2 syllables: mind, ed. Stress on mind.
MEYEN-duhd
/ˈmaɪndəd/
minded is pronounced MEYEN-duhd (/ˈmaɪndəd/). It has two syllables (mind-ed), with the stress on "mind". Minded is the past tense or adjective form derived from mind, meaning having a particular kind of mind or being inclined toward something. In compounds, it appears in phrases like “open-minded” or “ninded” (less common). It functions as a participial adjective or verb-marked form, typically describing mental state or propensity. The core sense centers on attention, consideration, or disposition, often used in evaluative contexts.
Minded is the past tense or adjective form derived from mind, meaning having a particular kind of mind or being inclined toward something. In compounds, it appears in phrases like “open-minded” or “ninded” (less common). It functions as a participial adjective or verb-marked form, typically describing mental state or propensity. The core sense centers on attention, consideration, or disposition, often used in evaluative contexts.
"She is open-minded and receptive to new ideas."
"He minded his manners at the dinner table, as his mother wished."
"The old guard minded the archives with careful attention."
Pronounce it as /ˈmaɪn.dɪd/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: MYND. The second syllable is a light, quick /dɪd/ with a final /d/. Mouth posture: start with a long /aɪ/ diphthong in the first syllable (jaw opens and then closes slightly as you glide to /n/). The /m/ is bilabial, /aɪ/ is a rising diphthong, /n/ is alveolar, and the final /d/ is a voiced alveolar stop. Audio reference: think “mind” + “ed” quickly, with a crisp final /d/.
Common errors: (1) Under-emphasizing the first syllable leading to /mɪndəd/ or /maɪn.dɪd/ with a weak /aɪ/; ensure a clear /aɪ/ diphthong in the first syllable. (2) Slurring the /d/ at the end or dropping the final /d/, producing /ˈmaɪndɪ/; keep the final /d/ crisp. (3) Using a reduced second syllable like /mɪnd/; avoid reducing the /dɪd/—aim for /dɪd/ with a light release. Practice with emphasis on the onset and a clean coda.
US: /ˈmaɪndɪd/ with rhoticity not affecting /r/ here; clear /aɪ/. UK: /ˈmaɪn.dɪd/ often with slight syllable-timed rhythm and non-rhotic linking; second syllable crisp /dɪd/. AU: similar to UK, but vowel quality in /aɪ/ may be gooier; subtle vowel length differences and a slightly flatter final /ɪd/. Across all, the /maɪn/ onset dominates; keep the /d/ release audible.
Two key challenges: the diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable requires a controlled glide from /a/ to /ɪ/ while maintaining the /m/ and /n/ sequence; and the final /dɪd/ cluster demands a precise quick release without vowel intrusion. Beginners often nasalize the /n/ or shorten the /d/; focus on a clean transition between /n/ and /d/, and keep the second syllable stressed and distinct.
A unique consideration is the potential for assimilation: in rapid speech you might hear /ˈmaɪn.dɪd/ with a softer second syllable or slight vowel reduction in casual speech. The critical feature is maintaining the full /aɪ/ in the first syllable and a clear /d/ release in the second; ensure the /n/ remains an alveolar nasal rather than assimilating into a tongue-tied sequence.
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- US: rhotic? no change here; emphasize /aɪ/ as a bright, open diphthong and keep the /d/ crisp. - UK: slightly shorter vowel duration in /aɪ/, crisper /d/; non-rhotic relief doesn’t apply here much. - AU: a bit more centralized /ɐɪ/ quality; maintain the /d/ release and clear /n/. Always mark stress on the first syllable; IPA remains /ˈmaɪndɪd/ across regions.
Minded comes from the verb mind, with the -ed participial suffix forming the past tense or adjective. Mind itself traces to Old English mindian, mide, related to cognitive faculties or memory. The sense of paying attention or being careful evolved early in Germanic languages, with equivalents in Old Norse and Proto-Germanic. By Middle English, mind was used as a verb meaning to attend to or care for something, developing adjectives like minded to describe a state of mind or disposition. The compound form became entrenched in standard usage by the 16th century, expanding into phrases like “well-minded” and “open-minded.” In modern English, minded frequently functions as a compounded adjective (open-minded, like-minded) or as the past participle in phrases like “mind ed the children.” Modern usage often signals attitude, inclination, or memory-related attentional focus, depending on context. The evolution reflects a broad semantic field around cognition, intention, and social perception, with “mind” preserving the core idea of mental engagement across centuries.
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Words that rhyme with "minded"
-ded sounds
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