2 syllables: hard, ened. Stress on hard.
HAHR-duhnd
/ˈhɑɹdənd/
hardened is pronounced HAHR-duhnd (/ˈhɑɹdənd/). It has two syllables (hard-ened), with the stress on "hard". Hardened is the adjective or past participle describing something made hard or more resistant, often through cooling, aging, or drying, or a person emotionally or morally rigid. It implies a process that increases solidity or insensitivity, and frequently carries a connotation of rigidity or toughness in attitude or material.
Hardened is the adjective or past participle describing something made hard or more resistant, often through cooling, aging, or drying, or a person emotionally or morally rigid. It implies a process that increases solidity or insensitivity, and frequently carries a connotation of rigidity or toughness in attitude or material.
"The cement hardened within hours after mixing."
"Her hardened stance on the issue left little room for compromise."
"Over the years, the old leather jacket grew worn and hardened in places."
Pronounce it as /ˈhɑːr.dənd/ in British English and /ˈhɑːr.dən(d)/ in many US varieties; the first syllable carries primary stress. Start with an open back unrounded vowel /ɑː/ as in 'father', then a clear /r/ if you’re rhotic, followed by a syllabic or reduced second syllable /ən/ with a soft or schwa-like vowel. The final /d/ is typically pronounced, but in casual speech the vowel may be elided slightly before the final /d/ in some dialects.
Common errors include reducing the first syllable to a lax /hæ/ instead of /hɑː/ and dropping the second syllable to /dnd/ or /dən/ without a clear /d/ articulation. Another mistake is not pronouncing the final /d/ or merging /r/ with the following vowel in non-rhotic accents. To correct: hold the /ɑː/ longer, lightly release the /d/ at the end, and ensure the second syllable contains a distinct /ən/ (or /d/ with a subtle /n/).
In US English, /ˈhɑrdənd/ with a rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a reduced second syllable /ənd/ or /ən(d)/. In UK English, /ˈhɑː.dən(d)/, the /r/ is non-rhotic, and the second syllable tends to be a clear /ən/ or /ən(d)/ with less vocalic coloring. Australian English is rhotic but often features a broader /ɒ/ to /ɒː/ in the first syllable and a softly enunciated second syllable. Practitioners should be mindful of vowel length and rhotic presence depending on locale.
The difficulty lies in balancing the tense first syllable vowel /ɑː/ with an immediate /r/ in rhotic varieties and smoothly transitioning to the reduced second syllable /ənd/ without an extra vowel. For non-native speakers, the challenge is sustaining two distinct syllables at natural tempo while avoiding a clipped or merged sound. Practice focusing on the long /ɑː/ followed by a crisp /r/ (US) or the absence of rhotic rhyming (UK), then a clear /ən(d)/.
Yes, the most distinctive feature is the transition from a strong initial vowel to a light, reduced second syllable that sometimes carries a subtle /ɚ/ or /ə/ quality depending on accent. The final /d/ can be lightly released or flapped in rapid speech. The word’s two-syllable rhythm, with primary stress on the first, makes the moment of resolution audible and crucial for natural-sounding speech.
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Hardened comes from the verb harden, which itself derives from the Old English herdan (to make hard, endure) related to hard (hard). The verb form evolved through Middle English as hardenen before settling into the modern verb harden. The past participle hardened appeared as early as Middle English in texts that describe objects or materials becoming solid, resilient, or morally resolved. Over time, the adjective use broadened to describe emotional dispositions, such as a hardened criminal or a hardened heart, reflecting a shift from literal material solidification to figurative rigidity. The term can be traced through Germanic roots common to English, with cognates in other Germanic languages that express making firm or firming up. By the 17th–18th centuries, hardened took on connotations of endurance and stoicism, and in contemporary usage, it frequently conveys a sense of something that has become resistant to change, whether physical or psychological. First known printed attestations appear in Middle English pharmacological and mechanical texts, then increasingly in literature and legal language as a descriptor for both materials and temperaments.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hardened" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hardened" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hardened"
-ned sounds
-and sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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