speed
/spid/
speed is pronounced speed (/spid/). Speed refers to the rate at which something moves or operates, or the rate of progress in doing something. It can describe physical motion, reaction times, or the tempo of an activity. In everyday use, it often contrasts with accuracy, deliberateness, or control, highlighting quickness as a key attribute in performance, efficiency, or urgency.
Speed refers to the rate at which something moves or operates, or the rate of progress in doing something. It can describe physical motion, reaction times, or the tempo of an activity. In everyday use, it often contrasts with accuracy, deliberateness, or control, highlighting quickness as a key attribute in performance, efficiency, or urgency.
"The car accelerated to 120 mph, showing impressive speed."
"Athletes train to improve both speed and endurance."
"She spoke with alarming speed, making it hard to follow."
Speed is pronounced /spiːd/ in US, UK, and AU English. It has one syllable with a long /iː/ vowel and a final /d/. Start with a light /s/ followed by the tight, high-front vowel, then close with a voiced /d/. Keep the tongue high and forward for the /iː/ and finish with a crisp alveolar /d/ without voicing elongation. IPA: /spiːd/.
Common mistakes include shortening the vowel to a lax /ɪ/ and softening the final /d/ into a whispered or unreleased sound. Some speakers also insert a vowel between /s/ and /p/ in rapid speech, turning it into /spɪːd/ or /speːd/. To correct, maintain the long /iː/ by rounding the lips slightly and ensuring the tongue remains high for the vowel, then release the /d/ crisply without muting it.
Across accents, /spiːd/ remains consistent in vowel quality, but rhoticity and alveloar stop release can vary. US and AU speakers typically produce a clear, unreleased final /d/ with sharper tongue contact, while some UK varieties may have a slightly more lax or rounded /iː/ and a softer /d/. The leading /s/ is consistently voiceless /s/ across accents. Overall, the main difference is subtle vowel duration and voicing of the final consonant.
The challenge lies in producing a precise long /iː/ vowel in a closed syllable with a tight jaw and a crisp, fully released final /d/. Many learners shorten /iː/ toward /i/ or insert a schwa between /s/ and /p/, creating /spiəd/ or /speːd/. Focus on a high front tongue position, minimal lip rounding, and a clean, audible /d/ release. Practicing with minimal pairs helps reinforce the exact vowel length and final consonant timing.
Unique to intensity of the word, you’ll want to keep the mouth and jaw relaxed but precise. The initial /s/ should be hissed rather than swallowed, the /p/ is unaspirated or lightly aspirated depending on the pace, and the /d/ should be fully released if the context calls for emphasis. Tactile guidance: place the tongue just behind the upper teeth for /s/, blow a small burst for /p/, and push the tip to the alveolar ridge for /d/ while releasing with a quick burst. IPA: /spiːd/.
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Speed traces back to the Old English word spede, connected with prosperity and success, from Proto-Germanic sped- (to prosper, to succeed). The broader sense—movement quickly—emerged as the word evolved, aligning with the noun form speed and the adjective speedy. In Middle English, speden appeared in reference to success or fortune in endeavors, gradually shifting toward the measurable rate of motion. The semantic expansion continued through the 16th–18th centuries as mechanical and scientific contexts adopted speed to quantify velocity and tempo. The modern usage crystallized in the 19th century with the advent of speed as a physical quantity in physics and engineering, distinguishing it from velocity by often emphasizing rate of change or ease rather than direction. First known uses are found in texts discussing horses and chariots’ speed, then later in mathematical and scientific treatises describing speed as a scalar quantity representing how much distance is covered per unit of time.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "speed" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "speed" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "speed" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "speed"
-eed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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