/speɪst/
spaced is pronounced /speɪst/. Spaced is the past tense verb or adjective form of space, meaning arranged or spread out with gaps, or set at fixed intervals. In everyday use it often describes something distributed over an area or time, or a state in which an object has been given space or is not crowded. The term can describe planning (spaced repetition) or physical separation, and emphasizes distribution rather than proximity.
Say it backSpaced is the past tense verb or adjective form of space, meaning arranged or spread out with gaps, or set at fixed intervals. In everyday use it often describes something distributed over an area or time, or a state in which an object has been given space or is not crowded. The term can describe planning (spaced repetition) or physical separation, and emphasizes distribution rather than proximity.
- Mispronouncing the /eɪ/ as a short /e/ (say-sped instead of speɪst). Tackle by exaggerating the diphthong contour at first, then smooth to natural. - Dropping or softening the /t/ (spæst or speast without crisp /t/). Practice with a sharp, brief palate contact for the /t/ and a clean release. - Nasalizing or adding a schwa before /t/ in fast speech (speɪ-st). Use word-final breathing to avoid an extra vowel. - Slurring /s/ into the previous word when linking (e.g., “…spaced out” becoming /ˈspeɪst aʊt/). Separate the words briefly and then link with a precise /t/ release.
"We spaced the chairs evenly around the table."
"The rooms were spaced apart to allow for better airflow."
"She spaced the shelves at regular intervals along the wall."
Pronounce as /speɪst/. The initial consonant cluster is a simple /s/ followed by /p/ without a voicing break, then the diphthong /eɪ/ (as in 'face'), and the final /st/ cluster. The tongue finishes with a light alveolar /s/ release into the voiceless /t/. Stress is on the single syllable by default. The mouth starts with a spread jaw for the /eɪ/ glide, then a short closure before the /st/ tail. A quick pronunciation cue: “spayst” with a crisp /st/ end.
Common mistakes include mispronouncing the /eɪ/ as a short /e/ (spest) or turning /st/ into a /s/ or /t/ only (speest). Another error is inserting an extra vowel before the /st/ (spea-st). Correct by ensuring the /eɪ/ is a true diphthong glide, keep the /s/ and /t/ as a tight consonant cluster with no vowel between, and finish with a crisp alveolar stop. Practice by isolating /speɪst/ in syllables and then blending, using a light burst for the /t/.
In all three, the core is /speɪst/. US tends to be rhotic in related words, but /speɪst/ itself is non-rhotic in most contexts; UK and AU preserve the /æ/ not, but the /eɪ/ is similar. Differences are subtle: US might have a slightly tenser /eɪ/ and a quicker /st/ release; UK often has a lighter, crisper /t/ release; AU can have a taller vowel height in the /eɪ/ and a softer final /t/. Overall, vowel quality rather than the consonants dominates across accents.
Two challenges: the final /st/ consonant cluster requires precise tongue placement to avoid a vowel between /s/ and /t/ and to keep the /t/ voiceless and clear. The /eɪ/ diphthong blends from /e/ to /ɪ/ in a single motion, which can trip learners who over-articulate the second vowel. Additionally, when connected to an adjacent word (e.g., 'spaced out'), connecting speech can blur the boundary, so you must maintain a distinct /t/ release and avoid letting the /d/ bleed in.
No. 'Spaced' is phonemically /speɪst/. There is no silent letter; the 'e' in this case is part of the /eɪ/ diphthong rather than a separate phoneme. The /s/ is pronounced, the /p/ is released, and the final /t/ is audible. Attention to the /p/ release and the /t/ stop helps prevent a mispronunciation where the word sounds like 'speast' or 'sped.'
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- US: /speɪst/ with a relatively tight /t/ and crisp /s/. Vowel /eɪ/ is mid-front; keep jaw moderately open. - UK: slight reduction in final consonant tension; crisp /t/ but can be a light alveolar tap in fast speech depending on region. - AU: /speɪst/ with a slightly higher tongue position for /eɪ/ and sometimes a softer /t/; final consonant can be released with more air. In all, aim for a non-rhotic feel in casual speech but maintain clear /t/ in careful speech. IPA references: /speɪst/.
Spaced comes from space, derived from the Old French espace and Latin spatium, meaning ‘a place or room, extent, or interval.’ The verb form to space emerged in Middle English as a back-formation from “space” in the sense of arrangement or distribution, or from phrases like ‘to space out’ (to fix the spaces between items). The noun sense of space (empty extent) is older, with roots in Proto-Indo-European *sp- meaning to be wide or open. By the 16th–17th centuries, English speakers used spacing to describe the act of placing objects at regular intervals, and later in education and psychology, phrases like spaced repetition gained traction in the 20th century. The adjective sense (space between elements) aligns with the noun’s notion of separation, while modern tech usage (spaced repetition) emphasizes systematic intervals for memory on a schedule.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "spaced" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "spaced"
-ced sounds
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