Is “learned” one or two syllables?
“learned” has 1 or 2 syllables, depending on how you say it. Most dictionaries count 2. LURND (1, past tense) vs LUR-nid (2, 'a learned scholar').
Every pronunciation, counted
| Say it like | IPA | Syllables | Count | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LURND | /ˈlɝnd/ | l er n d | 1 | CMU dictionary |
| LUR-nid | /ˈlɝ.nɪd/ | l er · n ih d | 2 | CMU dictionary |
Syllables are shown in ARPAbet (the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary's phoneme alphabet). Respellings put the stressed syllable in capitals.
Why the count varies
Meaning-dependent pronunciation. The same spelling is pronounced with different counts depending on its meaning or part of speech (prayer, aged, learned, blessed, separate).
What the dictionaries say
- Cambridge (US) /ˈlɜr·nɪd/
- Wiktionary /ˈlɜːnɪd/ (UK), /ˈlɜːnd/ (UK), /ˈlɝnɪd/ (US), /ˈlɝnd/ (US)
For haiku, sonnets and song lyrics
The count follows the meaning (LURND (1, past tense) vs LUR-nid (2, 'a learned scholar').). In a haiku or metrical line, count the reading you intend; readers will hear the other only if the context invites it.
Count syllables in your own text
Paste a line or a whole poem: syllables, stress, IPA and meter, free and in your browser.
Open the syllable counter →Related words
Pronunciations from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, checked against Cambridge Dictionary and Wiktionary transcriptions. Hyphenation from the hyph_en_US patterns.