2 syllables: knit, ted. Stress on knit.
NIT-uhd
/ˈnɪtəd/
knitted is pronounced NIT-uhd (/ˈnɪtəd/). It has two syllables (knit-ted), with the stress on "knit". Knitted refers to something made by knitting, or the action of forming fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles. It describes a fabric texture or garment created via knitting, and can also function as the past participle verb meaning to have produced fabric in this way. The term is commonly used in fashion, textiles, and craft contexts to denote a finished knitted item or the process.
Knitted refers to something made by knitting, or the action of forming fabric by interlocking loops of yarn with needles. It describes a fabric texture or garment created via knitting, and can also function as the past participle verb meaning to have produced fabric in this way. The term is commonly used in fashion, textiles, and craft contexts to denote a finished knitted item or the process.
"She bought a warm knitted sweater for the winter."
"The scarf is neatly knitted and feels incredibly soft."
"They knitted a small blanket by hand for the newborn."
You pronounce it as /ˈnɪtɪd/. The first syllable carries primary stress: NIT- as in 'nit' and the second syllable is a short /ɪ/ followed by a /d/; the final sound is a voiced alveolar stop. The 'kn' is uneffected by the silent k; you start with the /n/ sound and then a short /ɪ/ before /t/ and /d/. In careful speech, you may clearly realize the t-d blend at the end as /tɪd/.
Common mistakes: (1) Overemphasizing the 'k' sound and mispronouncing the initial /n/ as if starting with a hard /k/; keep the word starting with /n/. (2) Treating the second vowel as a full /i:/ instead of the short /ɪ/; keep it short. (3) Voicing carryover on the final cluster; avoid pronouncing a long vowel before the /d/. Correction: start with a clear /n/ + short /ɪ/ + /t/ + /ɪ/ + /d/, ensuring final /d/ is released.
Across accents, the initial /n/ remains consistent, but the vowel quality in the first syllable stays close to /ɪ/ in US/UK/AU. The final /ed/ is realized as /ɪd/ in many accents; some speakers may elide or soften the /d/ slightly. In rhotic accents, the /r/ does not affect knitted, but in some non-rhotic varieties the vowel before final /d/ may be slightly longer. Overall, the differences are subtle, with primary variation in vowel duration rather than place of articulation.
The difficulty comes from the 'kn' onset behavior and the short /ɪ/ vowels blending with the final /t/ and /d/ cluster. The silent 'k' can mislead speakers; you must initiate with /n/. Also, the rapid /tɪd/ sequence can blur into /təd/ or /tɪd/ if not practiced. Focus on maintaining a crisp alveolar /t/ followed by a clear /ɪ/ and ending with a precise /d/ release. IPA awareness helps you maintain accuracy.
A distinctive query angle is 'silent K' in knitted when pronouncing: the initial 'kn' sequence is actually /n/. People often search 'how to pronounce knitted with silent k.' The phonetic path is /ˈnɪtɪd/ where the onset is a nasal followed by a short vowel and a /t/ that blends into a final /d/. Understanding this helps with both recognition and production.
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The word knitted comes from Middle English knit, from Old English cnyttan, related to Dutch knijten and German kneitten, all derived from Proto-Germanic *knutjaną. The sense evolved from the act of tying or knotting by interlacing threads to describe fabric production by looping yarn with needles. By the 14th century, knit as a verb described the process of forming fabric by interlocking loops. The past participle knitted appeared in Middle English as knytted and later standardized to knitted. The noun form knitwear arose in late 19th to early 20th century as a descriptor for garments made by knitting. The term broadened with industrialization, where knitted fabrics became valued for elasticity and warmth, leading to specialized stitch patterns (stockinette, rib, garter) that define the character of knitted textiles today.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "knitted" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "knitted" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "knitted" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "knitted"
-ted sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
