KWAH-luh-feyed
/ˈkwɑləˌfaɪd/
qualified is pronounced KWAH-luh-feyed (/ˈkwɑləˌfaɪd/). Qualified describes someone who meets the necessary criteria or standards, or something that has been verified or certified. It can apply to people with necessary credentials or to statements that have been appropriately limited or conditioned. In usage, it signals legitimacy or suitability within a given context, often implying both eligibility and competence.
Qualified describes someone who meets the necessary criteria or standards, or something that has been verified or certified. It can apply to people with necessary credentials or to statements that have been appropriately limited or conditioned. In usage, it signals legitimacy or suitability within a given context, often implying both eligibility and competence.
"She is a qualified teacher with a Master’s degree and specialized training."
"Only qualified candidates will be considered for the position."
"The project received funding after a qualified review completed by experts."
Pronounce as /ˈkwɒ.lɪ.faɪd/ in UK English and /ˈkwa.lɪ.faɪd/ in US English; Australian generally follows UK-like rhotic-less and rhotic distinctions depending on speaker. Primary stress on the first syllable: KWAH-lə-fyed. For careful enunciation, start with a strong /ˈkw/ cluster, then /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ (UK) or /oʊ/ (US) depending on vowel rounding, followed by /lɪ/ and the final /faɪd/ as in 'fied' with /aɪ/ as the long I. Listen for a crisp /l/ and a voiced vowel before /f/. Audio reference tips: imagine saying 'kwah' then a quick 'lih,' then 'fied.'
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress by softening the first syllable, resulting in ku-AL-i-fied; (2) Slurring the /ɒ/ to an /ə/ in fast speech, giving /kwə.lɪ.faɪd/ instead of /ˈkwɒ.lɪ.faɪd/ (UK) or /ˈkwa.lɪ.faɪd/ (US); (3) Substituting /faɪ/ with a long /feɪ/ or /fiː/ in the final cluster. Correction tips: keep primary stress on the first syllable, maintain a clear /ɒ/ (UK) or /ɔ/ (US) before /lɪ/; practice with minimal pairs like qualified vs. qualified? focusing on the /ɪ/ vs /iː/ nuance; rehearse the final /aɪd/ with a tight lip rounding to avoid /eɪd/.
US: /ˈkwa.lɪ.faɪd/ with rhotic r-free /kwɪ/ onset? Actually US /ˈkwaː.lə/— keep /ə/ reduced after /l/ and final /aɪd/ clear. UK: /ˈkwɒ.lɪ.faɪd/ with a shorter /ɒ/ and a non-rhotic accent; AU: tends toward /ˈkwɒ.lɪ.faɪd/ with a lighter /r/ absence and vowel qualities similar to UK but often more centralized vowels; all share the primary stress on the first syllable; final /ɪ/ is short before /f/ and /aɪd/ is sustained. Differences mainly appear in vowel quality and rhotacization across dialects.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster /kw/ at the start, the mid- syllable vowel reduction in stressed contexts, and the diphthong /aɪ/ in the final syllable after a light /f/. The transition from the syllable-initial cluster through /l/ to the close final /aɪd/ demands precise tongue positioning and timing; learners commonly misplace the /ɪ/ or merge /lɪ/ with /faɪd/. Practicing the four-part sequence, with slow to normal speed, aids accurate articulation and reduces confusion between the /lɪ/ and /faɪd/ transitions.
People often search for 'how to say qualified' to check the initial /kw/ cluster, the reduction of the second syllable vowel /ɪ/ vs /ə/ in casual speech, and the accurate final /aɪd/. The word also commonly triggers queries about the difference between 'qualified' and 'unqualified' in professional contexts, which influences how speakers emphasize the first syllable and speak the final vowel. Knowing the exact IPA helps you distinguish the subtle /ɪ/ vs /ɪə/ or /ə/ sounds in rapid speech.
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Qualified comes from the verb qualify, which itself derives from the Latin qualificare, meaning to make in a certain degree, to modify, slight, or declare to be of a certain kind. Qualis means of what kind or of such a sort, and -ficare means to make or do. The English noun qualification, and adjective qualified, emerged in the late Middle English period, reflecting the sense of authorizing, conferring credentials, or meeting a standard. The sense evolution moves from “to designate” or “to make fit” to “to certify as meeting requirements” and “to limit or modify a statement” in logical or legal drafting. By the 17th–19th centuries, qualification broadened to include credentials and professional credentials, while in modern usage it also carries nuance of partial limitation (a qualified success) or conditionally true. First known uses appear in legal and scholarly texts, with the sense of conferring legitimacy or eligibility becoming common in professional contexts during the 18th and 19th centuries as standardized credentials and licensing became more formalized.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "qualified" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "qualified" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "qualified"
-lar sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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