JEP-ur-deyezd
/ˈdʒɛpɚˌdaɪzd/
jeopardized is pronounced JEP-ur-deyezd (/ˈdʒɛpɚˌdaɪzd/). Jeopardized means having risk or danger imposed on something, or placed in a vulnerable or at-risk position. It denotes a circumstance where chances of success, safety, or well-being are diminished due to a threat or hazard. The term often appears in formal or analytic contexts, where outcomes are discussed in terms of risk and protection.
Jeopardized means having risk or danger imposed on something, or placed in a vulnerable or at-risk position. It denotes a circumstance where chances of success, safety, or well-being are diminished due to a threat or hazard. The term often appears in formal or analytic contexts, where outcomes are discussed in terms of risk and protection.
- Mistake: Slurring the middle syllable into a flat /ə/; Correction: clearly articulate /ˈdʒepər/ with a light rhotic or schwa that keeps the /r/ or its approximant when rhotacized accents lean that way. - Mistake: Mispronouncing the final -ized as /-ɪzd/ or /-zd/; Correction: produce /-daɪzd/ with a full diphthong /aɪ/ before /z/ and final /d/. Ensure /z/ before /d/ is voiced and not devoiced. - Mistake: Dropping the /dʒ/ initial or softening it to /ʒ/; Correction: keep clear /dʒ/ as in judge; tip: place tongue at ridge behind upper teeth and push air forward.
"The company's privacy measures were jeopardized by the recent data breach."
"Her plans were jeopardized when the flight was canceled at the last minute."
"If you ignore safety protocols, workers’ lives could be jeopardized."
Pronounce it as /ˈdʒepərˌdaɪzd/ in US and UK practice. Key points: initial /dʒ/ as in judge, first syllable unstressed /ə/ in ‘jeo’, stress on the second syllable’s vowel cluster, then /daɪzd/ for the final stressed syllable with a clear /d/ at the end. In careful speech you may hear /ˌdʒɛpɔrˈdaɪzd/ in some dialects, but standard is /ˈdʒepərˌdaɪzd/. Audio reference: you can verify on Forvo or pronunciation videos showing /ˈdʒepərˌdaɪzd/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (pronouncing as /dʒɪˈpɑrdɪzd/ or /ˌdʒɛpəˈrdɪzd/), and mangling the /ˈdʒep/ cluster by pronouncing it as /dʒɪp/ or dropping the /r/ or /z/ in the final -ized portion. Another frequent error is slurring the /ɪ/ in the second syllable or mispronouncing /daɪzd/ as /dæzd/. Correction: keep /ˈdʒe.pər/ for the first two syllables with a schwa in the second syllable, then clearly say /daɪzd/ with a voiced /d/ and /z/ before the final /d/. Use careful enunciation of the final -ized: /ˈdɪzd/ or /daɪzd/ depending on the pace.
In US and UK, the initial /dʒ/ remains constant, but vowel quality in the second syllable varies: US often uses /ˈdʒepərˌdaɪzd/ with a mid central /ər/; UK can have a more clipped /ˈdʒepəˌdaɪzd/ and less rhotacism in non-rhotic accents, though /ər/ may still be realized. Australian speakers may reduce the second syllable more, producing a lighter /ə/ and a slightly shorter /daɪzd/. The final /d/ remains clear in all; the main variation is in vowels and rhotics. Reference IPA: US /ˈdʒepərˌdaɪzd/, UK /ˈdʒepəˌdaɪzd/, AU /ˈdʒepəˌdaɪzd/.
The difficulty stems from the cluster /dʒep/ at the start, the quick alternation between the schwa-like /ə/ and the stressed /ˈdaɪzd/ ending, and the presence of the final /d/ after a voiced /z/ in -ized. The transition from the syllable with /ər/ to /daɪzd/ requires precise tongue movement to avoid a slurred or mispronounced diphthong. Mastery comes from practicing the three-part sequence: initial affricate, mid unstressed syllable with schwa, and the final “dized” cluster.
What phonetic challenge does jeopaRdiZed present in the middle syllable? The mid syllable contains /ər/ or /ə/ depending on speaker, which can easily reduce or blur to a simple /ɜː/ or /ə/ without the preceding /r/ quality. The correct pairing is /ˈdʒepər/ followed by /daɪzd/. Emphasize the 'er' sound as a light rhotic or schwa that smoothly leads into /daɪzd/.
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US: rhotic /r/ may flavor /ər/ as /ər/ or /ɚ/ in unstressed; UK: non-rhotic often results in a weaker /r/ with a more pronounced /ə/; AU: a more centralized vowel in /ə/ and a slightly flatter /aɪ/ in the final; IPA references: US /ˈdʒepərˌdaɪzd/, UK /ˈdʒepəˌdaɪzd/, AU /ˈdʒepəˌdaɪzd/.
Jeopardized derives from jeopardize, which comes from the French jeopardiser, ultimately from Old French jeopard ‘game of hazard’ and hear Latin term. The English form jeopardize emerged in the 19th century, influenced by French jeopardiser meaning ‘to risk’ or ‘to hazard.’ The root jeopardis (French) reflects the idea of a game of chances—risk, hazard, danger. The shift from noun/verb to adjective form jeopardized occurs when the word is used to describe something that has been subjected to risk. First records appear in legal and moral discussions about risk management and safety, with the -ed suffix marking past participle/adjective usage by the late 1800s and 1900s, becoming common in formal and technical writing by mid-20th century. Over time, jeopardize and jeopardized broadened into everyday usage to describe actions or situations that threaten outcomes, safety, or stability. The word retains its core sense of exposure to danger, though it now commonly appears in corporate, legal, and policy discourse as well as everyday cautionary statements.
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Words that rhyme with "jeopardized"
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