3 syllables: In, trep, id. Stress on trep.
in-TREP-uhd
/ɪnˈtɹɛpəd/
Intrepid is pronounced in-TREP-uhd (/ɪnˈtɹɛpəd/). It has three syllables (In-trep-id), with the stress on "trep". Intrepid is an adjective describing a person or action marked by fearless boldness and adventurous spirit, often in the face of danger. It conveys steady courage and willingness to take risks, typically in challenging or unfamiliar situations. The term carries a sense of noble or commendable bravery rather than reckless bravado.
adjectiveIntrepid is an adjective describing a person or action marked by fearless boldness and adventurous spirit, often in the face of danger. It conveys steady courage and willingness to take risks, typically in challenging or unfamiliar situations. The term carries a sense of noble or commendable bravery rather than reckless bravado.
"The intrepid explorer mapped uncharted regions of the rainforest."
"Despite the storm, the crew remained intrepid and pressed onward."
"Her intrepid reporting uncovered the truth behind the corporation’s practices."
Pronounce as inˈtrep.ɪd in US and UK; the main stress lands on the second syllable: in-TREP-id. Start with the short ‘i’ as in pin, deliver a clear ‘trep’ with a crisp ‘t’ plus an ‘r’ blend, then finish with a light ‘id’ where the final d is released. Audio references can be found on Pronounce or Forvo for native nuances.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say-ing in-TRÉP-id instead of in-TREP-id) and slurring the ‘trep’ cluster (t + r together). Another pitfall is pronouncing the final ‘id’ as a hard ‘ee-d’ or dropping the linked vowel in the middle. Correct by tightening the /t/ + /r/ onset, keeping the /e/ as a short e, and finishing with a clean /ɪd/ rather than a separate vowel sound.
In US and UK you hear in-TREP-id with stressed second syllable; rhoticity affects the preceding vowel quality slightly. US often articulates a slightly flatter mid vowel in the first syllable and crisper consonants, while UK RP may have marginal vowel sharpening and less rhotic influence. Australian English keeps the /ɪ/ and /e/ vowels similar but may feature a broader diphthong in the first syllable and a more relaxed final /d/.
The difficulty lies in the cluster /trep/ and the mid syllable stress, which can shift unintentionally in rapid speech. Learners often temper the /t/ into a softer alveolar stop and blur the /r/ in non-rhotic accents, affecting clarity. Mastering the short, clipped /e/ in the second syllable and the final /ɪd/ release helps maintain precise articulation across accents.
The word places primary stress on the second syllable (in-TREP-id), with a crisp onset /t/ + /r/. This makes the nucleus vowel sound in the middle relatively short (/e/ as in ‘bed’) and the final /ɪd/ tightly released. Avoid turning the middle vowel into a long /iː/ or altering /r/ into a vowel-like sound; keep the mid syllable compact and the final consonant clearly released.
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Intrepid comes from the Latin primus ‘first’ and trepidus ‘alarmed, frightened,’ formed as in- (not) + trepidus (alarmed) in the mid-18th century. The term fused the sense of facing fear with bold, bold fronting, producing a loan possibly via French intrépide or Italian intrepido that influenced English usage. Early uses emphasized fearless, almost martial courage, often describing explorers, soldiers, or adventurers. Over time, the sense broadened to include any bold, resolute action, sometimes with a touch of literary grandiosity. The first clear printed appearances appear in expeditionary or military narratives of the 18th to 19th centuries, where intrepid framed a positive, celebrated courage. In modern usage, intrepid has retained its aspirational connotation, though it is sometimes used ironically or playfully to describe audacious but imprudent behavior.
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Words that rhyme with "Intrepid"
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