uhn-rik-AWR-did
/ˌʌnɹɪˈkɔɹdɪd/
unrecorded is pronounced uhn-rik-AWR-did (/ˌʌnɹɪˈkɔɹdɪd/). Unrecorded means not yet captured or documented on audio, video, or another recording medium. It describes events, statements, or materials that exist or occur but have not been recorded for posterity or verification. The term is often used in contexts like journalism, research, or legal proceedings to indicate absence of a record of the subject in question.
Unrecorded means not yet captured or documented on audio, video, or another recording medium. It describes events, statements, or materials that exist or occur but have not been recorded for posterity or verification. The term is often used in contexts like journalism, research, or legal proceedings to indicate absence of a record of the subject in question.
"The interview remained unrecorded when the microphone failed."
"The unrecorded footage was later reconstructed from nearby cameras."
"She left an unrecorded remark on the form, which raised questions later."
Pronounce as /ˌən.rɪˈkɔːrdəd/ (US) or /ˌən.rɪˈkɔː.dɪd/ (UK/AU). Stress falls on the second syllable of 'recorded' (the '/kɔːr/' sound), with a light first syllable 'un-'. The middle 're' is reduced; the key is articulating 'cor' with a long O; end with a soft 'd' + schwa or 'ed' depending on dialect. Audio examples to check: standard pronunciation resources or Pronounce database. Listen for the slight rhotic 'r' in US, and the non-rhotic variants in some UK accents.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress (placing it on the first syllable un- or on the -ed ending), and confusing the middle vowel in 'record' with a short /ɪ/ sound. Correction: keep 'un' unstressed, place primary stress on the /kɔːr/ portion, and finalize with a clearly enunciated /dɪd/ or /əd/ depending on dialect. Practice by saying 'un-RE-corded' slowly, then normal speed, ensuring the 'cord' portion remains long and clear.
US tends to rhoticity: /ˌən.rɪˈkɔːrdəd/ with an r-colored vowel in -cord- and a final /ɪd/ or /əd/; UK often uses /ˌən.rɪˈkɔː.dɪd/ with a non-rhotic or lightly rhotic approach and a shorter final vowel; Australian blends similar to US but with a flatter /ɔː/ and a less pronounced final consonant cluster, sometimes /əd/ as /ɪd/. The key is how the /ɔː/ vowel and the rhoticity manifest, plus whether the final -ed is /ɪd/ or /əd/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern and the transition between the vowel sound in /kɔːr/ and the final -ed cluster. The long /ɔː/ vowel in 'cord' can be tricky for speakers who don’t typically mouth that vowel, and the final /d/ vs /dɪd/ can blur in rapid speech. Additionally, the unstressed first syllable must remain compact while the middle contains a strong vowel; mastering the flow requires precise tongue positioning and timing.
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The word unrecorded combines the prefix un- (not, opposite of) with the past participle recorded. Recorded itself derives from Latin recordari (to remember, to recall) via Old French registre and Middle English, stemming from re- (again, back) and record (to remember, to recount). The sense of making an entry for memory or evidence evolved through legal and archival usage in Middle English and Early Modern English, where records were kept to establish facts and events. The negative prefix un- entered English much earlier, creating unrecorded to describe things lacking a formal record. In contemporary usage, unrecorded is common in journalism, research, and legal or administrative contexts to indicate absence of an official or verifiable record, including audio or video recordings. The pronunciation history aligns with standard English stress on the second syllable of unrecorded (un-re-COR-ded, with primary stress on the COR). First known written examples appear in the 16th–17th centuries as professional archives and court records expanded, making the distinction between what is recorded and what remains unrecorded increasingly relevant in institutional language. Today, unrecorded is a straightforward compound adjective or past participle form used across many formal and informal contexts to denote absence of recorded documentation or evidence, often implying potential later recording or need for verification.
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Words that rhyme with "unrecorded"
-ded sounds
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