as a past participle/adjective indicating someone or something worn out. Over time, fatigue has broadened to cover mental exhaustion, battery fatigue in engineering, and metaphorical weariness in culture, while fatigued as an adjective maintains the core sense of being worn thin by exertion or strain.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fatigued" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "fatigued"
-gue sounds
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