2 syllables: Sev, ered. Stress on Sev.
SEV-urd
/ˈsɛvɚd/
Severed is pronounced SEV-urd (/ˈsɛvɚd/). It has two syllables (Sev-ered), with the stress on "Sev". Severed is an adjective meaning cut off or detached, especially by force. It describes something that has been separated from a whole, often with a sense of abruptness or violence, such as a severed limb or severed ties. The term conveys a strong, discrete separation rather than a gradual detachment.
adjectiveSevered is an adjective meaning cut off or detached, especially by force. It describes something that has been separated from a whole, often with a sense of abruptness or violence, such as a severed limb or severed ties. The term conveys a strong, discrete separation rather than a gradual detachment.
"The severed rope dangled from the dock after the storm."
"After the fight, they had severed all contact with each other."
"The severed cable left the city without power for hours."
Pronounce as /ˈsɛvərd/ in US English or /ˈsevərd/ in many UK contexts, with stress on the first syllable. Start with a short front-open 'seh' sound, then a light 'v' with the bottom lip touching the upper teeth, and finish with a clear 'd' release. The second syllable is reduced in rapid speech, sounding like -ərd. Mouth position: lips relaxed, teeth lightly touching for v, vocalized schwa in the second syllable in non-stressed form. Audio example references: Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries provide native pronunciations. listening to Forvo could help you hear regional variants.
Common errors include misplacing the stress by saying sev-ERD or RE-verd, and voicing the second syllable incorrectly (like /ˈsɛvərd/ vs /ˈsevrəd/). Another frequent issue is blending the final d into an intrusive -ed sound in fast speech, making it sound like 'sever' or 'sever-ed' without the clear final /d/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, ensure a crisp /v/ with a voiced bilabial fricative, and finish with a clear /d/ release; allow a light schwa in the unstressed second syllable when appropriate.
In US English, /ˈsɛvərd/ with a rhotacized second syllable often as /-ərd/ and a clear /d/ end. UK English typically features /ˈsevə(d)/ with a reduced second syllable to a schwa and a less pronounced final consonant in some dialects. Australian English also shows a reduced second syllable to a schwa and a clear final /d/; vowel quality in the first syllable remains fronted. In all, the main variation is the degree of rhotacization and the vowel quality in the second syllable; phonetic realization remains close to /ˈsɛvərd/ with final /d/. IPA references help distinguish subtle vowel shifts across regions.
The difficulty lies in the transition from the stressed first syllable with a tense /ɛ/ to the unstressed second syllable with a reduced vowel, often merging into a schwa, while ending with a crisp /d/. Learners may trip over the 'v' articulation and the subtle cue of preserving voicing in the final /d/ when the preceding vowel shortens. Practice focusing on the strong /ˈsɛ/ onset, ensuring the /v/ is a distinct bilabial fricative, and finishing with a clear /d/ release to avoid a stop-avoidance drift.
Why does the second syllable of severed often sound like -ərd rather than -ered in many accents? The answer is vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. In rapid speech or non-stressed positions, English speakers reduce vowels to a mid-central schwa or near-close schwa. This reduces the clarity of the second syllable, producing a softer, quicker -ərd cluster. Understanding this helps you practice timing: keep the stressed first syllable crisp, and let the second syllable remain reduced but audible, especially the /ər/ part, before the final /d/.
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Severed comes from the verb sever, which derives from the Latin separare meaning to separate, cut apart, or set apart. The Latin root separ- means ‘apart’ or ‘asunder,’ with the suffix -are indicating an action. The Old French severer contributed to English, influencing senses related to cutting or dividing. The passive participle severed enters English c. 15th century as a descriptor for something that has been cut off or detached. Over time, the sense broadened beyond literal physical cutting to include severing relationships, ties, or connections. The core semantic shift centers on abrupt separation rather than gradual division; the word maintains a concrete image of something that has been violently or decisively detached. Today, severed is common in both literal physical contexts and metaphorical uses, including law or storytelling, where a severed connection or severed limb are used to convey an immediate break or rupture. It preserves the strong, action-oriented feel of “to sever,” emphasizing completion of the separation rather than ongoing change. The word’s prevalence in modern usage reflects enduring concerns with rupture, boundary, and consequence, reinforcing its visceral connotation of decisive disconnection.
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Words that rhyme with "Severed"
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