rij-OYST
/ɹɪˈdʒɔɪst/
rejoiced is pronounced rij-OYST (/ɹɪˈdʒɔɪst/). Rejoiced is the past tense of rejoice, meaning to feel or show great joy or delight. It denotes a previously expressed feeling of happiness, often through celebration or favorable news, and is used in writing to convey that cheer or exultation occurred in the past.
Rejoiced is the past tense of rejoice, meaning to feel or show great joy or delight. It denotes a previously expressed feeling of happiness, often through celebration or favorable news, and is used in writing to convey that cheer or exultation occurred in the past.
"When she heard the news, she rejoiced with her teammates."
"The crowd rejoiced as the team clinched the victory."
"He rejoiced at finally finishing the long project."
You pronounce it as /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: ri-JOIST. Start with a light /r/ and a quick /ɪ/ following it, then the /dʒ/ sound as in judge, followed by the /ɔɪ/ diphthong like in oil, and end with the /st/ cluster. A good audio reference is standard dictionaries or pronunciation platforms to hear the exact cadence.
Common errors include turning /dʒ/ into a simple /j/ sound (rejoist) or misplacing stress to the first syllable (REJOIST). Some learners reduce /ɔɪ/ to a short /ɔ/ or /oɪ/ with weak emphasis, sounding like “reh-joist.” To correct: emphasize the /dʒ/ as a single affricate, keep /ɪ/ before the diphthong, and place primary stress on the second syllable: ri-JOIST.
In US, UK, and AU, the /r/ is pronounced in rhotic accents, affecting the onset of the word. The /ɪ/ is often reduced to a schwa in rapid speech for some speakers (less likely in careful speech). The /ɔɪ/ diphthong quality can vary: US tends toward a strong /ɔɪ/ glide, UK can have a slightly more centralized or centralized vowel, and AU may show more vowel diphthongization with subtle timing differences. Stress remains on the second syllable across accents.
The difficulty lies in the /dʒ/ cluster right after /r/ and the /ɔɪ/ diphthong’s precise glide into /st/. Beginners often misplace the tongue for /dʒ/ or insert an extra vowel before the /dʒ/, and may flatten the diphthong, producing /ɔː/ or /ɔːɪ/. Practice the sequence ri- + /dʒɔɪ/ + st, emphasize the second syllable, and keep the final /st/ crisp to avoid a run-on ending.
The combination of the /ɪ/ sound before the /dʒ/ and the /ɔɪ/ glide requires careful timing; the transition from the /dʒ/ to the /ɔɪ/ should be smooth, not broken into two syllables. Also, the /st/ at the end demands a light, precise release after the glide, avoiding a drawn-out or muted ending. Keeping the mouth ready for /dʒ/ immediately after /ɪ/ helps crisp articulation.
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Rejoiced comes from the Old French rejoisir meaning to exult, from the re- prefix (again) + joie (joy). The English form emerged in Middle English as rejoicen (late 14th century) evolving into rejoiced by the 16th century. The root joie traces to Latin gaudia and Greek gaudium, all denoting joy. The term consolidated its sense of happiness in response to favorable circumstances and events. Over time, rejoiced maintained its sense of expressed emotion in the past tense, often in literary or formal narration. The pronunciation standardized along with English vowel shifts, though regional accents influence the final glide and vowel quality in the -oiced ending. First known use is documented in 14th–16th century English writings, with the modern spelling stabilizing by the 17th century. The word reflects the cultural emphasis on outward display of happiness following joyous occasions, as seen in religious and secular texts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "rejoiced" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "rejoiced" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "rejoiced"
-ted sounds
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