teezd
/tizd/
teased is pronounced teezd (/tizd/). Teased is the past tense of tease, meaning to joke or mock someone in a playful or hurtful way. It can also mean to pull at something gently to test or provoke it. In everyday use, it often conveys light humor, but context can determine whether the teasing is friendly or mean-spirited.
Teased is the past tense of tease, meaning to joke or mock someone in a playful or hurtful way. It can also mean to pull at something gently to test or provoke it. In everyday use, it often conveys light humor, but context can determine whether the teasing is friendly or mean-spirited.
"She teased her brother about his haircut, smiling as he pretended to be annoyed."
"The cat teased the mouse, swishing its tail before pouncing."
"He teased apart the tangled string, teasing out the loose ends."
Pronounce it as /tiːzd/ with a long 'ee' vowel. The first syllable carries primary stress because the word is a one-syllable base past tense; the final sound is a voiced 'z' plus a soft 'd' closure. In practice, you’ll hear a smooth /tiːz/ + /d/ blend in fluent speech. Audio reference: common dictionary entries provide native speaker pronunciations; you can compare with Forvo or YouGlish to hear variations in rapid speech.
Common errors include shortening the vowel to a lax /ɪ/ or /i/ (tezd instead of teezd), and pronouncing the final cluster too abruptly as /zɪd/ or /tiz d/. Some speakers insert an extra syllable (e.g., te-ased) due to over-enunciating; others voice the /z/ without the following /d/, yielding /tiːz/. Correct practice keeps the long /iː/ in the first part and ends with a concise /d/ after /z/, producing /tiːzd/ with a light tongue-closure for the /d/.
In US and UK, the core /tiːzd/ is similar, but rhymes and vowel quality slightly differ due to surrounding accent on the diphthong vs pure long /iː/. US speakers may have a little stronger vowel length before the /z/, UK speakers might have crisper alveolar /d/ release in rapid speech. Australian speakers keep the same vowel but often a more relaxed final /d/ or a lighter release, sometimes sounding almost like /tiːz(d)/ with reduced aspiration on the /d/.
The challenge lies in maintaining the long /iː/ vowel quality while transitioning quickly from the /z/ to the final /d/. The /z/ is voiced, so you should feel vibration in the teeth-alveolar region; the /d/ must be a soft, brief closure to avoid a harsh ending. In rapid speech, the transition from /z/ to /d/ can blur; exercise helps keep the boundary distinct while staying fluid.
No silent letters here. Teased is pronounced with all letters: the initial /t/ or rather the leading stop blends into /iː/; the /z/ is voiced and the /e/ is part of the long vowel /iː/. The spelling reflects the /tiːzd/ pronunciation; there’s no silent letter, and the final -ed is pronounced as a voiced /d/ in this past tense form.
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Teased comes from the verb tease, which in Middle English was to provoke, wound, or torment. The root word is likely from Old French tauser, meaning to wound or mock, but the exact lineage is unclear. By the 16th century, tease began to encompass playful or provocative joking. The form teased appeared as the simple past tense and past participle in Early Modern English, aligning with regular -ed inflection patterns. Over time, teasing also acquired senses related to pulling apart or separating fibers (as in teasing wool or hair), which metaphorically extended to light-hearted provocation in conversation. First known usage in print cites teasing as a social behavior among peers, evolving into a common everyday verb in modern English with nuances from affectionate to hostile depending on tone and context.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "teased" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "teased" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "teased"
-sed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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