uhn-TOHLD
/əˈntoʊld/
untold is pronounced uhn-TOHLD (/əˈntoʊld/). Untold means not previously told or described; not known to many people. It conveys information, stories, or facts that have not been revealed. The term often appears in literary, historical, or emotional contexts to emphasize hidden or undisclosed details.
Untold means not previously told or described; not known to many people. It conveys information, stories, or facts that have not been revealed. The term often appears in literary, historical, or emotional contexts to emphasize hidden or undisclosed details.
"The untold story of the ancient kingdom finally came to light after new inscriptions were deciphered."
"Researchers uncovered untold potential in the data that could change the course of treatment."
"She felt a weight lift as she shared an untold memory from her childhood."
Utner: untold is pronounced with stress on the second syllable: /ənˈtoʊld/ in US and UK; Australian is /ənˈtəʊld/. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a clear /ˈtoʊld/ rhyme. Lips start relaxed for /ə/, then a tight, rounded /oʊ/ glide, and finish with the dark L and /d/. Think: un-TOLD, with a strong emphasis on TOLD.
Two common missteps are flattening the second syllable into a quick /toʊ/ and misplacing the /l/ into a lighter, almost vowel-like sound. Avoid saying /ˈtɒld/ (British short o) or merging the /n/ and /t/ into a single consonant cluster. Focus on a full /toʊld/ with a distinct /l/ and a clean /d/ release. Practicing with a minimal pair like untold vs untoldly helps ensure you keep the rhythm intact.
In US and UK, the second syllable uses a strong rhotic outcome of /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/, while AU commonly aligns with UK /əʊ/ but can be slightly more relaxed. The initial unstressed /ə/ or /ən/ remains similar. The main difference is vowel quality in the stressed /toʊld/ vs /təʊld/; rhoticity affects the preceding schwa in US. Some UK speakers may reduce the first syllable more and lengthen the vowel in the second.
The challenge lies in maintaining a clear, tense /oʊ/ vowel after a weak initial syllable and then merging into the /ld/ cluster without intrusion from the following consonants. The /n/ in the sequence should not blend the /t/ and /l/. Also, the final /ld/ needs a crisp alveolar /d/ release after a velar-like end of /oʊ/—attention to timing between syllables keeps the rhythm accurate.
Untold has no silent letters; stress falls on the second syllable: un-TOLD. The challenge is not silent letters but ensuring the /oʊ/ vowel is tense and the /ld/ ending is released cleanly. Many learners temporarily insert a light /ɹ/ or /ɫ/ effect; avoid that. Keep the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for the /d/ and finish with a crisp stop.
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Untold combines the prefix un- (from Old English un- meaning ‘not, opposite of’) with told, the past participle of tell. The word tell derives from Old English tellan (to count, recount, declare) and is related to tales and narratives. The prefix un- has a long history in Germanic languages, signaling negation or opposition, and was absorbed into Middle English with similar negating force. Untold first appeared in English texts around the late Middle English to Early Modern English period as a way to describe narratives or information that had not yet been conveyed. Over time, untold acquired a more figurative sense—things not yet stated or imagined—often used in literary and rhetorical contexts to emphasize a hidden depth, potential, or secret. In contemporary usage, untold is frequently paired with stories, histories, or details to highlight omissions and the scope of what remains undiscovered. The evolution reflects society’s interest in revelation and the enduring appeal of hidden knowledge, with the term appearing in newspapers, novels, and motivational or historical prose as a way to frame mystery or unexplored potential.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "untold" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "untold"
-old sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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