2 syllables: Quer, ied. Stress on Quer.
KWIR-eed
/ˈkwɪɹid/
Queried is pronounced KWIR-eed (/ˈkwɪɹid/). It has two syllables (Quer-ied), with the stress on "Quer". Queried is the past tense verb meaning to have asked or requested information, typically in a formal or software/search context. It can also mean to question or challenge something, often in a deliberate, investigative manner. In everyday usage, it appears in sentences like “She queried the invoice” or “The system queried the database for matches.”.
verbQueried is the past tense verb meaning to have asked or requested information, typically in a formal or software/search context. It can also mean to question or challenge something, often in a deliberate, investigative manner. In everyday usage, it appears in sentences like “She queried the invoice” or “The system queried the database for matches.”
"She queried the sales report to verify the totals."
"During the call, the customer queried the charges and asked for clarification."
"The auditor queried several entries to ensure accuracy."
Pronounce it as /ˈkwɪərɪd/ (US/UK alike in many contexts), with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with /kw/ as in quick, then /ɪə/ as in near, followed by /r/ lightly, and finish with /ɪd/ as in bid. In careful speech you can hear the two light syllables together: KWIER- id. Audio resources: try Cambridge or Oxford audio pronunciations for a reference, and slow it down to hear the /ɪə/ glide.
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing stress, pronouncing it as QUIER-id with stress on the second syllable; (2) Running the /r/ into the following vowel, producing /ˈkwɪərɪd/ vs /ˈkwɜːrɪd/ under different accents; (3) Deleting the /ɪə/ glide and saying /ˈkwɪrɪd/ or /ˈkweərɪd/. Correction: keep the two-part vowel /ɪə/ after /kw/, land the final /ɪd/ clearly, and ensure the primary stress is on the first syllable. Listen to native pacing and practice slow-to-fast with minimal pairs.
US and UK share the /ˈkwɪərɪd/ pattern when the /ɪə/ glide is preserved; however, rhotic accents may insert a subtle /ɹ/ transition in connected speech, while non-rhotic UK varieties may reduce rhotic coloring. Australian pronunciation often maintains the /ɪə/ cluster but can show a slightly more centralized vowel quality, sometimes sounding closer to /ˈkwɪɹɪd/ with a light /ɹ/ and a shorter /iː/ element depending on speaker.
The challenge lies in the /kw/ onset smoothly transitioning into the /ɪə/ diphthong, then a short, quiet /r/ followed by a clipped /d/. The /ɪə/ glide is easy to merge with adjacent sounds when spoken quickly, causing a loss of the distinct diphthong. It helps to practice with a slow tempo focusing on the glide and final -ed; exaggerate the /ɪə/ then reduce to natural speed as you stabilize the stretch.
A unique aspect is maintaining the two-syllable rhythm without swallowing the /ɪə/ glide or letting the final /d/ become a stop immediately after a closed /r/. For careful enunciation, you should pronounce the second syllable as a short, crisp /ɪd/ after a clear /ɪə/ sequence, ensuring the vowel transition is audible and the /r/ doesn’t overwhelm the final /d/.
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- US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced with a trailing retroflex/approximate /ɹ/; keep it light so the /r/ doesn’t dull the /ɪə/. - UK: less rhoticity; you may hear a non-rhotic /r/ in some contexts; vowels tend to be slightly tenser, with a more pronounced /ɪə/ glide. - AU: more centralized vowel quality; maintain the /ɪə/ glide but be mindful of a softer /ɹ/ and a quicker transition to /ɪd/. IPA references: /ˈkwɪərɪd/ across accents, adjust /ɹ/ presence accordingly.
Queried comes from the verb query, which derives from the Latin quaerere, meaning to seek, seek out, or inquire. The form entered Middle English through the Old French querier, from Latin quaerere. The root quaer- expresses the act of seeking or asking, and the suffix -y/-ied marks the past tense in English usage. In English, -ed forms often reflect regular past tense; in this case, queried is formed with the regular -ed suffix following a final consonant cluster that can affect pronunciation. The word first appears in print in the 15th–16th centuries as a noun or verb related to questioning or making inquiries, and has since broadened to include both human inquiries and computational or database-related searches. In modern English, queried commonly appears in formal, technical, or administrative contexts, including IT, law, journalism, and education, where precise questioning or data retrieval is essential.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Queried" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Queried" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Queried"
-eed sounds
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