WED-id
/ˈwɛdɪd/
wedded is pronounced WED-id (/ˈwɛdɪd/). Wedded is the past participle and adjective form of wed, meaning joined by marriage. In modern usage it describes someone who is married or a thing that has been joined together in a marital union. The word carries formal, sometimes literary connotations, and can appear in phrases like “the wedded couple” or “a wedded partnership.”.
Wedded is the past participle and adjective form of wed, meaning joined by marriage. In modern usage it describes someone who is married or a thing that has been joined together in a marital union. The word carries formal, sometimes literary connotations, and can appear in phrases like “the wedded couple” or “a wedded partnership.”
"The couple has remained deeply affectionate since they were wedded."
"He wore a traditional suit at the wedding and a golden band marking their wedded status."
"After years apart, they finally settled into a wedded life of stability."
Pronounce it as /ˈwed.ɪd/. Start with a stressed 'wed' where the vowel is a short e (as in bed), then lightly pronounce the final 'ed' as /ɪd/. The mouth closes quickly after the /d/ begins, so it can sound like two quick syllables. Listen for the crisp /d/ at the end and a clear initial /w/ blend. You’ll hear the first syllable carry the stress.
Common errors include softening the final /d/ into a vowel (saying /ˈwed.ɪ/ or /ˈwed.ɪz/) and misplacing stress, making it sound like /ˈwə.dɪd/. To correct, ensure a full /d/ release and hold primary stress on the first syllable. Practice with a model word like “wedd-” and emphasize the abrupt stop at the end for a crisp /d/.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the initial /w/ and /e/ are consistent, but vowel quality in the stressed syllable may shift: US often favors a slightly higher front vowel in /e/?; UK tends toward a crisper, shorter /e/; AU can have a more centralized vowel and a softer onset. The final /ɪd/ tends to be a quick, clipped schwa-like finish in rapid speech, especially in Australian speech where vowels can be less distinct.
The difficulty lies in the short, tense vowel in the first syllable and the rapid /ɪd/ sequence at the end. Achieving a clean, abrupt /d/ release after a compact /wed/ requires precise tongue-tip control and breath support. Additionally, some speakers shorten the vowel in the second syllable, risking /ˈwed.ɪd/ becoming /ˈwɛd/; focus on maintaining the full /ɪd/ ending even in connected speech.
A unique feature is the two-consonant closure at the end: you release a clean /d/ after a brief /ɪ/ vowel, which can be clouded by linking to the next word. Keep the tongue tip against the alveolar ridge for the /d/ release and avoid intrusive linking that makes it sound like /ˈwed.ɪ/ or /ˈwɛdɪ/. In careful speech, you’ll hear a crisp terminal /d/ with clear onset of the second syllable even if it’s barely audible in connected speech.
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Wedded derives from wed, meaning to marry, which traces its roots to Old English wedian, from wǣd meaning pledge or vow. The form wedded appears in Middle English as wedden; over time the -ed participial ending became standard for past-tense and past-participle constructions in English. The concept of wed as a legal and social binding grew in various Germanic languages, with cognates reflecting binding oaths and ceremonies. In early modern English, wedded became a fixed collocation in legal and ceremonial language, often paired with marriage-related nouns. The word’s core meaning—joined by marriage—has remained stable, while modern usage has broadened to describe any bond described as wed or fused in a figurative sense, as in “a wedded partnership.” The term retains formal/poetic register and is common in literature, legal prose, and ceremonial speech.
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Words that rhyme with "wedded"
-ded sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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