SHAT-urd
/ˈʃætɚd/
shattered is pronounced SHAT-urd (/ˈʃætɚd/). Shattered describes something broken into pieces or emotionally overwhelmed, often used to convey a sense of extreme damage or distress. It functions as an adjective and, less commonly, as a participial adjective built from the verb “shatter.” The term conveys both physical fragmentation and a figurative sense of emotional collapse, and is used in formal and informal registers depending on context.
Shattered describes something broken into pieces or emotionally overwhelmed, often used to convey a sense of extreme damage or distress. It functions as an adjective and, less commonly, as a participial adjective built from the verb “shatter.” The term conveys both physical fragmentation and a figurative sense of emotional collapse, and is used in formal and informal registers depending on context.
"The fallen vase left the shelf with shattered fragments on the floor."
"Her voice was shattered by the news, and she could hardly speak."
"The mirror’s shattered surface reflected a million tiny shards."
Shattered is pronounced as /ˈʃætərd/ in US and /ˈʃætəd/ in UK and Australian speech. Start with a stressed SHAT- syllable: the /ʃ/ is like ship, /æ/ is the short as in cat, then a quick schwa-/ə/ or /ər/ before the final /d/. Emphasize the first syllable slightly more; avoid turning the second syllable into a separate stressed beat. You can think: SHAT-erd, with a light, quick second vowel before the /d/. IPA: US /ˈʃætərd/, UK /ˈʃætəd/, AU /ˈʃætəd/.
Two common errors: (1) Over-splitting the syllables or delaying the final /d/, producing SHAT-ER-D instead of a quick, single syllable /ˈʃætərd/. (2) Tensing the /t/ or turning it into a clicky alveolar stop; keep a clean, light /t/ transition into the /ə/ or /ər/ vowel. Correction: maintain a single, brisk glide from /æ/ to /ə/ and end with a crisp final /d/; practice with a quick, almost uncued transition after the stressed syllable.
In US speech you’ll hear /ˈʃætərd/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ in the second syllable as in /ˈʃætərd/. UK speakers often reduce to /ˈʃætəd/ with a non-rhotic trailing vowel and a lighter /ə/; Australian English similarly uses /ˈʃætəd/ but with greater vowel reduction and a possibly longer or shorter /æ/ depending on speaker. Note that rhoticity drives the presence or absence of /ɹ/ in the second syllable, but the key is maintaining the stressed first syllable and the /t/ followed by a short, unstressed vowel.
Two challenges: the sequence /æ-t/ followed by a schwa or rhotacized vowel can trip learners into inserting extra vowels or delaying the /d/. Also, the consonant cluster transition from /t/ to /ə/ or /ər/ can cause a slight glottal stop in some dialects. Practice by articulating: SHA-tərd quickly, with the /t/ moving straight into the vowel, then directly into /d/, avoiding a long pause between /t/ and /ə/.
Shattered uses a strong initial cluster with a crisp /ʃ/ followed by a short, lax /æ/ and then a reduced central vowel in the second syllable. The unique factor is compressing the second syllable into a quick, almost schwa-like sound (American /ər/). Emphasize the first syllable, while the second is quick and light, preventing over-pronunciation of the /æ/ into a heavier vowel.
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Shattered originates from the verb shatter, which has roots in Old French estarter meaning “to scatter, scatter in pieces” and ultimately from Latin schattare, meaning to cut or split. The Middle English form shattered appeared to surface as a past participle-like adjective by the 16th century, reinforcing its role to describe objects broken into parts. The semantic expansion to include emotional collapse likely arose in the 19th century as metaphorical language expanded to describe psychological trauma with the same imagery of fragmentation. Early uses often described physical breakage (glass, pottery) but gradually both printed and spoken English adopted shattered to convey intense emotional state, frequently paired with nouns indicating ruin or distress (shattered dreams, shattered nerves). Today, it is common in both concrete and abstract senses, retaining its core sense of complete disruption and broken integrity within both formal prose and casual speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "shattered" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "shattered"
-red sounds
-ter sounds
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