3 syllables: Of, fend, ed. Stress on fend.
uh-FEN-duhd
/əˈfɛndəd/
Offended is pronounced uh-FEN-duhd (/əˈfɛndəd/). It has three syllables (Of-fend-ed), with the stress on "fend". Offended is an adjective describing a person who feels insulted, hurt, or upset by something said or done. It denotes a reactive emotional state to perceived disrespect, often prompting a defensive or displeased response. The term emphasizes the impact of an action or remark on personal dignity, sometimes implying a moral or social irritant rather than a factual disagreement.
adjectiveOffended is an adjective describing a person who feels insulted, hurt, or upset by something said or done. It denotes a reactive emotional state to perceived disrespect, often prompting a defensive or displeased response. The term emphasizes the impact of an action or remark on personal dignity, sometimes implying a moral or social irritant rather than a factual disagreement.
- Do not slide the stress onto the first syllable. Keep /ˈfɛn/ as the pronounced beat. - Don’t merge /d/ at the end with the following word; articulate the alveolar stop fully before the final schwa/ syllable. - Avoid reducing the final /d/ into a soft glide; keep a crisp /d/ release before /ɪd/.
How to Pronounce Offended
"She felt offended by the joke and asked him to apologize."
"Being offended varies from person to person, depending on sensitivity and context."
"The coach warned the team not to be offended by tough feedback."
Offended is pronounced /əˈfɛn.dɪd/ in US/UK/AU. The first syllable is unstressed with a schwa /ə/, followed by primary stress on the second syllable: /ˈfɛn/. The final -ed is voiced as /dɪd/ when preceded by a vowel sound; here it’s /dɪd/. In careful speech, you’ll articulate /əˈfɛn.dɪd/ with clear /f/ and /n/ and a crisp /d/ before the final /ɪd/. See audio references in Pronounce or Forvo for native speaker examples.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress by saying /ˈoʊ.fɛn.dɪd/ or blending syllables too loosely, 2) Dropping the /d/ in -ed or rendering it as -ɪd with weak consonant closure, and 3) Over-shortening the second syllable, making it /ˈfɛn.dɪd/. Correction tips: keep primary stress on the second syllable /ˈfɛn/, fully enunciate the /d/ before the final /ɪd/ so it sounds /-dɪd/, and maintain a light but audible /f/ and /n/ in the middle. Practice with deliberate, slow articulation then speed up while preserving the consonant.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /əˈfɛn.dɪd/ stays similar, with rhoticity affecting the first syllable: US may have a softer /ə/ and less lip rounding; UK often retains a slightly crisper /ˈfɛn/ and clearer /dɪd/; Australian tends toward a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a flatter intonation. All share /f/ and /n/ clarity, with subtle vowel shifts in the /æ/ vs. /e/ quality and the final /ɪd/ becoming /ɪd/ or /əd/ depending on connected speech.
The difficulty lies in coordinating the schwa-driven first syllable with the strong second-syllable stress and the final -ed cluster. The transition from /ə/ to /ˈfɛn/ requires precise lip relaxation then sudden aperture for /f/ and /ɛn/. The final /dɪd/ demands a clear stop and release before a light /ɪd/; in fast speech these can blur to /dɪd/ or /dɪ/. Mastery hinges on stable jaw position, crisp /f/ and /n/, and controlled alveolar stop with the right timing.
Unique to this word is the interaction of a light, unstressed initial syllable with two subsequent stressed, consonant-strong syllables. You want the first /ə/ to be relaxed, then a firm /ˈfɛn/ with a short, precise /d/ before the final /ɪd/. Confusion often comes from treating -ed as a separate syllable or letting the final /d/ blend too softly. Keep the sequence tight and audible: /əˈfɛn.dɪd/.
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- US: rhoticity makes /r/ absent in this word, but US intonation tends to rise slightly on the stressed syllable in questions; keep the /ə/ relaxed. - UK: crisper articulation on /ɪd/ ending and stronger enunciation of /f/; avoid overly rounded /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ in the first syllable. - AU: tends to a more centralized vowel in /ə/, flatter intonation, and possible vowel merging with /e/; maintain the /fɛn/ sharpness and clear /d/ before /ɪd/. IPA references: /əˈfɛn.dɪd/ across accents, with subtle vowel shifts.
Offended comes from Old French offendir, from Latin offendere, meaning to strike against or to hit towards. The prefix ‘of-’ expresses ‘toward’ or ‘against,’ while the stem ‘fendere’ (to strike, strike against) relates to the Latin verb figere meaning to fix or pierce and to offend, offend- then reinterpreted. The Middle English form offended appeared in the 15th century via Anglo-French influence, maintaining the sense of being struck morally or emotionally. Over time, “offend” broadened from a physical sense of being struck or harmed to a social sense of affront, insult, or moral injury. By the 17th–18th centuries, “offended” frequently described emotional injury from language or behavior, evolving to encompass psychological affront rather than just literal harm. In modern usage, “offended” remains common in everyday speech, media commentary, and legal/ethical discussions about offense, accountability, and social norms.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Offended" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Offended" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Offended"
-ded sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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