3 syllables: im, prin, ted. Stress on prin.
im-PRIN-tid
/ˌɪmˈpɹɪntɪd/
imprinted is pronounced im-PRIN-tid (/ˌɪmˈpɹɪntɪd/). It has three syllables (im-prin-ted), with the stress on "prin". Imprinted describes something marked or stamped with a pattern or influence so it is permanently fixed in memory or on a surface. In psychology or development, it denotes a rapid, enduring learning or bonding that occurs at a particular stage. In printing or manufacturing, it refers to a mark transferred onto material by pressure, producing a lasting impression.
Imprinted describes something marked or stamped with a pattern or influence so it is permanently fixed in memory or on a surface. In psychology or development, it denotes a rapid, enduring learning or bonding that occurs at a particular stage. In printing or manufacturing, it refers to a mark transferred onto material by pressure, producing a lasting impression.
"Her childhood experiences are imprinted on her decisions today."
"The coin was imprinted with the eagle crest."
"Scientists say early experiences become imprinted in the brain."
Pronounce as /ɪmˈprɪn.tɪd/ in careful speech, with primary stress on the second syllable: im-PRIN-ted. The sequence /ɪm/ starts with a short, lax vowel followed by a nasal, then /ˈprɪn/ with a short i as in “pin,” and finally /tɪd/ where the /t/ blends into a light /d/ in fluent speech. Keep the tongue high for the /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable and avoid an extra syllable at the end. If you’re using a fast pace, you can elide the /t/ slightly, but do not drop the /d/. Audio reference: /ɪmˈprɪn.tɪd/.
Common mistakes include stressing the first syllable (im-PRINT-ed vs im-PRIN-ted) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a long /iː/ or /i/. Another pitfall is over-articulating the final /t/ before /d/, making it sound like /tɪd/ rather than a quick /tɪd/. Correct by keeping the stress on the second syllable, using a short /ɪ/ in /ˈprɪn/, and allowing a light, quick /t/ before the final /d/. Practicing the sequence /ɪm/ - /ˈprɪn/ - /tɪd/ helps stabilize the pattern.
In US, UK, and AU, the core vowel and consonant sounds are similar, with the primary stress on the second syllable. Differences are subtle: US speakers may have a slightly more rhotic timing on the /ɹ/ in related words, but not in imprinted itself. UK and AU typically maintain clearer enunciation of /t/ before /d/, producing a crisper /tɪd/; AU may be a touch more connected speech with a softer /t/. Overall, im-PRIN-ted remains stable across accents, but expect minor vowel quality shifts in the /ɪ/ and the transition into /tɪd/.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable stress shift and the /ˈprɪn/ cluster immediately after the initial /ɪm/. Learners often misplace the main stress on the first syllable or mispronounce the /ɪ/ in the second syllable, producing /ˌɪmˈprɪn.tɪd/ or /ɪmˈprain.tɪd/. Focus on the short, clipped /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable and quick, clean /t/ before /d/. Practicing the /ɪ/ in /ˈprɪn/ and the liaison into /tɪd/ helps reduce slippage.
Uniqueness comes from the combination of a medial /prɪn/ cluster immediately after the initial /ɪm/ and the final /tɪd/ sequence that often participates in a light /d/ liaison in fluent speech. The stress pattern is not on the first syllable, which is common in many English words ending with -ed. Also, the /n/ interfacing into /t/ can yield a brief nasal-to-stop transition that some learners pronounce as a nasalized /n/ before /t/. Understanding the delicate timing between /ɪ/, /m/, and /prɪn/ is key.
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Imprinted comes from the prefix im- (into, on) + -print (to press a mark, to leave an impression). The verb print itself traces to Old French imprimer, from Latin imprīmāre (to press in, to mark). The Latin imprīmere combines in- (in) with prīmāre (to stamp with a first mark) or prīmum (first). The form imprinted as past participle emerged in Middle English via Old French influence, shaped by the general English tendency to form past participles with -ed and the productive use of -ed participles to indicate completed action or resulting state. The term broadened from physical stamping to metaphorical stamping—an idea, memory, or behavior that remains fixed after impactful experiences. In modern usage, imprinted covers both tactile marks on materials and lasting mental imprints produced by experiences or teachings. The evolution reflects a shift from concrete stamping to figurative imprinting in psychology and culture, while retaining the original sense of “left a lasting mark.” First known written use in English appears in the late medieval period, with the sense evolving through the early modern era to include psychological and metaphorical implications.
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Words that rhyme with "imprinted"
-ted sounds
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