Pronouncing -ed endings
The -ed ending of a regular past tense verb is pronounced three different ways, and the spelling never changes. After a /t/ or /d/ sound it adds a syllable and is said /ɪd/, as in wanted and needed. After any other voiceless sound it is said /t/, as in walked and kissed. After any other voiced sound or a vowel it is said /d/, as in played and cleaned. Only the /ɪd/ version adds a syllable.
The rule in one line
Look at the sound immediately before the -ed — the sound, never the letter. If it is /t/ or /d/, the ending is a new syllable. Otherwise it matches the voicing of that sound: voiceless takes /t/, voiced takes /d/.
1. /ɪd/ — after t or d, adds a syllable
This is the only case that makes the word longer. has one syllable; has two.
2. /t/ — after a voiceless sound
After p, k, f, s, sh, ch or a voiceless th. No extra syllable — is one syllable and ends in a clean t.
3. /d/ — after a voiced sound or a vowel
Everything else: b, g, v, z, m, n, l, r, and all vowels. No extra syllable.
Why spelling misleads
ends in the letters ghed but the sound before -ed is /f/, which is voiceless, so it takes /t/ — laft. ends in /ʃ/, also voiceless, so washt. Only ever listen to the sound.
Test yourself: say the base verb aloud, stop before the ending, and notice whether your throat is vibrating. That is the whole rule.
Adjectives that break it
A small set of -ed adjectives keep the older /ɪd/ pronunciation even though the rule would predict otherwise. as an adjective meaning scholarly is LEARN-id, while the past tense verb is learnd. The same happens with , and .
The matching rule for plurals and third-person verbs is in the -s endings guide, and the whole set is playable as a word list.
Practise this
Show the 15 words
Show the 15 words
Show the 15 words
Show the 15 words
Quick pronunciation tips
Read slowly first. Pronounce each syllable deliberately before trying to blend them at full speed. Rushing hides the vowel and consonant shapes your ear needs to learn.
Record yourself. Most phones have a voice memo app — record a word, then compare it to the playback here. Hearing the gap between your version and the model accent makes targeted practice far easier.
Focus on one accent. Jumping between American, British and Australian in the same session creates confusion. Pick the accent you encounter most and stick with it until the patterns feel natural.
Keep going
Every word above is a button. Set the accent and voice you want on the main screen, then come back — the guides use whatever you chose. To hear two accents against each other, use Compare; to test whether you can actually hear a contrast, use the listening quiz.
Sources and review
Last reviewed 2026-09-15 · Learn Pronounce