One syllable: forked.
fawrkt
/fɔɹkt/
forked is pronounced fawrkt (/fɔɹkt/). It has one syllable (forked), with the stress on "forked". Forked describes something that has been split into two branches or tines, or shaped like a fork. It can refer to physical objects with two prongs or to actions and decisions that diverge into two directions. As an adjective, it conveys a bilateral split or dual-path characteristic, often implying a split point or fork-like form.
Forked describes something that has been split into two branches or tines, or shaped like a fork. It can refer to physical objects with two prongs or to actions and decisions that diverge into two directions. As an adjective, it conveys a bilateral split or dual-path characteristic, often implying a split point or fork-like form.
"The forked branch divided high up the tree, creating two separate limbs."
"She wore a forked toothpick that split around the meat."
"In the map, we followed a forked path that led to two different villages."
Pronounce as /ˈfɔːrkɪd/ in US/UK/AU. Stress on the first syllable: FORK-ud. The /ɔː/ vowel is a long open-mid back rounded sound, followed by a clearly enunciated /r/ in rhotic accents. The final /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. In fast speech, the /ɪ/ may be reduced slightly before a following consonant in rapid phrases, but articulating the /ɪ/ clearly helps distinguish from 'fork'.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic speakers, leading to /fɔːkt/; 2) Merging /k/ and /d/ into a single /kt/ cluster too softly, producing a muffled final; 3) Vowel quality drift, pronouncing /ɔ/ as /ɒ/ in British casual speech. Correction: keep the rhotic /r/ sounds (where applicable), release the /t/ with a crisp /d/ that follows immediately after the /k/ release, and maintain the long /ɔː/ vowel for accuracy.
In US and AU, /ˈfɔːrkɪd/ with rhotic /r/ pronounced and a clear /d/ at the end; the /ɔː/ is often elongated. In UK non-rhotic speech, you’ll hear /ˈfɔːkt/ with a weaker or non- pronounced /r/ before a voiceless consonant; the final /ɪd/ may reduce toward a syllabic /t/ in rapid speech. Australian tends to be rhotic but often features a more centralized /ɔː/ or closer to /ɒ/ depending on region, with similar final /d/ articulation.
The difficulty lies in the precise two-phase onset and the coda cluster. You must combine a long /ɔː/ vowel with an immediate /r/ in rhotic accents, then switch to an aspirated/d/ release after the /k/ without creating an awkward vowel break before /d/. Coordinating the /r/ with a tight lip rounding, plus a quick /t/ or /d/ release, makes this word challenging in rapid speech.
Forked uniquely tests your handling of the /ɔː/ vowel before an /r/ in rhotic accents and the fast transition from the /k/ stop to the /d/ stop. It also prompts attention to the /ɪ/ vowel that might lightly appear in some rapid pronunciations—resulting in a 'fork-id' pattern if not careful. Focusing on the two-tine concept helps anchor the two-pronged articulation.
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Forked derives from the noun fork, meaning a division into two prongs, itself from Old English forca or foreca, related to Latin furca meaning
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Help others use "forked" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "forked" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "forked" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "forked"
-ked sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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