VUR-dikt
/ˈvɝdɪkt/
verdict is pronounced VUR-dikt (/ˈvɝdɪkt/). A formal decision or judgment given by a court or jury after considering evidence. The word conveys a final determination on a matter, often with legal implications. It is typically spoken aloud in court and may carry weight in subsequent legal proceedings or appeals.
A formal decision or judgment given by a court or jury after considering evidence. The word conveys a final determination on a matter, often with legal implications. It is typically spoken aloud in court and may carry weight in subsequent legal proceedings or appeals.
"The jury returned a guilty verdict after three days of deliberation."
"The verdict was delivered with surprising speed despite the complex testimony."
"After weeks of debate, the judge announced a verdict that surprised many observers."
Pronounce as /ˈvɜːr.dɪkt/ in US and /ˈvɜː.dɪkt/ in UK and AU. Stress on the first syllable: VER. -dict ends with a clear /dɪkt/ cluster; keep the /d/ released and the /t/ crisp. Think “VER-dikt.” If you’re near an American speaker, you may hear a slightly rhotics-influenced /ɜːr/; in non-rhotic accents the /r/ is less pronounced before the vowel. Practicing with a slow crawl helps you lock the two segments together without swallowing the /d/ or tensing the jaw.
Common errors: replacing the second syllable with a longer /ɪ/ or /ɪk/ without the /t/ release; muting the /d/ or slurring the /r/ in rhotic accents. Correction: ensure the second syllable is /dɪkt/ with the /d/ fully released and a crisp /t/. Keep the initial vowel quality close to /ɜː/ in speakers with rhotic influence; avoid a flat /ɜː/ without the following /dɪkt/. Practice with minimal pairs like VER-dict vs. VER-dick to hear the subtle vowel and consonant differences.
In US English, /ˈvɜːr.dɪkt/ with a rhotic /r/ and a drawled /ɜː/ before /r/. In UK English, /ˈvɜː.dɪkt/ tends to be non-rhotic in some varieties, with a clearer /ˈvɜː.dɪkt/ and a less pronounced /r/. Australian English similar to UK in many varieties, with a non-rhotic tendency and a slightly higher fronted /ɜː/ (depending on speaker). All share the two-syllable pattern VER-dict; the main variation is rhoticity and vowel quality before the /dɪkt/ portion.
Two main challenges: the /ɜːr/ or /ɜː/ vowel quality in the first syllable and the final /kt/ cluster after /dɪ/. Many speakers blur the /d/ or the /t/ in rapid speech, producing /ˈvɜːrdɪk/ or /ˈvɜːdɪk/. Also, the transition from a rhotic or non-rhotic environment into /dɪkt/ requires precise tongue movement. Focusing on the two-syllable rhythm and crisp final consonant helps stabilize the word in fluent speech.
A key unique aspect is maintaining a clear, released final /t/ after a short /ɪ/; many speakers glide into a soft /t/ or omit it, producing /ˈvɜːdɪk/. Another distinctive point is the length and quality of the first vowel: in careful speech it remains a rounded, central /ɜː/ before an audible /r/ (in rhotic accents) or a subtle vowel before a non-rhotic /r/.
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Verdict comes from the Latin verdictum, formed from ver- (truth) and -dictum (thing said, declaration). The root ver- means truth, and -dictum indicates a stating or saying. In Latin, verdictum denoted the statement of truth or the judge’s declaration after evidence was weighed in court. The term entered English legal usage in the medieval period, reflecting the formal pronouncement of a truth reached by the jury and/or judge. Over time, it broadened beyond strictly jury decisions to any final determination or judgment in various proceedings. The modern sense centers on the authoritative conclusion announced after evaluation of facts, often with implications for guilt, liability, or civil/ criminal outcomes. In Middle English, it appeared in legal chronicles and court records, gradually stabilizing into the common-speech noun we use today. The phonological form shifted slightly in English, but the core meaning — a pronouncement of truth after deliberation — remained consistent across centuries. The word’s reserving of formal authority gives it a weight that commonly collocates with legal processes or decisive outcomes. First known usage traces to late medieval England in legal documents and transcripts, aligning with the rise of codified court procedures and standardized judgments.
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Words that rhyme with "verdict"
-dit sounds
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