3 syllables: in, ter, twined. Stress on twined.
in-tur-TWEYEND
/ˌɪntɚˈtwaɪnd/
intertwined is pronounced in-tur-TWEYEND (/ˌɪntɚˈtwaɪnd/). It has three syllables (in-ter-twined), with the stress on "twined". Intertwined describes things that are twisted or woven together so they are closely connected or inseparable. It conveys a sense of mutual influence or integration where elements are interlaced, forming a complex, tangled relationship or pattern. The term often appears in discussions of relationships, fate, or ideas that are deeply connected and difficult to separate.
Intertwined describes things that are twisted or woven together so they are closely connected or inseparable. It conveys a sense of mutual influence or integration where elements are interlaced, forming a complex, tangled relationship or pattern. The term often appears in discussions of relationships, fate, or ideas that are deeply connected and difficult to separate.
- You may over-elongate the second syllable or fail to reduce the middle schwa, leading to a bulky IN-TER-TWIND instead of IN-tə-TWIND. - Forgetting the /t/ release into /w/; you want a clean transition: /t/ then /w/ smoothly into /aɪ/. - Mispronouncing /aɪ/ as a pure /iː/ or /eɪ/; keep the diphthong sound intact. - Final /nd/ should be a crisp nasal stop without voicing. - Practice tip: say it slowly: /ˈɪn.təˌtwaɪnd/; then gently speed up while maintaining the middle schwa and the /t/ to /w/ linkage. - Use minimal pairs: intertwine vs interwind; intertwined vs intertwined (confusion with past participle form).
"The roots of the vine became intertwined with the trellis, making it hard to untangle."
"Their fates were intertwined, as if destiny had woven their stories into one."
"The plotlines in the novel are intricately intertwined, revealing connections only at the end."
Pronounce as IN-ter-twynd for many speakers. The primary stress is on the first syllable: /ˈɪn.təˌtwaɪnd/ (US/UK). The middle /t/ links to a light schwa, then a clear /tw/ onset leading into /aɪnd/. Lip rounding is subtle for the /waɪ/ portion; keep the tongue close to the alveolar ridge for the /t/ and move into a relaxed diphthong for /aɪ/. Think “in-TER-twynd” with quick, gentle secondary emphasis on the third syllable in natural speech. Audio reference: you can compare with dictionaries or pronunciation apps that provide native speaker audio.
Common errors include flattening the /taɪnd/ into a dull /taɪnd/ without the short /ə/ in the second syllable, and misplacing stress by over-promoting the second syllable (in-TUR-twined). Another frequent issue is pronouncing /twaɪnd/ as /twin(d)/ with an extraneous /n/ or a clipped /d/. To correct: keep a light, unstressed /ə/ in the middle, ensure the /t/ before /w/ is released clearly, and round into the /aɪ/ smoothly before the final /nd/.
Differences are subtle. In US English, you’ll hear /ˈɪn.tɚˌtwaɪnd/ with a rhotic r in /tɚ/. In many UK accents, /tɚ/ becomes /tə/ or a non-rhotic schwa-like vowel in some regions, yielding /ˈɪn.təˌtwaɪnd/. Australian English tends to a clearer /ɜː/ or /ə/ in the second syllable and a slightly brighter /aɪ/; the /ɪ/ in the first syllable remains close to /ɪ/. The /tw/ cluster and final /nd/ are consistent, but vowel quality shifts and rhoticity drive perceived differences.
Three challenges: first, the fast sequence /tˈw/ blends quickly, requiring precise tongue movement from the alveolar /t/ to the bilabial /w/. Second, the /ɪn/ to /t/ transition with an unstressed /ə/ in the middle can trip you up if you think stress shifts; keep the middle syllable light. Third, the final /aɪnd/ combines a diphthong with a final stop; ensure a clean /aɪ/ glide into a crisp /nd/. Practicing slow, then progressively faster can stabilize this sequence.
Yes. The word carries primary stress on the first syllable (IN-tə-...) in many contexts, with a secondary emphasis on the third syllable when the word bears compound growth in speech (IN-ter-TWIND). In natural use, the third syllable may be de-emphasized, flowing into the final /nd/. Focus on the trochaic rhythm (stressed-unstressed-stressed-ish) across the three syllables, then allow the final /nd/ to land softly.
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- US: rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable and a slightly darker vowel in preconsonantal positions; keep /ɪ/ in the first syllable short and crisp. - UK: non-rhotic schwa in /tə/; maintain a clear /t/ release into /w/, ensuring a subtle British vowel quality for /ə/. - AU: more rounded /ə/ and a bit broader /ɪ/; keep the /aɪ/ diphthong steady and avoid the trap of making it monophthongal. Use IPA references when practicing to monitor vowel length and quality. - General: keep the rhythm even; the key is the fast but precise /t/ to /w/ transition and the final /nd/ closure.
Intertwined comes from the prefix inter- meaning 'between, among' and the past participle root of entwine, from Old English entrewan (to entwine, twist together), with influences from Middle Dutch entwinen and Old French entwiner. The form first becomes common in Early Modern English as writers described objects literally braided or twisted together, then extended metaphorically to relationships and ideas. The prefix inter- signals the sense of mutual action or reciprocal inclusion. The verb entwine itself has that core sense of twisting into a connected whole, and intertwine amplifies this by folding multiple strands into one. Over time, intertwined gained figurative weight in literature and discourse to denote complex, inextricable connections, not merely physical entanglement. The earliest attested uses appear in the 16th to 17th centuries in English prose and poetry. In contemporary usage, intertwined functions both as a past participle adjective (“the intertwined vines”) and as a verb phrase (“to have intertwined histories”). Its semantic drift from literal weaving to abstract interdependence reflects broader linguistic patterns wherein tangible processes become metaphors for social, emotional, and conceptual links. The word remains common in academic, literary, and everyday contexts when describing entangling relationships, systems, or narratives that cannot be easily separated or understood in isolation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "intertwined" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "intertwined"
-ned sounds
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