4 syllables: lam, i, nate, d. Stress on lam.
LAM-uh-nay-tuhd
/ˈlæməˌneɪtəd/
laminated is pronounced LAM-uh-nay-tuhd (/ˈlæməˌneɪtəd/). It has four syllables (lam-i-nate-d), with the stress on "lam". Laminated describes an object, such as paper or material, that has been coated with a thin layer of plastic or other substance to seal, protect, or decorate it. The term often implies multiple layers fused together, enhancing durability or appearance. In everyday use, laminated items are common in office supplies, signage, and crafts.
Laminated describes an object, such as paper or material, that has been coated with a thin layer of plastic or other substance to seal, protect, or decorate it. The term often implies multiple layers fused together, enhancing durability or appearance. In everyday use, laminated items are common in office supplies, signage, and crafts.
- Misplacing stress: you’ll often say la-MI-nated; ensure the main emphasis is on the second or third syllable (ˌlæmɪˈneɪtɪd).- Vowel quality: avoid turning /æ/ into a flat /æː/ or a schwa; keep /æ/ as in cat for the first syllable and maintain /eɪ/ in the second-to-last syllable. - Final cluster: don’t over-articulate the /tɪd/. The ending should be a light /ɪd/; don’t turn it into a crisp /təd/.
"The laminated poster hung in the classroom survived years of handling."
"She kept the recipe card laminated to prevent tearing."
"Laminated cards make the security badge resistant to water."
Pronounce it lah-MIN-uh-tid in US and UK approximations; IPA: US /ˌlæmɪˈneɪtɪd/, UK /ˈlæmɪneɪtɪd/, AU /ˈlæmɪneɪtɪd/. Primary stress on the third syllable in the typical two-syllable rhythm: la-MI-na-ted, with clear emphasis on the 'min' or 'nate' portion depending on accent. Start with the /l/ and /æ/ vowel, move to /m/, then the /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ preceding /neɪ/, and end with /tɪd/. Think “LAM-in-ATE-id” where 'ate' is pronounced as /neɪt/ and the final /ɪd/ is lightly pronounced.
Common mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable (usually stressing the first syllable rather than the second or third) and mispronouncing the Middle /neɪ/ as a short /nɪ/ or /ne/; another frequent error is pronouncing the final /ɪd/ as a separate strong syllable instead of a quick /ɪd/. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable: la-MI-nated with the /neɪ/ diphthong, and reduce the final /ɪd/ to a light ending.
In US English, /ˌlæmɪˈneɪtɪd/ with stress on the third syllable and a clear /eɪ/ in the second-to-last syllable. UK speakers often retain a similar rhythm but may have a shorter /ɪ/ and a closer /eɪ/; some regional variants reduce vowels slightly. Australian English typically features a flatter vowel quality; the /æ/ in the first syllable can sound broader, and you may hear a slightly more prolonged /ɪ/ before /neɪ/. Overall, rhoticity is not a defining factor here; the main differences lie in vowel quality and stress timing.
Two main challenges: the multi-syllable rhythm with three distinct vowel sounds in a row (æ-mɪ-ˈneɪ), and the diphthong /eɪ/ that can slide into an /e/ or /i/ in rapid speech. Additionally, the trailing /d/ after a unstressed syllable can blur into a quick /ɪd/. Focus on striking the primary stress at the secondary syllable and keeping the /neɪ/ as a distinct diphthong before a light /tɪd/.
There are no silent letters in 'laminated'. Every letter contributes to the pronunciation: la- /læ/ first, -mi- /mɪ/ second, -nated /ˈneɪtɪd/ with the /n/ and /eɪ/ forming the second-to-last syllable and the -ed ending sounding as a light /d/ or /ɪd/ depending on the speaker and context.
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- US: /ˌlæmɪˈneɪtɪd/ with clear diphthong /eɪ/ and strong secondary rhythm. - UK: /ˈlæmɪneɪtɪd/ with slightly shorter vowels and a more clipped final /tɪd/. - AU: /ˈlæmɪneɪtɪd/, keep vowel sounds bright and reduce vowel length variances; rhotics less audible in some dialects.
Laminated comes from the noun laminate, which originates from the French laminer “to laminate, thin sheet” and the Latin lamina meaning “thin plate, layer, sheet.” The English verb laminate emerged in the 19th century to describe the process of composing multiple layers into a single layered unit. In the 20th century, as plastics and adhesives advanced, laminated materials—papers and textiles bonded with plastic films—became common for durability and moisture resistance. The term has since broadened beyond materials to describe any object that has been covered or structured in layered sheets, often for protective or decorative purposes. First known usage in print traces to industrial or manufacturing contexts where layering processes were integral to product design. Today, laminated is widely used in consumer goods, construction, and documentation with the core sense of “a product made of or protected by layered sheets.”
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Words that rhyme with "laminated"
-ted sounds
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