3 syllables: hy, dra, ted. Stress on hy.
HEYE-dray-tuhd
/ˈhaɪˌdɹeɪtəd/
hydrated is pronounced HEYE-dray-tuhd (/ˈhaɪˌdɹeɪtəd/). It has three syllables (hy-dra-ted), with the stress on "hy". Hydrated means having had enough water or moisture, or having moisture added. In everyday use it describes a state where the body or a substance contains adequate fluid. The term appears in medical, scientific, and food contexts and emphasizes a balance of fluids essential for function and health.
Hydrated means having had enough water or moisture, or having moisture added. In everyday use it describes a state where the body or a substance contains adequate fluid. The term appears in medical, scientific, and food contexts and emphasizes a balance of fluids essential for function and health.
"After a long run, it’s important to stay hydrated with water and electrolytes."
"The skin appeared hydrated and plump after using the moisturizing lotion."
"The plants were well hydrated following the rainstorm."
Say HY-dray-tid, with three syllables and primary stress on the first: /ˈhaɪ.dreɪ.tɪd/ in US/UK/AU. Start with the long I sound /aɪ/ in “high,” then a /d/ plus the /r/ if you're not in a rhotic variety; the middle syllable uses /dreɪ/ as in “dray.” End with a light /tɪd/. Audio guidance: listen to native speakers via Pronounce or Forvo for steady, three-beat rhythm.
Common errors include reducing the second syllable to /drɪ/ or /drə/ and misplacing the stress (HY-dra-ted vs. haɪ-DRAY-ted). Another mistake is slurring the /tɪd/ into a quick /tɪd/ or /dɪd/. Correction: keep /dreɪ/ as a distinct middle syllable and pronounce /tɪd/ clearly after it, with a light final t. Focus on the long /aɪ/ in the first syllable and a crisp /t/ finish.
In US and UK, the primary stress is on the first syllable with /ˈhaɪ.dreɪ.tɪd/. US rhoticity can add a subtle /r/ color in the middle syllable when linking, while UK speakers may have a slightly more clipped /ə/ in the final syllable. Australian English keeps a clear /ɪ/ in the final syllable and may reduce the second vowel slightly, but maintains the long diphthong /eɪ/ in /dreɪ/.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm and the diphthong /aɪ/ followed by the mid-elevated /dreɪ/. The sequence /ˈhaɪ.dreɪ.tɪd/ requires precise timing: emphasizing the first syllable, maintaining the mid-rise /dreɪ/, and clearly releasing the final /tɪd/ without adding extra vowel sounds. Practicing with slow tempo helps secure the transitions between the tongue positions for /aɪ/ and /eɪ/.
The unique aspect is maintaining the long /aɪ/ in the first syllable while transitioning into /dreɪ/ and finally articulating a clear /tɪd/ without flapping or vowel reduction. Ensure you start with the high-to-low glide of /aɪ/ then a crisp /d/ and the mid /reɪ/ vowel in the second syllable, finishing with a clean dental-alveolar /d/ at the end.
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US: emphasize the strong /ˈhaɪ/ first syllable; allow a full /dreɪ/ middle; end with crisp /tɪd/. UK: similar pattern, but mock-rolled or light /r/ in connected speech is less pronounced; the second syllable may sound slightly more centralized. AU: may have a tighter jaw and slightly shorter /æɪ/ or /aɪ/; keep the /eɪ/ in /dreɪ/ distinct. Use IPA as reference: /ˈhaɪ.dreɪ.tɪd/.
Hydrated comes from the root word water, via the Greek hydor (water) and the Latin hydrare (to water). The form in English emerged in the 17th–18th centuries as science and medicine adopted hydro- as a productive prefix, denoting water-related states. The verb hydrate, to cause to absorb water, originates from the same root with the suffix -ate, while hydrated is the past participle form used adjectivally or as a state descriptor. Early technical writing on physiology framed hydration as the balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body, a concept that expanded into nutrition, dermatology, and clinical care. The word’s first known uses align with chemical and medical discussions of moisture content, and its common adoption in fitness and health writing reflects modern emphasis on hydration as essential for performance and well-being.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hydrated" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hydrated" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hydrated"
-ted sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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