3 syllables: im, pound, ed. Stress on pound.
im-POWN-did
/ˌɪˈmpaʊndɪd/
impounded is pronounced im-POWN-did (/ˌɪˈmpaʊndɪd/). It has three syllables (im-pound-ed), with the stress on "pound". Impounded describes something seized or legally taken and held, often by authorities, pending disposition or release. It can also refer to land or property blocked off for use or maintenance. The term conveys formal, enforceable control and temporary detention rather than voluntary retention.
Impounded describes something seized or legally taken and held, often by authorities, pending disposition or release. It can also refer to land or property blocked off for use or maintenance. The term conveys formal, enforceable control and temporary detention rather than voluntary retention.
"The car was impounded after the driver’s license was suspended."
"Authorities impounded the vessel due to safety violations."
"Evidence was impounded to preserve the integrity of the investigation."
Say it as /ɪmˈpaʊndɪd/. The word stress falls on the second syllable: im-POUND-ed. Start with a short /ɪ/, then the /m/ and /p/ cluster lead into the prominent /aʊ/ diphthong in POUND, followed by /nd/ and the final /ɪd/. Tip: keep the /p/ explosive but gentle before /aʊ/. Audio resources: you can compare with online dictionaries for native speaker samples and use shadowing to match rhythm.
Two frequent errors: (1) Underemphasizing the second syllable so it sounds like im-POUN-did instead of im-POUN-ded; ensure the stress is clearly on the second syllable and the final /d/ is a voiced /d/ not a silent ending. (2) Mispronouncing the /aʊ/ as a simple /a/ or /ɔ/ instead of the true diphthong that blends /a/ to /ʊ/. Practice the /aɪ/ or /aʊ/ transition by starting with /æ/ then glide to /ʊ/.
In US and UK, the /ɪ/ initial vowel remains similar, but rhotic or nonrhotic differences affect the r-coloring in surrounding vowels. The /aʊ/ diphthong remains prominent in both, with minor quality shifts: US tends toward a slightly higher /aʊ/ peak; UK often a slightly more centralized onset in rapid speech. Australian accents may reduce the /aʊ/ slightly and may have shorter vowel durations. Overall, the main difference is subtle vowel quality and rhythm, not a different syllable count.
The difficulty lies in the ɪm- cluster followed by the strong /paʊnd/ with a prominent diphthong. The sequence /m/ + /p/ in a tight consonant cluster can cloud the transition into /aʊ/, so you must maintain a clean stop after /m/ and glide smoothly into /aʊ/. The final /nd/ requires precise tongue positioning behind the alveolar ridge to avoid sounding like /n/ or /d/ alone. Clear, controlled air flow helps.
The unique feature is the strong second syllable onset /paʊnd/ which emphasizes the expansive diphthong /aʊ/ in combination with the following /nd/ cluster. The prefix im- and verb form require crisp voicing and a controlled release into the /aʊ/; misalignment can blur the boundary between syllables. Also, the suffix -ed is pronounced as /d/ because the preceding consonant is voiced, affecting the final sound.
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Impounded comes from the verb impound, dating from the 13th century in legal contexts, derived from the Anglo-Norman poindre, poindre meaning to pin or entangle, with influence from Old French usually tied to the act of placing a restraint or seal. The modern sense of seizing property by legal authority developed in the 15th–16th centuries as statutes formalized the power to seize assets, animals, or goods left in a place of custody. The word evolved from general “to pin” or “to bind” influences into a formal term used in property law, customs, and law enforcement. The suffix -ed marks the past participle, denoting completed action, and today impounded most commonly appears in police, transport, and property contexts, signaling state action and temporary restraint. First known uses appear in medieval legal records where authorities designated items to be held for due process. As legal systems broadened, impounded broadened from “to pin down” to “to seize and hold.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "impounded" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "impounded" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "impounded"
-ded sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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