Pledge (noun): a solemn promise or assurance, often backed by a commitment or oath. It can denote a formal guarantee or an pledge to support a cause, an organization, or a person. In everyday use, it captures a vow of intention and fidelity, sometimes with legal or ceremonial connotations.
- You might insert an extra vowel between /d/ and /ʒ/, producing /pledʒə/. To fix: practice the tight /dʒ/ release—no vowel between, keep the tongue ready for the affricate. - Another mistake is misplacing the vowel as /æ/ (like cat) or /ɛdʒ/ with a longer vowel. Focus on maintaining /ɛ/ and a quick, crisp /dʒ/. - The final /dʒ/ can be softened if you add voicing noise; keep it strong and brief, ending with a hard touch of the tongue to the alveolar ridge. - Some learners overly emphasize the /l/ or slide into /ple/ with a diphthong; keep the sequence tight: /p/ + /l/ + /ɛ/ + /dʒ/; no extra movement.
- US: rhotic, crisp /r/ may influence surrounding consonants in connected speech; keep a clear alveolar /l/ and avoid vowel reduction before /dʒ/. /ɛ/ is steady, not centralized. - UK: may have a slightly tenser /ɛ/ and crisper /dʒ/; keep lips relaxed and jaw forward for natural /dʒ/ release. - AU: tends to mirror US pronunciation with minimal vowel shift; maintain even tempo and avoid drawing out the vowel—keep it short and precise. IPA reference: /plɛdʒ/.
"- He made a pledge to donate annually to the charity."
"- The students took a pledge to study honestly and hard."
"- She gave her pledge to uphold the constitution."
"- The company issued a pledge to reduce emissions by 30% in five years."
Pledge comes from the Old French pledge, from pledzir ‘to pledge, promise, ransom,’ which in turn derives from the Frankish *pleidjan* meaning to be bound by an oath, or to entertain as security. The term entered Middle English around the 14th century as a loanword associated with security or a guarantee, evolving from the idea of pledging one’s word or an object as security. The original concept was legal and ceremonial—an oath or bond given to secure trust or allegiance. Over centuries, pledge broadened to include non-legal promises of support, loyalty, or commitment, and in modern usage it frequently signals a formal commitment (as in fundraising pledges) or a personal vow (as in moral pledges). The evolution reflects social and legal practices that tie one’s word to responsibility, trust, and obligation. First known use in English appears in medieval legal contexts, where a pledge often involved a tangible security deposited to guarantee performance or payment, later expanding into personal declarations of intent.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Pledge" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pledge" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pledge" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Pledge"
-dge sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pledge is pronounced as /plɛdʒ/ in US/UK/AU. It is a single syllable with a clear /p/ release, /l/ with a light touch, /ɛ/ as in bed, and the final /dʒ/ as in judge. Stress is on the only syllable. Tip: avoid a schwa in the middle; keep the vowel stable, and end with a crisp /dʒ/ without voicing it as a separate syllable.
Common errors include adding an extra vowel after the /dʒ/ (saying /plɛdʒə/), or turning the final /dʒ/ into a simple /j/ or /ʒ/ sound (saying /pleð͡ʒ/ or /pledʒ/). Another frequent mistake is confusing /ɛ/ with /æ/ as in cat. Correct by keeping a single, tight vowel /ɛ/ and finishing with the voiced affricate /dʒ/—mouth closes quickly, lips relaxed, tongue behind top teeth, then a sharp release.
In all three accents, /plɛdʒ/ is standard, but rhoticity influences surrounding vowels in connected speech. US and AU tend to maintain a tighter, quicker /dʒ/ release; UK may show a slightly crisper /d͡ʒ/ with subtle vowel length variations. The main difference is vowel quality before /dʒ/: US/AU often have a marginally tenser /ɛ/, while some UK varieties may approach /eɪ/ in rapid speech. The core /pl/ onset and /dʒ/ coda remain consistent.
The challenge centers on the abrupt transition from the alveolar /d/ to the /ʒ/ affricate, producing a rapid /dʒ/ sequence. Learners may produce a voiceless /tʃ/ or an /ʒ/ alone. Focus on a clean, single /dʒ/ release with full voicing, and avoid inserting a vowel between /d/ and /ʒ/. Lip and tongue: keep the tongue tip behind the upper teeth, relax the lips for the /ʒ/ portion, and finish with a tight, brief /dʒ/ closure.
The unique challenge is maintaining a compact, one-syllable vowel before a voiced affricate while avoiding vowel epenthesis. Many speakers add a weak schwa after /d/ or slow the release, making it multi-syllabic. Practice by gliding from a tight /l/ to /ɛ/ into an immediate /dʒ/ release, keeping the jaw steady and the tongue ready for the /dʒ/ burst. This keeps the word compact and natural in fluent speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Pledge"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying /plɛdʒ/ in phrases (pledge drive, pledge card) and imitate the rhythm, keeping the same syllabic weight. - Minimal pairs: /pleɪdʒ/ vs /plɛdʒ/ (not a real word, but practice differentiating /eɪ/ vs /ɛ/ in the vowel before /dʒ/). Use words like “pledge” vs “pledges” vs “plage” to refine texture; focus on /pl/ onset and /dʒ/ closure. - Rhythm: pair with a strong beat to ensure the one-syllable word slots neatly into fluent speech. - Stress: as a one-syllable noun, there’s no stress variation, but in sentences, stress content words around it affects perception; keep it natural. - Recording: record saying “a pledge” in rapid discourse and compare to a professional sample; note the duration of the vowel and the crispness of /dʒ/. - Context use: insert into 2-3 context sentences to practice in real conversation.
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