One syllable: leaked.
/likt/
Say it backLeaked is the past tense and past participle of leak, meaning something that has escaped or been released (often secretly) through a hole or gap. In common use, it describes information or contents that have become public without authorization. The word frequently appears in journalism and security contexts, signaling a gradual or sudden disclosure rather than a deliberate release.
"The company admitted that sensitive data leaked last night."
"A draft leaked online revealed details of the new product."
"The river water leaked through the dam's cracks during the flood."
Pronounce it as /liːkt/. It is a single syllable with a long /iː/ vowel, followed by a /k/ stop and a final /t/. Tongue high for /iː/, front close position; lips neutral to slightly spread. In fast speech, release is brief, but the /k/ and /t/ should remain crisp to avoid blending into a nasal sound. If you’re listening, you’ll hear a clean, tight closure for the /k/ before the /t/.
Two common errors are pronouncing it as /liːkəd/ with an added schwa or adding a vowel noise between /k/ and /t/. Another error is a weak or unreleased /t/ in rapid speech, giving /liːkt/ a trailing, soft finish. Correction: ensure a firm /k/ release before the /t/, keep the jaw steady, and cut the vowel after /k/—the word ends with a hard /t/. Practice short bursts to sharpen the final stop.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /liːk/ is stable; the difference comes in rhythm and flap tendencies in some contexts. US/UK/AU generally maintain a crisp /k/ followed by /t/. In rapid speech, some speakers may elide slight voicing, resulting in a quicker overall release. The main contrast is not vowel quality here but the surrounding e.g., pronouncing ‘leaked’ near other words in a sentence with cadence differences.
The challenge is producing a clean, adjacent consonant cluster /kt/ without sounding like an /s/ or blending into /k/ or /t/ alone. Your tongue must switch quickly from the high front position for /iː/ to the back closure for /k/, then release into /t/. This rapid alternation can be tricky in connected speech, especially when spoken with other words in a sentence.
Does the /iː/ in leaked stay long when the word is followed by a consonant? Usually yes in careful speech, the vowel remains tense and long for clarity: /liːkt/. In casual, fast speech the vowel can be slightly shortened but should remain perceptible as /iː/. The key is not reducing it to a lax /ɪ/; maintaining the long vowel helps preserve the word’s clarity in most contexts.
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Leak is an Old English loan from the Proto-Germanic *lais* (related to Danish lække and Dutch lek) with a meaning tied to letting liquid pass through a breach. The past tense leaked from Germanic verb forms that developed in Middle English, reflecting the common English pattern of -ed for past tense. The figurative sense “information or secrets” leaking into public view emerges in the 20th century, paralleling phrases like ‘a leak’ to describe unauthorized disclosure. The term gained modern traction during political and corporate reporting, especially with the rise of digital information leaks in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. First known uses include references to physical leaks in infrastructure, followed by metaphorical uses in journalism to describe secret disclosures. Over time, ‘leak’ broadened to include leaks of data, emails, and other confidential content, with ‘leaked’ becoming the de facto past tense for disclosed materials or information.
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Help others use "leaked" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "leaked" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "leaked" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "leaked"
-ked sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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