2 syllables: Ef, fort. Stress on Ef.
EF-urt
/ˈɛfɚt/
Effort is pronounced EF-urt (/ˈɛfɚt/). It has two syllables (Ef-fort), with the stress on "Ef". Effort is the exertion of energy toward a goal or task, often involving deliberate action, struggle, or toil. It functions as a noun in everyday speech to describe the amount of energy or work applied, and can imply persistence or determination in achieving something.
nounEffort is the exertion of energy toward a goal or task, often involving deliberate action, struggle, or toil. It functions as a noun in everyday speech to describe the amount of energy or work applied, and can imply persistence or determination in achieving something.
- You often produce a two-syllable feel by stressing the second syllable (EFF-ort). Instead, keep a clear first-syllable emphasis: EF-fort. - The /ɜː/ or /ɚ/ in second syllable can become a stronger vowel or swallowed; practice keeping it as a short schwa /ə/ or a light /ɜr/ before /t/ depending on accent. - Release of final /t/: some speakers make it a soft, unreleased stop; aim for a crisp, released /t/ or a light tap in fast speech.
How to Pronounce Effort
"She put a lot of effort into preparing for the presentation."
"With enough effort, you can master the skill in weeks, not months."
"The project failed despite their best efforts and careful planning."
Pronounce it as EF-fort, with the primary stress on the first syllable. In IPA: US /ˈɛfərt/, UK/AU /ˈɛfəːt/. Begin with the open-mid front vowel /ɛ/ as in “bed,” then a quick /f/ fusing into a schwa-centered second syllable. The final /t/ is typically a released alveolar stop. For clarity, keep the second syllable unstressed and short, flowing from /f/ to /ə/ to /t/ in quick sequence.
Common errors include turning /ˈɛfərt/ into a two-syllable word with a stressed second syllable (e.g., eh-FERT) or over-pronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel. Some speakers also merge /r/ into a weak rhotic sound or insert an extra vowel between /f/ and /t/. To correct: keep /ˈɛ/ on the first syllable, use a short schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with a crisp /t/. Practice with minimal pairs like EF-ert vs EF-er-t.
US: /ˈɛfərt/ with rhotic /r/ and a schwa-like second syllable. UK/AU: /ˈɛfəːt/ with a longer second vowel in some British and Australian accents and a slightly less pronounced rhoticity. The main differences lie in vowel duration and rhotic quality; US tends to keep /r/ more overtly, while non-rhotic varieties may lessen /r/ in the final position when followed by a vowel.
Two main challenges: the short unstressed second syllable /ər/ or /ə/ can be reduced inconsistently, which affects intelligibility. The /f/ is a labiodental fricative followed by a vowel onset that can blur together if not separated, and the final /t/ can be unreleased in rapid speech. Precise articulation of /f/ and the transition to /ɚ/ or /ə/ is essential for a clean EF-fort.
No, there are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation of “effort.” The word is pronounced with three distinct phonemes corresponding to two syllables, with the final /t/ typically released. Some rapid speech variants may reduce the second syllable, but the letters E-F-F-O-R-T all produce sounds in normal speech.
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The word effort comes from the Latin opus, meaning work or work produced, with the prefix ex- indicating outward or outward movement. The Latin term ex- + opus evolved into Old French esfort, then into Middle English as esforc or esfort, signifying exertion or hard work. By the 14th to 15th centuries, the word entered broader English usage to mean exertion applied toward achieving something, often in contexts of physical or mental toil. Over time, the semantic scope broadened to include abstract exertions such as political or emotional effort, and in modern English it commonly appears in phrases like “put in effort,” “effort counts,” or “effort and energy.” The pronunciation gradually shifted toward the two-syllable structure /ˈɛfərt/ in General American and RP, with stress on the first syllable. The word’s trajectory reflects a shift from concrete physical labor to a broader sense of purposeful activity and striving in a wide range of domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Effort" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Effort" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Effort"
-ort sounds
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