2 syllables: Tri, ad. Stress on Tri.
TREYE-ad
/ˈtɹaɪˌæd/
Triad is pronounced TREYE-ad (/ˈtɹaɪˌæd/). It has two syllables (Tri-ad), with the stress on "Tri". Triad is a noun meaning any group of three closely related or connected people or things, often forming a set or system. In music, it refers to a three-note chord built from the root, third, and fifth. The term is used in contexts from sociology and politics to criminology, math, and geometry to describe tripartite relationships or structures.
nounTriad is a noun meaning any group of three closely related or connected people or things, often forming a set or system. In music, it refers to a three-note chord built from the root, third, and fifth. The term is used in contexts from sociology and politics to criminology, math, and geometry to describe tripartite relationships or structures.
"The triad of factors—income, education, and health—shaped the study's conclusions."
"In music class we analyzed a C major triad composed of C, E, and G."
"The crime unit investigated a triad involved in organized activity."
Pronounce it as /ˈtraɪ.æd/ in US and UK, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a clear /t/ release, then the /raɪ/ diphthong (as in 'try'), followed by a short /æ/ like 'cat' and a final /d/. In fast speech you can reduce the middle vowel a touch, but keep the /æ/ distinct. Audio reference: listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce or Cambridge dictionary; repeat slowly until the sequence feels natural.
Two frequent errors are misplacing stress (saying /ˈtraɪ.əd/ with the second syllable stressed) and turning /æ/ into a schwa or a muted vowel. Another error is cluster mishandling of the /tr/ onset, where the /r/ is not retrieved clearly after the /t/. Correct by ensuring the /t/ releases, the /r/ is not elided, and the /æ/ is open and short before the final /d/. Practice with pacing to maintain 2-2-1 mora timing.
In US and UK, /ˈtraɪ.æd/ with a clear /a/ as in 'cat' in the second vowel. Australian English often has a slightly reduced vowel in the second syllable for some speakers, leaning toward a more centralized /ə/ or a slightly broader /æ/ depending on region. Both US and UK rhoticity is present in /ˈtraɪ.æd/, while AU variation may affect the length and vowel height slightly. Maintain the first syllable stress in all three.
The difficulty lies in the two-member vowel transition: the diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable followed by a short open /æ/ in the second, which can blur in fluent speech. The /tr/ cluster also demands a crisp release into the diphthong, not a delayed onset of the /r/. Additionally, many speakers shorten the final /d/ or gloss it into a soft /t/. Focusing on memory of the sequence /t r aɪ æ d/ helps.
A common search question is whether the word has a silent letter or unexpected stress. It does not; the stress is on the first syllable: TRI-ad. The phonetic challenge is maintaining a sharp /t/ onset and a precise /æ/ before the final /d/ in casual speech where vowels may reduce. Practice with a slow pace and explicit articulation to keep the triplet of sounds distinct: /t/ + /raɪ/ + /æd/.
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Triad comes from the prefix tri- meaning 'three' plus the noun -ad, from Latin triādēs, ultimately from Greek triadēs (threefold, triple), formed from tri- (three) and -adēs (count, set, group). The term appeared in English in the 16th century with mathematical and musical uses and broadened through sociology, criminology, and organizational contexts to denote any set or group of three objects or people. The sense of a connected trio or alliance—often with a sense of formal or formalized grouping—emerged in scientific and cultural discourse in the 19th and 20th centuries, aligning with fields that describe tripartite structures (e.g., triads in music, triads in political alliances, or triads in social networks). First known uses appeared in translations of Greek works and Latin mathematical texts where triads described triple relationships, and later in English texts to describe three-part chords and three-party coalitions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Triad" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Triad" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Triad"
-aid sounds
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