VAL-yood
/ˈvæljud/
valued is pronounced VAL-yood (/ˈvæljud/). Valued is an adjective meaning regarded highly or appreciated; it can describe something considered important or cherished, or a person who is appreciated by others. It derives from value, signaling possession of worth, and is often used in phrases like “highly valued assets.” The term can function adjectivally or, in some cases, as a past participle in passive constructions.
Valued is an adjective meaning regarded highly or appreciated; it can describe something considered important or cherished, or a person who is appreciated by others. It derives from value, signaling possession of worth, and is often used in phrases like “highly valued assets.” The term can function adjectivally or, in some cases, as a past participle in passive constructions.
"Her insights are highly valued by the team."
"The antique vase was valued at a considerable sum."
"Employees are valued for their contributions and dedication."
Pronounce it as /ˈvæl.juːd/ in US/UK. The primary stress is on the first syllable VAL-, with the second syllable starting with a clear /j/ consonant, effectively forming -ed as /juːd/. Ensure the /l/ is light but clear, and avoid inserting an extra vowel before the final /d/. Visualize: VAL-yood. If your accent lengthens the final vowel, aim for a tight /juː/ followed by a crisp /d/.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the /j/ so it becomes /l.j/ or merges with the /l/: say VAL-yood with a distinct /j/. 2) Reducing the final /juː/ to a short /u/ or /ʊ/: keep the long /uː/ sound. 3) Dropping the /d/ or turning it into a stop after a voiceless context: ensure you voice the final /d/. Practice by isolating the /juːd/ sequence and pronouncing slowly before speeding up.
US/UK share /ˈvæl.juːd/ with a rhotic or non-rhotic difference not affecting the word much; in many US varieties the /r/ isn’t involved here, but the /juː/ tends to be a clear, close front rounded vowel approximant. UK and US both maintain /juː/ but may differ in the exact quality of /æ/ and the duration of /juː/; Australian often has a slightly more centralized vowel in /æ/ and a similar /juː/—keep the same syllable count but adjust vowel color slightly per accent.
The challenge lies in the sequence VAL- plus /juːd/: ensuring a distinct /j/ consonant between the /l/ and the /uː/; avoid reducing the /juː/ to a simple /u/ or /ʊ/ and maintain a crisp final /d/. Some speakers also insert an extra vowel or glottal stop in fast speech; focus on the /j/ onset for the second syllable and a clean stop at the end.
The key nuance is the transition from a dark, light /l/ followed by a palatal glide /j/ into a long /uː/ before the final /d/. If you tilt toward a vowel that sounds more like /ju/ rather than /u/ in the second syllable, you maintain the word’s clarity. Practicing with a slow, precise pronunciation helps avoid slurring the /juː/ into an ambiguous vowel segment.
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US: emphasize /æ/ as a short, bright vowel; /juː/ is light but clear; final /d/ loud but not harsh. UK: possibly a slightly shorter /æ/ and a more rounded /uː/; keep non-rhoticity, but the /d/ should be crisp. AU: minor vowel height shifts; maintain /æ/ near [æ], /juː/ with stable lip rounding, and a clean final /d/. IPA references: US /ˈvæl.juːd/, UK /ˈvæl.juːd/, AU /ˈvæl.juːd/.
valued comes from value, which originates from the Old French valeur meaning ‘worth, value, price’ (from Latin valorem, from valere ‘to be strong, be well, be worth’). In Middle English, value referred to worth or price and gradually extended to the idea of esteem or merit. The suffix -ed marks the past participle or past tense in English, forming “valued” to describe something that has been assigned value or held in esteem. The conceptual shift from monetary worth to abstract worth, merit, or importance occurred over centuries as economic valuation merged with moral and utilitarian judgments. The first known uses in a sense akin to ‘considered to be of value’ appear in legal and mercantile texts of medieval Europe, with later usage expanding into general adjectives describing esteem. By the modern era, valued commonly appears as a descriptive adjective, as in “a valued asset” or “valued opinions.”
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Words that rhyme with "valued"
-ved sounds
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