4 syllables: Per, sec, u, ted. Stress on Per.
PUR-suh-kyoo-tid
/ˈpɝsəˌkjutɪd/
Persecuted is pronounced PUR-suh-kyoo-tid (/ˈpɝsəˌkjutɪd/). It has four syllables (Per-sec-u-ted), with the stress on "Per". Persecuted is the past participle and simple past form of persecute, meaning to subject someone to hostility or ill-treatment, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs. It carries a formal, often historical tone and is commonly used in legal, human rights, or journalistic contexts to describe ongoing or past acts of oppression. The word implies sustained pressure rather than a single act.
verbPersecuted is the past participle and simple past form of persecute, meaning to subject someone to hostility or ill-treatment, especially because of their race, religion, or beliefs. It carries a formal, often historical tone and is commonly used in legal, human rights, or journalistic contexts to describe ongoing or past acts of oppression. The word implies sustained pressure rather than a single act.
"- Throughout history, minority groups have been persecuted for their beliefs."
"- The refugees were persecuted in their homeland and sought asylum abroad."
"- The regime persecuted dissenters, silencing critics through fear and punishment."
Pronunciation: US /ˌpɝsɪˈkjuːtɪd/ or /pərˈsɛkjuːtɪd/, UK /ˌpɜːsɪˈkjuːtɪd/, AU /ˌpɜːsɪˈkjuːtɪd/. Primary stress on the second syllable in most pronunciations: per-SE- cu-ted, with a light secondary stress on the first syllable. The /ɹ/ or /ɜː/ vowel in the first syllable varies by accent. The /kjuː/ sequence is a critical phoneme cluster that should be smooth, not separate into “kew-tee.” Use a clear /t/ at the end rather than a flap in careful speech.
Common mistakes include: 1) Flattening the /ɜː/ or /ɝ/ to a schwa in US contexts, which weakens the word’s rhythm. 2) Misplacing stress, saying per- SE- cu-ted with the primary stress on the first syllable. 3) Slurring the /tɪd/ into /d/ or /t/, producing a quick “ted” at the end. Corrections: maintain primary stress on the second syllable (per-S E- cu-ted), use a crisp /t/ before the final -ed, and clearly articulate the /juː/ in /kjuː/.
US typically shows /ˌpɝsɪˈkjuːtɪd/ with r-colored vowel in first syllable and a strong /juː/ after /k/. UK often has /ˌpɜːsɪˈkjuːtɪd/ with a longer /ɜː/ and non-rhoticity; the /r/ may be silent. Australian tends to /ˌpɜːsɪˈkjuːtɪd/ with a broad /ɜː/ and clear /tɪd/, some vocalization of // in connected speech. In all, the sequence /kjuː/ remains a critical cluster; ensure it does not degrade into /kjut/ or /kjoo/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm and the /kjuː/ cluster, which demands a precise /kj/ onset followed by a full /uː/ vowel. The mid-to-high unstressed vowels in the first and third syllables can be tricky, especially if you’re not producing clear schwa or reduced vowels. Mastering the blending between /k/ and /juː/ without inserting a vowel from the next syllable is essential.
A unique point for Persecuted is the potential for mistaken pronunciation of the -cu- sequence as /kju/ or /kjuː/; some learners say /pərˈsɛs.kjuː.tɪd/ with too many syllables or misplace the stress. The common slip is treating it like “per-se-cut-ed” with an extra syllable. Keep the second syllable strong and the /kjuː/ cluster intact.
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Persecuted derives from the verb persecute, formed from the Latin persequi ‘to pursue, to chase through’, itself from per- ‘thorough’ + sequi ‘to follow’. The Latin persequi meant to pursue persistently, often with hostile intent. In English, persecute appeared in the 14th–15th centuries, initially in religious or political contexts describing oppression or pursuit of individuals or groups. The term evolved to signify systematic mistreatment or oppression, particularly on the basis of religion, race, or political belief, and later broadened to any sustained harassment. The participial morphology -ed emerged as English adopted regular tense and aspect systems, so persecuted can describe both past actions and as an adjective describing someone who has endured such mistreatment. The word’s resonance grew with human rights discourse in the 19th and 20th centuries, becoming a common descriptor in legal and historical writing about state or societal oppression. Its usage remains highly contextual, often signaling severity, duration, and moral condemnation. First known usages include religious persecutions in medieval Europe and later political persecutions in various regimes, with widespread recognition in modern international law as a condemnable act against fundamental rights.
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Words that rhyme with "Persecuted"
-ted sounds
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