How to pronounce “worked”
Worked is pronounced /ˈwɜːrkt/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“worked” sound by sound
“worked” is built out of 4 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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wRound and push the lips forward tightly, raise the back of the tongue, then glide immediately into the following vowel.
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ɜːrHold the tongue central and bunched or curled back for the whole vowel, with the R quality present from beginning to end — it is one continuous r-coloured vowel, not a vowel plus an /r/.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
Words that rhyme with “worked”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “worked”
Each of these differs from “worked” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “worked”
- How do you pronounce “worked”?
- “worked” is pronounced /ˈwɜːrkt/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “worked”?
- “worked” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
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