One syllable: Passed.
past
/pæst/
Passed is pronounced past (/pæst/). It has one syllable (Passed), with the stress on "Passed". Passed is an adjective describing something that has already occurred or been completed, often implying success or approval (e.g., a passed exam). In pronunciation terms, it is formed from the verb pass in past participle form and compacted into a single syllable in many dialects. The meaning shift from action to descriptor is common in English adjectives derived from verbs.
adjectivePassed is an adjective describing something that has already occurred or been completed, often implying success or approval (e.g., a passed exam). In pronunciation terms, it is formed from the verb pass in past participle form and compacted into a single syllable in many dialects. The meaning shift from action to descriptor is common in English adjectives derived from verbs.
"The exam results are passed and posted online."
"She showed a passed threshold of requirements for the grant."
"A passed milestone marks the project’s completion."
Pronounced with a single syllable: US /pæst/, UK/AU /pɑːst/. Start with a bilabial stop /p/, then a short lax front vowel, followed by /st/ with a crisp alveolar stop release. The final cluster is crisp; avoid adding a /t/ vowel after. In connected speech, the vowel may reduce slightly before /st/, but keep the /p/ and /st/ together for a clean, single-syllable word. Audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo can model the exact tongue position.
Common errors include turning /æ/ into a longer /eɪ/ or /ɑː/ in some accents, adding an extra syllable as in /ˈpæ.sɪd/ or inserting a vowel between /p/ and /st/. Also a mis-timed /t/ release can make it sound like /pæstɪd/ or /pæst/ with an abrupt stop. Correction: keep the /p/ + /æ/ (or /ɑː/) + /st/ sequence tight, with a single, quick /t/ release and no additional vowel. Practicing with minimal pairs helps lock the cluster.
US: /pæst/ with short, lax vowel and a crisp consonant cluster. UK/AU: /pɑːst/ or /pɑːst/ in non-rhotic varieties; vowel is longer, not reducing to a short /æ/. The final /t/ remains unreleased or softly released depending on speed; the /r/ is not rhotic in UK, none in AU as well. In fast speech, some speakers blend the vowel and /st/, but the key is maintaining a single-syllable, compact sound in all: /pæst/ or /pɑːst/.
Two main challenges: the vowel duration difference (short /æ/ vs long /ɑː/ across dialects) and the /st/ cluster where the /t/ can emulsify into a light release or be overemphasized in some speech patterns. Avoid adding vowels or breaking the cluster. Focus on a tight onset /p/ and a clean /st/ release; practice with minimal pairs to feel the timing between /p/ and /st/.
No silent letters in the standard pronunciation. The word is a single syllable with a clear /p/ onset, vowel, and /st/ final cluster. Some speakers may reduce the vowel slightly in rapid speech, but there is no silent letter. Visualize the sequence as P + /æ/ or /ɑː/ + ST, with a brisk /t/ release.
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The word passed originates from the verb pass, with the adjectival use developing in Middle English as a past participle modifier. It follows a common pattern in English where a past participle becomes a descriptive adjective (e.g., broken, fallen). The core verb pass derives from Latin pel/ple, via Old French passer, connoting movement or crossing. Over centuries, the term expanded to indicate successful completion of a test, boundary crossing, or transfer of state. In early usage, “passed” frequently described literal crossing or overtaking; by the 16th–17th centuries, it gained broader metaphorical senses such as approval or adequacy. The modern sense of “having met a standard or requirement” became dominant in education, compliance, and regulatory speech, while still preserving the original sense of transition or movement. First known uses appear in legal and scholastic texts where a student “has passed” an exam or a boundary, gradually entering common vernacular as an evaluative descriptor.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Passed" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Passed" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Passed"
-sed sounds
-hed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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