3 syllables: in, deb, ted. Stress on deb.
in-DET-id
/ˌɪˈndɛtɪd/
indebted is pronounced in-DET-id (/ˌɪˈndɛtɪd/). It has three syllables (in-deb-ted), with the stress on "deb". Indebted describes owing gratitude or thanks, often implying a moral obligation due to a favor, benefit, or debt. It can also connote a feeling of obligation to someone who has helped you, or a condition of owing something in return. The term is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to express appreciation coupled with repayment responsibility.
Indebted describes owing gratitude or thanks, often implying a moral obligation due to a favor, benefit, or debt. It can also connote a feeling of obligation to someone who has helped you, or a condition of owing something in return. The term is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to express appreciation coupled with repayment responsibility.
"I’m deeply indebted to my mentor for guiding me through my career."
"The company is indebted to its customers for years of loyalty."
"She felt indebted to repay the kindness shown to her during tough times."
Indebted is pronounced with three syllables: in-DET-id. The primary stress is on the second syllable: ɪnˈdɛtɪd. Ensure the middle vowel is the open-mid ɛ as in bed, followed by a light d and a final schwa-ish or close to i: ɪd.
Common errors: (1) Stress misplacement, saying in-DET-id with wrong emphasis on the first syllable; (2) Slurring the middle consonant into a long /d/ or turning /t/ into a flap; (3) Over- or under-pronouncing the final /ɪd/; often the final /ɪd/ is reduced. Correction: keep the mid- syllable steady ɪnˈdɛtɪd, briefly release the /d/ and end clearly with the short /ɪd/ rather than a prolonged vowel.
US: /ˌɪnˈdɛtɪd/ with clear /d/ and a short æ-like ɛ in the stressed syllable; UK: /ˌɪnˈdetɪd/ with slightly shorter vowels and less rhotic influence; AU: /ˌɪnˈdɛtɪd/ tends to be more clipped, with less vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. Overall, the main variation is the vowel quality in the stressed second syllable and the precision of the /t/ release.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure with a mid-stressed diphthong-like quality in the second syllable and a crisp /t/ followed by a short /ɪd/ ending. The transition from /d/ to /ɪ/ can feel tight, and non-native speakers often misplace stress or run the middle consonant together. Focus on the intent: a clean, audible /d/ release and a distinct final /ɪd/.
A distinctive feature is the contrast between the unstressed initial schwa-like reduction (ɪn) and the stressed second syllable (dɛt). The word’s rhythm is a classic example of stress-timed language: weak-STRONG-weak. Paying attention to the crisp, short middle vowel and a clean /t/ followed by a brief /ɪd/ helps it sound natural in fluent speech.
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Indebted comes from the prefix in- meaning ‘in’ or ‘toward’ combined with debit (from Latin debitus, past participle of debere ‘to owe’). The sense evolved from ‘owing a debt’ to a figurative ‘owing gratitude or gratitude’s obligation.’ In Middle English, indebted often appeared in legal or moral contexts indicating financial or moral obligation. The modern usage centers on moral gratitude or repayment obligations rather than strictly a monetary debt. First known use traces to early modern English writings where debt and obligation intersected with social reciprocity, evolving to emphasize emotional or ethical indebtedness rather than purely financial debt.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "indebted" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "indebted"
-ted sounds
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