3 syllables: Prej, u, diced. Stress on Prej.
PREJ-uh-duhst
/ˈpɹɛdʒədəst/
Prejudiced is pronounced PREJ-uh-duhst (/ˈpɹɛdʒədəst/). It has three syllables (Prej-u-diced), with the stress on "Prej". Prejudiced (noun): A person who holds biased, unfounded judgments about others, often based on stereotypes or insufficient information. It describes an attitude or belief rather than an action itself, though it can underpin discriminatory behavior. In everyday use, it flags a predisposed view that resists objective evaluation and fair treatment.
nounPrejudiced (noun): A person who holds biased, unfounded judgments about others, often based on stereotypes or insufficient information. It describes an attitude or belief rather than an action itself, though it can underpin discriminatory behavior. In everyday use, it flags a predisposed view that resists objective evaluation and fair treatment.
How to Pronounce Prejudiced
"The panel rejected the candidate, arguing she was prejudiced against older workers."
"He spoke out against the prejudiced remarks that circulated in the office."
"She admitted she had been prejudiced and pledged to learn more about the culture."
You say /ˈprɛdʒʊdɪst/. Stress is on the first syllable: PREJ-u-dust. Start with a short, clipped /pr/ sound, then the affricate /dʒ/ as in 'jury'. The second syllable uses the lax vowel /ʊ/ like 'put' before the /d/; end with /ɪst/. Tip: blend the 'dʒ' smoothly, not as two separate sounds.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the /dʒ/ so it sounds like /dʒ-ɪ/ or separating it as /d-ʒ/. Correction: keep /dʒ/ as a single palatal sound ending with /ʊ/ transitioning to /dɪst/. 2) Using a longer vowel in the first syllable, e.g., /ˈprɛdʒjuːdɪst/; correction: use a short /ɛ/ as in 'red'. 3) Dropping the final /t/ or making it a flap; correction: clearly articulate /t/ or the final /dɪst/ as t.
US: /ˈprɛdʒʊdɪst/ with rhoticity affecting the /ɚ/ in some related words but not here; UK: /ˈprɛdʒʊdɪst/ similar, but some speakers may reduce the /ɪ/ to a schwa in fast speech; AU: /ˈprɛdʒʊdɪst/ with a slightly less rounded /ʊ/ and quicker consonant cluster; main differences are vowel quality and rhythm, not the consonant sequence.
The difficulty lies in the subtle vowel in the second syllable /ʊ/ after the /dʒ/ blend and the rapid transition into /dɪst/. The /dʒ/ must be a coherent affricate rather than a sequence of /d/ and /ʒ/. Also, keeping the first syllable stressed while not elongating the vowel can be tricky in connected speech.
A key feature is the smooth /dʒ/ cluster following the /r/ onset in 'pre' plus the short, lax /ʊ/ before /dɪst/. Unlike words with a silent letter, 'prejudiced' keeps all letters audible; there is no silent consonant here. The challenge is maintaining crisp /dʒ/ and short /ɪ/ while not sogging the rhythm.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Prejudiced"!
Prejudiced originates from the noun prejudice, which itself comes from the Latin praejudicium, formed from prae- meaning "before" and judicium meaning "judgment" or "decision." The sense developed in English from the idea of a foregone judgment—an opinion formed before evidence or facts were considered. In early modern usage, prejudices were opinions held prior to careful assessment, not necessarily negative. By the 19th and 20th centuries, the term took on the loaded connotation of biased judgments based on stereotypes, often tied to social biases such as race, gender, or class. The adjective prejudiced emerged to describe individuals or attitudes displaying such bias, rather than the abstract concept of prejudice itself. The word has retained its critical social meaning, frequently appearing in discussions of discrimination, civil rights, and social justice. First known use in print as prejudicate or prejudiced appears in the 16th–17th centuries through legal and philosophical writings, with modern common usage cementing in the 20th century as social awareness escalated around bias and its impact on behavior and policy.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Prejudiced" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Prejudiced" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Prejudiced" 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 "Prejudiced"
-ted 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.
