4 syllables: mo, ti, va, ted. Stress on mo.
MOH-tuh-vay-tuhd
/ˈmoʊtəˌveɪtəd/
motivated is pronounced MOH-tuh-vay-tuhd (/ˈmoʊtəˌveɪtəd/). It has four syllables (mo-ti-va-ted), with the stress on "mo". Motivated describes having a reason or incentive to act, driven by purpose or ambition. It characterizes someone who is energized to pursue goals, often resulting from personal values or external motivation. The term conveys proactive focus and sustained effort rather than fleeting interest.
Motivated describes having a reason or incentive to act, driven by purpose or ambition. It characterizes someone who is energized to pursue goals, often resulting from personal values or external motivation. The term conveys proactive focus and sustained effort rather than fleeting interest.
- You may drop or merge the /v/ in /tɪ.veɪ/ during quick speech. Solution: rehearse the exact sequence /tɪ.veɪ/ with a light touch of /v/ and a crisp release into /tɪd/. - Final -ed may become /ɪd/ or /d/ depending on speed; practice both: /-ɪd/ in slower speech, and a quick /d/ in fast speech. - Stress misplacement: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈmoʊ/; don’t shift to /moʊ-ˈti/; use tempo to maintain the first beat.
"She was highly motivated to finish the project before the deadline."
"His motivated approach helped the team exceed expectations."
"The students were motivated by the prospect of a scholarship."
Tip: split as MO-ti-vat-ed with stress on the first syllable. In US/UK, the basic form is /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/ (US) or /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/ (UK); the final -ed is pronounced as /ɪd/ in this verb-adjective form. Mouth positioning: start with rounded lips for /oʊ/, then a short /ɪ/ as in 'kit', then /veɪ/ with a voiced labiodental fricative /v/ followed by a long /eɪ/, and end with /tɪd/ or /tɪd/ depending on accent. You’ll hear a crisp primary beat on MO- and a quick, smooth transition through -tiv- to -ed.
Two frequent errors: 1) placing the main stress on the second syllable (mo-TI-vated) which softens the natural emphasis; 2) swallowing the /d/ ed ending or blending /tɪd/ too quickly into a schwa. Correction: keep strong initial stress /ˈmoʊ/ and articulate the -tiv- clearly with /tɪˈveɪ/ before a crisp /tɪd/ or /d/ depending on pace. Practice with slow speeds, then gradually accelerate to maintain the final /ɪd/ timing.
US tends to glide the first vowel into /oʊ/ with a rhotic r-sensitive environment; UK often reduces to /əʊ/ for the second syllable and has more clipped final /ɪd/. Australian tends toward a broader vowel in /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/ with less r-coloring and a slightly longer overall cadence. The final /t/ can be released or unreleased depending on formality and speech rate. Focus on steady tempo and clear enunciation of /veɪ/ before the final /tɪd/.
The difficulty mainly lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm and the final -ed cluster /ɪd/ after a stressed first syllable. The sequence /m o ʊ / can be tricky since /oʊ/ is a tense diphthong, and the transition to /tɪ/ requires precise tongue placement as the jaw closes. Additionally, maintaining stress on the first syllable while giving a clear, rapid /veɪ/ before the /tɪd/ can challenge non-native speakers.
A unique aspect is the 'v' in the middle: /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/ includes a strong /v/ sound following a short /t/. Ensure you don’t mispronounce as /ˈmoʊ.mə.tə.tɪd/ by omitting the /v/ or blending it into the preceding /t/. Also, keep the sequence /tɪ.veɪ/ clear, not reducing it to /tɪvə/ in fast speech.
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- US: rhotic, /ˈmoʊ.tə.veɪ.tɪd/ or /ˈmoʊ.vəˌteɪtɪd/ depending on speaker; keep /oʊ/ clear and the /v/ crisp. - UK: /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/ with less vowel reduction; ensure non-rhoticity, no /r/ after vowels. - AU: /ˈməʊ.tɪ.veɪ.tɪd/ with broader vowel and a tendency toward stronger final consonant alacrity; minimize flapping and keep precise /t/.” ,
Motivated comes from the verb motivate, which derives from late Latin motivare, meaning to move or set in motion. The Latin root mot-, mov-, meaning 'to move,' is tied to motion or impulse. The -ive suffix forms adjectives indicating having a specified quality. The verb motivate appeared in English in the 18th–19th centuries, evolving from philosophical and psychological discussions about motivation and behavioral impetus. The term gained prominence in education and management discourse in the 20th century, where it described individuals’ drive to act toward goals. First known uses track to discussions of motive and incentive, but the modern usage as
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "motivated" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "motivated"
-ted sounds
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