WUR-stid
/ˈwɝstɪd/
worsted is pronounced WUR-stid (/ˈwɝstɪd/). Worsted refers to a smooth, finely spun wool yarn or fabric made from long-staple wool, or to the fabric produced from that yarn. The term is also used to describe a tailored, smooth cloth with a characteristic diagonal weave. In essence, it denotes a high-quality wool material suitable for suits and formal wear. The pronunciation remains constant across contexts.
Worsted refers to a smooth, finely spun wool yarn or fabric made from long-staple wool, or to the fabric produced from that yarn. The term is also used to describe a tailored, smooth cloth with a characteristic diagonal weave. In essence, it denotes a high-quality wool material suitable for suits and formal wear. The pronunciation remains constant across contexts.
"The tailor recommended a worsted wool suit for its refined finish."
"She wore worsted wool trousers that draped smoothly and resisted creasing."
"The research examined worsted fabrics for their durability in professional attire."
Pronounce WOR-sted with stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈwɜːrstɪd/, UK /ˈwɔːstɪd/, AU /ˈwɜːstɪd/. Start with an open-mid back rounded vowel in the first syllable (US/AU /ɜː/ or UK /ɔː/), followed by a light r-colored schwa-free /r/ before the /st/ cluster, then a clear /ɪ/ and a final /d/. Avoid turning it into ‘wor-stid’ or ‘wor-sturd’.
Common errors include: 1) Reducing the /ɜː/ or /ɔː/ to a flat schwa; keep the blackbird-like /ɜː/ or /ɔː/ quality. 2) Deleting the /r/ in US accents when it should be rhotic; ensure the /r/ influences the preceding vowel. 3) Slurring /st/ into /s/ or /t/; keep the /st/ as a distinct consonant cluster; avoid an overly aspirated /t/. Practice with the minimal pair vs. ‘warmed’ to keep /ɜː/ vs /æ/.
US: rhotic /ɜːr/ quality, tense /ɜː/ vowel, clear /ɹ/ before /st/. UK: non-rhotic or rhotic depending on speaker; vowel often /ɔː/ or /ɜː/ with strong /st/; AU: tends toward US-like rhoticity with /ɜː/ in many speakers and clear /st/. Overall, the key differences center on rhoticity and vowel length: US often shows rhoticity, UK can vary; AU is a blend leaning rhotic but not identical to US. IPA notes: US /ˈwɜːrstɪd/, UK /ˈwɔːstɪd/, AU /ˈwɜːstɪd/.
Its difficulty stems from the /ɜː/ vs /ɔː/ vowel distinction and the rhotic or non-rhotic realization of /r/ in different accents. The /st/ cluster immediately following the vowel requires a tight tongue posture and precise sequencing, and the final /d/ should be lightly released for a crisp finish. The combination of a tense, mid back vowel with a rhotic or non-rhotic r creates potential substitutions for non-native speakers.
The word features a stressed first syllable with the /ɜː/ or /ɔː/ vowel preceding a clear /st/ cluster, followed by /ɪd/. The r-colored quality of the first vowel is a standout feature in American production (rhotic) and can be challenging for speakers of languages with flat vowels. Understanding the exact tongue position—mid-back vowel, slightly raised tongue, lips relaxed and rounded—helps anchor the sound.
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US: rhotic, longer /ɜː/ quality, clear /r/ and stronger linking; UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic; you may hear a slightly more open /ɔː/ before /st/; AU: mix, often rhotic, with stable /ɜː/ or /ɔː/ depending on speaker. IPA references: US /ˈwɜːrstɪd/, UK /ˈwɔːstɪd/, AU /ˈwɜːstɪd/.
Worsted originates from the town of Worstead in Norfolk, England, where a type of smooth, combed wool yarn was produced starting in the 13th century. The name spread to describe the fabric made from that yarn, especially after the wool industry standardized the worsted process during the 16th–18th centuries, emphasizing long-staple wool that was combed to remove short fibers and aligned for a smooth finish. The term became a generic descriptor in English for fine, smooth wool fabrics, distinguishing them from more rustic woolen materials. By the 18th and 19th centuries, worsted fabrics were central to tailoring and menswear, notably suiting and trousers, and the word entered broader fashion and textile vocabulary. First known use of the term as fabric likely appears in early English textile records in the 14th–15th centuries, with the technique and name standardized in textile dictionaries by the 1700s. Over time, “worsted” broadened its meaning to describe both the yarn and the resulting fabric rather than a single product, while remaining closely tied to high-quality, smooth wool textiles.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "worsted" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "worsted"
-ted sounds
--ed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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