4 syllables: in, ter, ming, led. Stress on ming.
in-tur-MING-guhld
/ˌɪntɚˈmɪŋɡəld/
intermingled is pronounced in-tur-MING-guhld (/ˌɪntɚˈmɪŋɡəld/). It has four syllables (in-ter-ming-led), with the stress on "ming". Intermingled describes things that are mixed together or intertwined with one another, often in a way that blends different elements. It conveys a sense of mingling or combining parts so that distinctions become less clear. The term is commonly used in discussions of relationships, ideas, or physical materials that are not neatly separated.
Intermingled describes things that are mixed together or intertwined with one another, often in a way that blends different elements. It conveys a sense of mingling or combining parts so that distinctions become less clear. The term is commonly used in discussions of relationships, ideas, or physical materials that are not neatly separated.
- Pronouncing it as in-ter-MING-LED with a heavy -led ending and a mis-stressed first syllable. Solution: keep primary stress on MING and shorten the first two syllables; use a short, relaxed /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a clear /tər/ before MING. - Dropping the final /əld/ into a quick /ld/; instead, maintain a light /ə/ and a crisp /ld/ to preserve the word’s rhythm. - Slurring the /ŋɡ/ cluster into a single sound; practice breaking between /ŋ/ and /ɡ/ so you hear the n- and g- as separate, natural sounds. - Misplacing the second syllable vowel as /ɜː/ or /ɪə/; keep it as a reduced /ə/ or /ər/ in fluent speech. - Rushing the word in connected speech; insert a slight pause after the second syllable to prevent clipping.
"The threads in the fabric were intermingled with metallic flecks, creating a subtle shimmer."
"In the garden, the scents of roses and lavender were intermingled, making the air fragrant and complex."
"Different linguistic influences are intermingled in the city’s slang."
Pronounce as in-ter-MING-uhld with primary stress on MING. IPA: US /ˌɪn.tɚˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/, UK /ˌɪn.təˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/, AU /ˌɪn.təˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/. Note the /ɪ/ in the first syllable, the schwa in second syllable, and a clear /ɡ/ before the final /əld/. Start with a relaxed jaw, place the tongue high for /ɪ/ in MING, and finish with a light /əl/ for the ending.
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing stress on the wrong syllable, say in-TER-ming-led; (2) Slurring the -gled ending to /ɡld/ as /ɡl/ or dropping the /d/ in fast speech; (3) Mixing up the /ɪ/ sound in the first and third syllables. Correction: keep primary stress on MING, pronounce /ɡəld/ as /ɡəld/ with a light, quick -ld ending; pause slightly before the final syllable to avoid rushing.” ,
US tends to a rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable and clearer /ɡəld/ ending; UK typically uses a shorter /ə/ in the second syllable with non-rhotic r, yielding /ˌɪn.təˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/; Australian follows US-like rhotics with a similar /ɡəld/ ending, but vowels can be flatter and the /ɪ/ in first syllable slightly reduced. Practicing with minimal pairings helps: /ˌɪn.tɔˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/ (limited) in some UK speech may occur, but generally the core is /ˌɪn.təˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/ across varieties.
It combines a multi-syllabic structure with a cluster of consonants around the tired ending /-mɪŋ.ɡəld/. The /t/ or /d/ in the second syllable is light but essential for clear segmentation and the /ŋ/ before the /g/ requires back-of-tongue articulation that can blur in rapid speech. Also, the contrast between the unstressed secondary syllable /tə/ and the stressed /ˈmɪŋ/ makes timing tricky. Slow, deliberate practice helps separate the syllables and anchor the rhythm.
Yes—notice the transition from the unstressed second syllable to the stressed MING. The sequence in-TER-MING-LED includes a schwa or reduced vowel in the second syllable that can easily become a full /ɜː/ if you over-articulate. Focus on a clean /tə/ or /tər/ before the stressed /ˈmɪŋ/. Also, ensure the final /əld/ is not swallowed; keep the /ə/ relaxed and the /ld/ crisp. This helps maintain a natural, flowing cadence.
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- US: emphasize non-rhotic articulation less; keep /ɪ/ in MING crisp and the /ɚ/ in r-colored dialect not prominent. Use /ˌɪn.tɚˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/. - UK: tend toward a more clipped second syllable with a clear /ə/; /ˌɪn.təˈmɪŋ.ɡəld/ and less rhoticity on the second syllable. - AU: similar to US, but vowels may be slightly flatter; ensure /ɪ/ remains distinct in MING while /ə/ is relaxed. Refer to IPA forms above and practice with native speech samples.
Intermingled comes from the prefix inter- meaning ‘between’ or ‘among’ and mingled, the past participle of mingle. The root mingle traces to Latin mingere ‘to mix’ via French mescler or m-ceindre through Old English mingian, reflecting a long-standing word-history tied to mixing and blending. The idea of interposing elements or combining disparate parts appears in late Middle English usage, where inter- plus mingled implied a more complex, intertwined arrangement than mere mixing. Over time, the form gained a sense of two or more strands being woven together in a single fabric or concept, which is the sense retained in contemporary usage. The earliest attestations appear in literary or descriptive prose as writers described threads, ideas, or relationships that were not cleanly separable, a nuance preserved in modern usage. The term maintains the sense of agency and process: actions or items that become mixed through interaction rather than by coincidence, underscoring the deliberate or emergent complexity of interrelated elements.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "intermingled" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "intermingled"
-gle sounds
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