uhp-SET
/əˈpsɛt/
upset is pronounced uhp-SET (/əˈpsɛt/). Upset (adj. or v.) refers to being visibly distressed or unhappy, or to disturb emotionally or physically. It denotes a state of agitation or discomfort, and as a verb it means to cause that state or to overturn something. The term captures a shift from a calm condition to a troubled one, often implied by a change in mood, tone, or balance in a situation.
Upset (adj. or v.) refers to being visibly distressed or unhappy, or to disturb emotionally or physically. It denotes a state of agitation or discomfort, and as a verb it means to cause that state or to overturn something. The term captures a shift from a calm condition to a troubled one, often implied by a change in mood, tone, or balance in a situation.
- Confusing initial vowel: people often say /ju/ or /u/ instead of /ʌ/; correct by practicing with a cup of tea and saying 'cup' then 'set' to compare vowels. - Stress misplacement: saying UP-set instead of up-SET; fix by clapping or tapping on the second syllable to cement the rhythm (unstressed-STRESSED). - Final consonant: many speakers devoice or drop the final /t/ in fast speech; practice crisp /t/ by saying 'tart' after a quick /s/ to ensure clear release.
"- She was upset by the news and needed some time alone."
"- Please don't upset the apple cart by changing the plan at the last minute."
"- The referee’s decision upset the players and fans alike."
You pronounce it as ʌpˈsɛt in both US and UK English, with the primary stress on the second syllable. Start with the lax vowel ʌ as in 'cup', then /p/ quickly, then the stressed /sɛ/ with a short e like in 'bet', and finally /t/. In fast speech, the vowel in the first syllable may sound reduced to /ə/, yielding əpˈsɛt. IPA references: US: ʌpˈsɛt; UK: ʌpˈsɛt. Mouth position: lips relaxed, teeth lightly touching for /p/, tongue tip at the alveolar ridge for /s/ and /t/.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress (saying UP-set) and mispronouncing the initial vowel (using a long /u/ or /ʌ/ variant). To correct: place primary stress on the second syllable by lowering the jaw slightly and tightening the vocal tract for /sɛ/. Another error is softening the final /t/ too much or glottalizing it incorrectly in American English. Practice with minimal pairs and deliberate emphasis on /ˈsɛ/.
In US, UK, and AU, the rhyme and stress are similar with primary stress on the second syllable. Regional differences appear in vowel quality: US tends to have a slightly closer /ɛ/ (like in 'bet'), UK may have a purer /ɛ/ with less vowel reduction, and AU often leans toward a more centralized vowel and quicker vowel reduction in casual speech. Rhoticity is not a major factor here since /r/ is not present, but connected speech and intonation patterns vary by region.
Difficulty arises from the two-syllable structure with a stressed second syllable and the need for precise consonant timing: the /p/ release followed immediately by /s/ requires tight coordination, and the /t/ at the end should be a crisp alveolar stop rather than a softened dental or glottal form in many dialects. Additionally, the vowel in the first syllable is short and lax (ʌ), which can clash with the clearer /ɛ/ in the second syllable if you speak quickly.
The word has a weak-strong pattern where the primary stress falls on the second syllable despite the first being unstressed (up-SET). This means you begin with a lighter onset and then sharply intensify on /ˈsɛt/. In connected speech, the first syllable often reduces in rapid delivery (to /ə/ or /ʌ/), making the pronounced contrast even more noticeable. IPA reference: /ʌpˈsɛt/.
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- US: /ʌpˈsɛt/ with more rhoticity influence on surrounding vowels; use a slightly longer word-final /t/ in careful speech. - UK: /ʌpˈsɛt/ with less vowel reduction and crisper /t/; ensure non-rhoticity means no linking /r/ or extra vowel before /t/. - AU: /ʌpˈsɛt/ with similar vowel to US but often faster tempo; vowels can be centralized in connected speech and final /t/ may be softened in casual talk. IPA cues aid: /ʌ/ as in 'cup', /ˈsɛ/ as in 'set'.
Upset comes from the verb phrase up-set, dating to late Middle English or Early Modern English. The root up originally implies 'upward, higher' but in this usage it functioned idiomatically to mean overturned or disrupted. The sense evolved from physical disruption (to upset a container) to emotional disturbance (to upset someone) and then to describe someone who is distressed. Early attestations appear in translations and writings from the 16th to 17th centuries, with the noun and adjective forms emerging as the concept of disturbance broadened across contexts. By the 18th and 19th centuries, upset had become a common adjective describing mood and a transitive verb meaning to disturb, disturbingly overturn, or disturb the normal course of events. In modern use, upset can function as both a verb (to upset someone) and an adjective (an upset stomach, feelings upset), with regional preferences in usage frequency and collocation across informal and semi-formal registers.
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Words that rhyme with "upset"
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