How Do You Spell BURNT?

Pronunciation: [bˈɜːnt] (IPA)

The spelling of the past participle of "burn" can be confusing. Is it "burned" or "burnt"? The answer is both are correct, but "burnt" is more common in British English. The reason for this spelling is due to the way the word is pronounced. "Burnt" has a voiced final consonant /t/ sound, while "burned" has an unvoiced final /d/ sound. In IPA phonetic transcription, "burnt" is /bɜːnt/ and "burned" is /bɜːrnd/. So, if you're in the UK, go ahead and use "burnt" without worry.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
Conjugate verb
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BURNT Meaning and Definition

  1. Burnt is the past participle of the verb burn, which refers to a chemical reaction involving the combustion or oxidation of a substance resulting in flames, heat, light, and often the release of smoke and gases. When something is burnt, it has undergone this process and has been altered or destroyed by fire or intense heat.

    In a literal sense, burnt describes an object, material, or surface that has suffered scorching, charring, blackening, or reduction to ash due to being exposed to excessively high temperatures. For instance, burnt toast refers to bread left in a toaster for too long and heated to the point of becoming excessively brown or blackened. Similarly, burnt wood results from the exposure of timber or lumber to flames or intense heat, resulting in a charred appearance.

    The term "burnt" can also be used figuratively to describe things beyond physical damage by fire. It can imply being hurt emotionally or psychologically, conveying the feeling of being deeply affected or scarred by a traumatic experience. For example, someone might describe a failed relationship as leaving them feeling burnt, representing the emotional damage they experienced.

    Burnt can also describe flavors in food, particularly in cooking. It refers to food that has been exposed to excessive heat or left too long on a stove, resulting in a darker or charred appearance and often a bitter or acrid taste.

    In summary, "burnt" describes the altered, damaged, or destroyed state of an object or material due to the effects of fire, heat, or as a metaphorical representation of emotional harm or traumatic experiences.

  2. Of burn, which see.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for BURNT

Etymology of BURNT

The word burnt is the past participle form of the verb burn. It originated from the Old English word beornan or byrnan, which means to set on fire or to be on fire. The past participle form byrned was later transformed into burned in Middle English around the 13th century. However, in some varieties of English, such as British English, burnt is still commonly used as the past participle form of the verb burn.

Idioms with the word BURNT

  • be burnt to a crisp The idiom "be burnt to a crisp" refers to something or someone that has been burned or cooked excessively, to the point of being very well-done or charred. It can be used metaphorically to describe a situation, object, or person that has been subjected to extreme heat or damage, resulting in a ruined or unrecognizable state.
  • burnt out The idiom "burnt out" refers to a state of physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion, often caused by prolonged stress, overwork, or lack of satisfaction or fulfillment in one's job or relationships. It is commonly used to describe someone who has become depleted, unenthusiastic, and overwhelmed by their responsibilities or work.
  • If you play with fire, you get burnt The idiom "if you play with fire, you get burnt" means that if you engage in risky or dangerous behavior, you are likely to suffer negative consequences or harm as a result. It serves as a warning against taking unnecessary risks or dabbling in activities that can lead to undesirable outcomes.
  • get your fingers burnt The idiom "get your fingers burnt" means to experience negative consequences or suffer harm as a result of one's actions or decisions, often due to being involved in something risky or dangerous. It implies a cautionary warning against engaging in or pursuing a particular course of action that could lead to detrimental outcomes.
  • A burnt child dreads the fire. The idiom "a burnt child dreads the fire" means that someone who has experienced a negative or painful situation in the past is often cautious or fearful of encountering a similar situation again in the future.
  • burnt to a cinder (or crisp) The idiom "burnt to a cinder (or crisp)" refers to something that is severely or completely burned. It conveys the idea of an object or food item being so thoroughly scorched that it has turned into charcoal or ash. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a person or situation that has experienced extreme devastation, ruin, or failure.
  • eyes like two burnt holes in a blanket
  • be burnt, worn, etc. to a ˈfrazzle

Similar spelling words for BURNT

Conjugate verb Burnt

CONDITIONAL

I would burnt
you would burnt
he/she/it would burnt
we would burnt
they would burnt
I would burn
we would burn
you would burn
he/she/it would burn
they would burn

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be burning
you would be burning
he/she/it would be burning
we would be burning
they would be burning

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have burnt
you would have burnt
he/she/it would have burnt
we would have burnt
they would have burnt

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been burning
you would have been burning
he/she/it would have been burning
we would have been burning
they would have been burning

FUTURE

I will burn
you will burn
he/she/it will burn
we will burn
they will burn

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be burning
you will be burning
he/she/it will be burning
we will be burning
they will be burning

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have burned
you will have burned
he/she/it will have burned
we will have burned
they will have burned
I will have burnt, will have burned
we will have burnt, will have burned
you will have burnt, will have burned
he/she/it will have burnt, will have burned
they will have burnt, will have burned

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been burning
you will have been burning
he/she/it will have been burning
we will have been burning
they will have been burning

IMPERATIVE

you burn
we let´s burn

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to burn

PAST

I burned
you burned
he/she/it burned
we burned
they burned
I burnt, burned
we burnt, burned
you burnt, burned
he/she/it burnt, burned
they burnt, burned

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was burning
you were burning
he/she/it was burning
we were burning
they were burning

PAST PARTICIPLE

burned

PAST PERFECT

I had burned
you had burned
he/she/it had burned
we had burned
they had burned
I had burned, had burnt
we had burned, had burnt
you had burned, had burnt
he/she/it had burned, had burnt
they had burned, had burnt

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been burning
you had been burning
he/she/it had been burning
we had been burning
they had been burning

PRESENT

I burn
you burn
he/she/it burns
we burn
they burn

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am burning
you are burning
he/she/it is burning
we are burning
they are burning

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

burning

PRESENT PERFECT

I have burned
you have burned
he/she/it has burned
we have burned
they have burned
I have burned, have burnt
we have burned, have burnt
you have burned, have burnt
he/she/it has burned, has burnt
they have burned, have burnt

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been burning
you have been burning
he/she/it has been burning
we have been burning
they have been burning
I would have burned, would have burnt
we would have burned, would have burnt
you would have burned, would have burnt
he/she/it would have burned, would have burnt
they would have burned, would have burnt

Infographic

Correct spelling for burnt
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