2 syllables: Ef, fect. Stress on fect.
if-EKT
/ɪˈfɛkt/
Effect is pronounced if-EKT (/ɪˈfɛkt/). It has two syllables (Ef-fect), with the stress on "fect". Effect (noun) refers to a result or consequence produced by a particular influence or action. It denotes the outcome that happens as a consequence of something else, often emphasizing the impact or change that results from a cause. In broader use, it can describe an impression, atmosphere, or effect in a psychological or physical sense.
nounEffect (noun) refers to a result or consequence produced by a particular influence or action. It denotes the outcome that happens as a consequence of something else, often emphasizing the impact or change that results from a cause. In broader use, it can describe an impression, atmosphere, or effect in a psychological or physical sense.
"The new policy had a measurable effect on reducing emissions."
"Her calm demeanor had a soothing effect on the team."
"The visual effects in the movie were stunning and immersive."
Pronounce as i-FEKT in steady speech: the first syllable uses a lax short /ɪ/ vowel, and the second syllable carries primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ɪˈfekt/. Place the tongue high-mid for /ɪ/, then move to a clear /f/ with lip-buzz closure, and end with a crisp /t/; the /t/ is often released lightly in connected speech. Think “ih- FECT,” with the emphasis on the second syllable and the final /t/ articulated distinctly, though it may soften in casual speech.
Common errors include misplacing stress as EF-fect (first syllable stress) and mispronouncing the /f/ as a /v/ sound, or attempting a silent t. Correct by sustaining the /ɪ/ into the onset of /ˈf/ and ensuring a clear /t/ release. Another pitfall is merging /ɪ/ with /i:/, producing a more tense vowel; keep /ɪ/ as a short lax vowel. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘effect’ vs ‘effort’ to train vowel and consonant timing, and record yourself to catch the final /t/ release.
In US/UK/AU, the core /ɪˈfekt/ pattern remains, but rhoticity can subtly influence the vowel quality; US speakers may have a slightly shorter unstressed vowel before /f/ and a slightly less aspirated /t/ in rapid speech. UK and AU often retain a more precise final /t/ release in careful speech, with mild vowel length differences before voiceless consonants. All maintain the stress on the second syllable, but tempo and flapping in US can affect perceived duration. Aim for the same IPA /ɪˈfekt/ while adjusting for natural rhythm in each variant.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the second syllable and in producing a clean /t/ after a short /ɪ/ vowel, which can lead to a mis-timed release or a glided sound. Additionally, many non-native speakers confuse it with 'affect' or 'effect' when voicing changes occur in psychology terms, causing vowel or consonant shifts. Focus on a crisp /t/ release, clear /f/ frication, and a short /ɪ/ in the first syllable, keeping the second syllable strong.
There are no silent letters in the noun form; the challenge is ensuring the second syllable carries clear stress and the /t/ is pronounced; in rapid speech, you may hear a flapped or unreleased /t/. The key is to keep a short /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a strong /fekt/ cluster with precise timing between /f/ and /t/. The stress pattern is fixed as ɪˈfekt, with the secondary stress typically absent in common use.
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The word effect comes from Middle English effect, via Old French effect and Latin effectus, from the past participle of efficere ‘to accomplish, bring about’ (from ex- ‘out’ + facere ‘to make, do’). The Latin root is facere, with the sense of making or producing something tangible, while effectus in Latin means ‘a bringing about’ or ‘a result.’ In English, early senses concerned bringing about or causing something and the sense of “result” developed over time. By the 14th century, effect was used to denote the outcome of a cause, and by the 17th–18th centuries it increasingly referred to the tangible consequence or influence resulting from actions, policies, or events. The word’s pronunciation was historically variable, reflecting shifting stress and vowel changes in Early Modern English. Over time, the noun form established itself with two primary pronunciations and a distinction from the verb “to affect,” which adds another layer of pronunciation nuances as a verb with a different prefix stress pattern in many contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Effect"
-ect sounds
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