skawrd
/skɔɹd/
scored is pronounced skawrd (/skɔɹd/). Scored is the past tense verb meaning to gain or achieve something, typically by obtaining marks, points, or a goal. It also functions as an adjective describing something that has been marked or evaluated. The word centers on the /skɔːrd/ sound in many dialects and often blends with surrounding consonants in connected speech.
Scored is the past tense verb meaning to gain or achieve something, typically by obtaining marks, points, or a goal. It also functions as an adjective describing something that has been marked or evaluated. The word centers on the /skɔːrd/ sound in many dialects and often blends with surrounding consonants in connected speech.
"She scored a goal in the final minutes of the game."
"The exam results scored high marks for clarity and accuracy."
"The artist scored the canvas with a series of fine lines."
Pronounce it as /skɔːrd/ in US, UK, and AU. Start with /s/, then /k/ and the rounded open-mid back vowel /ɔː/; finish with a light /rd/ cluster where the /r/ is followed quickly by a dark /d/. In connected speech, the final /d/ can be lightly released or almost devoiced in rapid talk. Mouth position: lips rounded for /ɔː/, tongue high back near the velum for /k/ and /r/ depending on accent, tips of the tongue flexing for /d/. IPA helps: US /skɔɹd/ (rhotic), UK /skɔːd/, AU /skɔːd/.
Common errors include mispronouncing the vowel as a short /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ instead of /ɔː/ in non-rhotic accents, and converting the final /rd/ into /r/ or a syllabic /d/ like /ɹd/ or /ɖ/. Another mistake is weakening the /k/ so it sounds like /ʃ/ or at the end dropping the /d/ entirely in fast speech. To correct: articulate a clear back, rounded /ɔː/ for the vowel, ensure the /k/ is a stop before the /ɔː/, and release the /d/ with a brief, crisp touch while keeping the /r/ (in rhotic accents) or not depending on your accent.
In US, the final /r/ is pronounced before /d/, giving /skɔɹd/ with rhoticity. In UK, many speakers use /skɔːd/ with non-rhoticity, so the /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel. Australian English is typically rhotic but often lacks a strong rhotic /r/ before a consonant, so it can resemble /skɔːd/ with a subtle post-vocalic /ɹ/ coloration. The vowel length and quality remain centered on the /ɔː/ nucleus, with minor shifts depending on regional vowel merging, and the /d/ is released crisply in all accents.
Difficulties stem from the vowel /ɔː/ that can be tense or lax depending on dialect and the compact /rd/ cluster, where the /r/ varies in presence. Non-rhotic speakers may drop the /r/ in British accents, altering the perceived vowel length. The word also features a consonant blend /sk/ before a rounded vowel, which can encourage tongue retraction and lip rounding that feels unfamiliar to learners. Practicing the /ɔː/ in contrast to more common English vowels and stabilizing the /rd/ release with a light alveolar tap can ease mastery.
Yes. In scored, the -ed is not a separate syllable; it completes the word with a single-syllable pronunciation /skɔːrd/. The /d/ at the end is an audible alveolar stop; you must avoid turning it into a silent or gliding sound. In fast speech, the /d/ can be lightly released or slightly merged with the preceding /r/, but you should still hear a crisp end consonant to clearly signal past tense.
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Scored originates from the Old French scor(er) meaning a notch or score, derived from Latin scortum meaning a notch or cut. The term evolved in English to indicate making a mark or notch, especially to record points or grades. By Middle English, score began to imply a tally or record of points within a game or competition. In the 16th and 17th centuries, scoring methods became formalized in sporting and academic contexts, expanding to the verb sense “to gain by scoring.” The spelling with -ed reflects regular past tense formation in English, while the sound shift in some dialects preserves the /ɔː/ vowel or merges toward /ɔːr/ in rhotics. The word’s semantic field widened to include “to determine the value or success of,” seen in phrases like “scored a deal” and “scored well on the test.” Across modern usage, scored consistently conveys marking/punctuating success, achievement, or evaluation, with the core notion of leaving a mark that counts toward a result. First known uses appear in English texts from the 1400s, where “to score” indicated making a notch and tallying progress, a concept that persisted into contemporary sport and grading language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "scored" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "scored"
-ard sounds
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