rit-AHR-did
/ɹɪˈtɑɹdɪd/
retarded is pronounced rit-AHR-did (/ɹɪˈtɑɹdɪd/). A controversial term historically used to describe people with intellectual disabilities; in modern usage it is offensive and pejorative. In clinical language it once referred to a developmental delay, but it is largely avoided in professional settings due to stigmatizing connotations. The word's impact lies in its demeaning social usage rather than its clinical meaning, prompting a move toward respectful terminology.
A controversial term historically used to describe people with intellectual disabilities; in modern usage it is offensive and pejorative. In clinical language it once referred to a developmental delay, but it is largely avoided in professional settings due to stigmatizing connotations. The word's impact lies in its demeaning social usage rather than its clinical meaning, prompting a move toward respectful terminology.
- You might tilt the rhythm too evenly; the second syllable should have stronger emphasis. - Some speakers merge the middle vowels, producing a less distinct /tɑːr/; keep the /t/ as a clear stop before /ɑː/. - Far too often, the final /d/ is weak or unreleased; ensure a crisp /d/ to finish. - Avoid pronouncing as 'reh-TARD' or 'ri-TAH-rid' with the wrong stress. - Work on avoiding a prolonged /ɪ/ at the end; end with a crisp /d/.
"The term is considered outdated and offensive in most educational settings."
"Using 'retarded' in casual conversation can alienate or hurt others."
"Advocacy groups work to replace the term with person-first language like 'intellectual disability.'"
US: /rɪˈtɑːr.dɪd/ or /rɪˈtɑː.dɪd/ with primary stress on the second syllable. UK: /rɪˈtɑː.dɪd/ with similar stress pattern; Australian: /rɪˈtɑː.dɪd/ with the same rhythm. In careful speech, the final -ed is pronounced as /dɪd/ or /d/. Focus on the /t/ to a light, aspirated stop before /ɑː/, and keep the syllable timing even. Audio reference: search for [retarded pronunciation] in dictionaries or Forvo for standard speaker recordings.
Common mistakes: misplacing the stress (not stressing the second syllable), merging the two middle vowels into a single schwa, or pronouncing the second syllable as /ˈtɑːrd/ with a silent final /d/. Correction: keep /ɪ/ in the first syllable, place primary stress on /ˈtɑːr/ (second syllable), then pronounce final /dɪd/ or /d/. Practice by isolating syllables: re-TAH-rid (approx) and then align with natural rhythm: re-TAR-ded, and ensure a clear /t/ before /ɑː/.
US: rhotic, with /r/ in onset, stress on the second syllable; clear /ɑː/ in 'tar' and a final /dɪd/ or /d/. UK: non-rhotic? Most speakers still pronounce /r/ at the end of syllables only before a vowel, so /ˈrɪˌtɑː.dɪd/ with slightly lighter /r/ and tighter vowels. AU: similar to US but with clipped vowels and a more fronted /ɪ/ in the first syllable. IPA references align with regional vowel shifts; the main variation is rhoticity and //ɜ/ vs //æ/ in certain speakers.
Two main challenges: 1) strong consonant cluster between syllables (t, r) can trap the tongue; 2) vowel quality: the 'tar' vowel requires an open-mid back vowel /ɑː/ with a long duration; the consonant /t/ before it should be aspirated but not overly forceful. Additionally, the final /ɪd/ or /d/ needs crisp release to avoid sounding like /d/. Focus on releasing the /t/ into /ɑː/ and finishing with a clear /d/.
There are no silent letters in standard pronunciation. The word has four phonemes across four letters but arranged as three syllables: re-TAR-ed. The main stress falls on the second syllable: /riˈtɑːr.dɪd/. The challenges are ensuring the /t/ is released into the /ɑː/ cleanly and not turning into a flap or glottal stop in rapid speech. The final /dɪd/ often reduces to /dɪd/ in careful speech; in fast speech it may reduce slightly, but avoid dropping the final /d/.
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- US: rhotic accent; keep the /r/ consonant after the first syllable subtly, if present; /ɜ/ or /ə/ not present in 'retarded' under most dialects; focus on a clear /ɑː/ and final /d/. - UK: may drop some rhotics; ensure non-rhotic stability of /r/ in the coda; the /ɪ/ is clearer at the end; - AU: similar to US but with more centralized vowel qualities; keep the /ɜ/ or /ə/ under control in the final syllable. - IPA references: US /rɪˈtɑːr.dɪd/, UK /rɪˈtɑː.dɪd/, AU /rɪˈtɑː.dɪd/.
Retarded comes from Middle English retarderen, which itself derives from the Old French retarder, meaning to slow down or delay. The root retarde means 'to make late' from Latin retardare, with re- (again, back) and tardus (late). The term entered English medical usage in the 19th century to indicate delay in development or progression, particularly in mental development. By the mid-20th century, it was commonly used to denote a cluster of intellectual disabilities; however, due to its derogatory connotations, professional medical and educational communities began steering away from it. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, disability rights movements advocated for respectful, person-first language and precise diagnostic terms (for example, intellectual disability or developmental delay), resulting in a sharp decline in clinical acceptance. First known use in English appears in medical contexts in the 1840s. Over time, the word shifted from clinical neutrality to a pejorative insult in many communities, especially in the United States, leading to its legal and social stigmatization and eventual disfavor in formal discourse. Contemporary usage emphasizes caution and sensitivity, with preferred terms focusing on the person rather than a label.
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Words that rhyme with "retarded"
-ard sounds
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