SLAY-tid
/ˈsleɪtɪd/
slated is pronounced SLAY-tid (/ˈsleɪtɪd/). Slated is the past participle and adjective form of the verb slate, meaning scheduled or planned in advance. It also functions as a past-tense verb in some contexts, indicating that something was planned or scheduled for a particular time. The word carries a neutral to formal tone and is commonly used in planning, news, and organizational contexts.
Slated is the past participle and adjective form of the verb slate, meaning scheduled or planned in advance. It also functions as a past-tense verb in some contexts, indicating that something was planned or scheduled for a particular time. The word carries a neutral to formal tone and is commonly used in planning, news, and organizational contexts.
"The project is slated for completion by December."
"They announced the event is slated to begin at noon."
"The new policy was slated to take effect next month."
/slˈeɪtɪd/ with primary stress on the first syllable. Begin with an open-mid back unrounded vowel /eɪ/ as in 'say,' then a clear /t/ followed by a weak 'd' syllable /ɪd/. The mouth starts relaxed, tongue high for /l/ and then alveolar /t/. In connected speech you may hear a light or flapped t in rapid contexts. IPA guides: US/UK/AU share /ˈsleɪtɪd/.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing the /l/ or turning /sleɪ/ into /slei/ by delaying the /l/ release; (2) devoicing or dropping the final /d/ making it sound like /ˈsleɪtɪ/ in fast speech. Correction: keep a crisp alveolar /t/ release before a final voiced stop, even in fluent speech. Practice the sequence /s/ + /l/ + /eɪ/ + /t/ + /ɪd/ slowly, then speed up while maintaining the /t/ release and a faint /d/ voicing.
All three accents share /ˈsleɪtɪd/. In US, the /r/ is not involved here; rhoticity doesn't affect this word because it lacks /r/. UK speakers may have a crisper /t/ release and slightly unreleased /d/ in rapid speech. Australian English often reduces the final /ɪd/ to an closer /ɪd/ with a lighter /d/ and more of a syllabic /t/ in rapid speech. The vowel /eɪ/ remains close to the diphthong here in all varieties.
The difficulty lies in the rapid sequence of alveolar sounds: /s/ + /l/ + /eɪ/ + /t/ + /ɪd/. The tricky part is crisp /t/ release before an intervening /ɪ/ vowel, which can blur into /d/ or merge with the next sound in fast speech. Maintaining the clear alveolar stop and a distinct /ɪd/ suffix while keeping the /l/ fluent requires light tongue-tip contact and precise timing.
Yes—focus on the /t/ release and the schwa-like /ɪ/ in the second syllable; even though /ɪ/ is short, it should be audible. Think of it as /s/ + /l/ + /eɪ/ + /t/ + /ɪd/: keep the /t/ distinctly released, then a quick, concise /ɪd/. This helps prevent blending /t/ with /ɪ/ and preserves the word’s percussion-like cadence.
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US: rhoticity not affecting this word; aim for a bright, slightly longer /eɪ/ and a clear /t/ release. UK: crisper /t/ and more precise /l/; may sound a touch more clipped. AU: slight rounding of /ɪ/ resembles /ə/ in some speakers; ensure the /ɪ/ is audible and the /d/ lands cleanly. IPA reminders: /ˈsleɪtɪd/. Common features: keep /l/ light and alveolar; ensure strong initial /s/ to drive the word; maintain a crisp /t/ before the /ɪd/.
Slated comes from slate, originally referring to a flat slab of slate used as a writing surface. The verb sense—to slate something—emerged in British English in the 18th and 19th centuries as a metaphor: items written on a slate are arranged and scheduled. The figurative shift broadened to mean “to set down for execution or consideration,” akin to marking something on a schedule. The adjective form
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "slated" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "slated" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "slated"
-ted sounds
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