2 syllables: men, ded. Stress on men.
MEN-did
/ˈmɛndɪd/
mended is pronounced MEN-did (/ˈmɛndɪd/). It has two syllables (men-ded), with the stress on "men". Mended is the past participle of mend, meaning repaired or healed. Used to describe something that has been fixed or restored to functionality or good condition, often after damage or wear. The term can also be figuratively extended to relationships or plans that have been repaired or improved.
Mended is the past participle of mend, meaning repaired or healed. Used to describe something that has been fixed or restored to functionality or good condition, often after damage or wear. The term can also be figuratively extended to relationships or plans that have been repaired or improved.
"The broken chair has been mended with a careful seam and sturdy glue."
"After the quarrel, they mended their friendship and started talking again."
"The fisherman mended the nets before sunrise."
Pronounce it as /ˈmɛn.dɪd/ with the primary stress on the first syllable. The first vowel is the short E as in ‘set,’ the second is a short I as in ‘bit.’ The final /d/ is a clear, voiced alveolar stop. In rapid speech you might hear a quick linking to the next word, but keep the /d/ audible when the following word starts with a vowel or pause.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as /ɪn/ or giving the first syllable reduced vowel like /ə/ (e.g., /ˈmən.dɪd/). Another pitfall is over-scooping or misplacing the /d/ due to final consonant cluster anticipation. To correct: ensure the first syllable has /ɛ/ as in ‘bed,’ keep the second syllable short /dɪd/ with a crisp final /d/. Maintain clear tension in the tongue and avoid flapping the /d/ into a tap in careful speech.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈmɛn.dɪd/ with a clearly pronounced second syllable and a rhotic influence on surrounding vowels. UK English tends toward /ˈmen.dɪd/ with slightly crisper, shorter vowels and less vowel reduction in connected speech. Australian English shares /ˈmen.dɪd/ allocations but often features more centered vowel qualities in the second syllable and a lighter /d/ at the end. The main difference is vowel qualities and the speed of the second syllable. IPA references still show /ˈmɛn.dɪd/ as a common baseline.
The challenge lies in achieving the two-stress structure and crisp /d/ at the end of the word in fluent speech, while maintaining the short, lax vowels /ɛ/ and /ɪ/. The transition from /ˈmɛn/ to /dɪd/ requires precise tongue placement: front tongue blade for /n/ and alveolar stop /d/ with a brief release. In rapid speech, the /n/ plus /d/ boundary can blur, so you must open the mouth slightly for /ɛ/ and then snap the /d/ cleanly.
A distinctive point is the intact /m/ onset followed by a short /ɛn/ vowel cluster, which is a common point of mispronunciation when English learners apply a longer or more pronounced /eɪ/ or neutralize the /d/. The unique combination of first-syllable vowel and abrupt second-syllable onset means you should avoid vowel reduction on the first syllable and keep the second syllable brief and crisp to prevent a blended or mis-timed rhythm.
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Mended derives from the verb mend, which traces to Old English mendian and Old English mōdnian meaning to repair or amend. The Proto-Germanic root *mendijaną evolved into various forms across Germanic languages, all indicating repair. In Middle English, mendden or mendien described fixing something torn or broken; the sense extended metaphorically to relationships and plans. The past participle mended emerged as English syntax favored past actions with -ed endings, aligning with other regular verbs. The pronunciation settled on a short e vowel /ˈmɛn.dɪd/ in many dialects, with rhotic and non-rhotic varieties affecting the following consonant’s duration and the presence of linking sounds in connected speech. Historically, the word carried practical, tangible connotations of tool repair and garment alteration, later broadening to abstract repair—emotional, social, or systemic—while preserving the primary sense of restoration and improvement. First known written uses appear in the late medieval period, but spoken forms likely existed earlier in everyday repair tasks. Today, mended remains a common, concrete term used across crafts, domestic contexts, and narrative prose to imply successful restoration rather than new-state perfection.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "mended" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "mended"
-ded sounds
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