uh-NURND
/əˈnɝnd/
unearned is pronounced uh-NURND (/əˈnɝnd/). Unearned describes something received or obtained without effort, merit, or rightful entitlement. It conveys a sense of illegitimacy or lack of justification, often in financial, social, or moral contexts. The term is common in formal and policy discussions as well as everyday critique of rewards not earned through work or rightful claim.
Unearned describes something received or obtained without effort, merit, or rightful entitlement. It conveys a sense of illegitimacy or lack of justification, often in financial, social, or moral contexts. The term is common in formal and policy discussions as well as everyday critique of rewards not earned through work or rightful claim.
- Misplacing stress: Treat unearned as a two-syllable word with secondary emphasis on the first syllable and primary on the second; avoid saying it as un-ˈearned or ˌun-ˈerned. - Vowel quality mispronunciation: /ɜ/ is a mid-central vowel; avoid mixing with /ɛ/ or /ɪ/. Keep the mouth neutral with moderate jaw drop. - Final consonant blend: Don't add extra vowels before the /nd/ or nasalize the /d/. Ensure a crisp /nd/ closure.
"The board rejected the unearned bonus as unfair to other employees."
"He argued that the success came from luck, not his unearned effort."
"Policies aimed at reducing unearned benefits require careful reform."
Pronounce as /ˌʌnˈɜrnd/. The first syllable is stressed lightly than the second; you start with a schwa-like 'u' then the 'n' consonant, followed by the stressed 'earned' portion where the vowel is a mid back rounded /ɜ/ (like sir) and ends with /nd/. IPA: US /ˌʌnˈɜrnd/, UK/AU /ˌʌnˈɜːnd/. Keep the /r/ resounding but not rolled; the /r/ in -earned is rhotic in US, non-rhotic in some UK accents so make it a soft approximant if non-rhotic.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (saying un-ˈearned), or turning /ɜː/ into /ɜːr/ in non-rhotic dialects. Also sometimes you’ll hear an overemphasized final /d/ or a swallowed /n/ before /d/. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable (ˈɜrn), keep /ɜ/ as a mid-central vowel, and finish with a clear /nd/ sequence without a nasal intrusion. Practice: /ˌʌnˈɜrnd/ with a crisp release on /d/ and not a prolonged /r/ or /n/ blending.
In US, the /ɜ/ in -earned is rhotic and pronounced as /ɜr/ in the stressed syllable, giving /ˌʌnˈɜrnd/. In many UK varieties, especially non-rhotic, the /r/ is not pronounced, yielding /ˌʌnˈɜːnd/, with a longer vowel in the final syllable. Australian English tends to be rhotic but with vowel qualities closer to /ɜː/ in stressed syllables and a lighter /r/. Overall, rhoticity and vowel length differ; ensure you don’t pronounce a strong /r/ in non-rhotic accents where not present.
The difficulty lies in the mid-central vowel /ɜ/ in the stressed syllable and the /r/ follow-through in rhotic dialects. For learners, maintaining the correct tongue position—mid back with minimal lip rounding—and not inserting extra vowels between /n/ and /ɜr/ helps. In non-rhotic accents, you must omit the /r/ sound entirely, which can be tricky for speakers used to rhotic English. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on the /ɜ/ ball-and-socket mouth position.
There are no silent letters in unearned. The word is two syllables: un- and earned, with the 'earned' portion containing a pronounced /ɜː/ (UK) or /ɜr/ (US). The challenge is the /n/ before /ɜ/ and the smooth linking into /nd/. Ensure the 'u' in the first syllable is reduced rather than fully pronounced, and avoid a hard 'e' sound in 'earned'—keep it a single syllable with a clean /ɜ/ nucleus.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "unearned"!
- US: rhotic /r/ after /ɜ/: /ˌʌnˈɜrnd/. Keep the tongue bunched for /ɜr/. - UK: non-rhotic typically: /ˌʌnˈɜːnd/. No audible /r/; lengthened vowel before /nd/. - AU: rhotic enough; vowel ~ /ˌʌnˈɜːnd/ with a slightly higher back tongue position and subtle /ɹ/ relief; maintain the /ɜː/ quality. Reference IPA and note differences in rhoticity and vowel length across regions.
Unearned is formed from the prefix un- meaning 'not' or 'opposite of', combined with earned, the past participle of earn. Earned derives from Old English earnian, from Proto-Germanic *arnijanan, related to Old High German ernàn and Dutch verdienen, all meaning to obtain through effort or merit. The prefix un- has a long history in English as a negator, recorded in Old English as un- in words like unhelpful or unready. The compound unearned first appears in English in the early modern period as usage shifted toward describing benefits or attributes that are not deserved or justified, often in legal, economic, or moral discourse. Over time, unearned has retained a precise distinction from mere non-earning by emphasizing the absence of rightful earning rather than simply lacking activity. In contemporary usage, unearned frequently collocates with benefits, income, privileges, or rewards, signaling critique of entitlement without justification.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "unearned" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "unearned" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "unearned" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "unearned"
-ned sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
