3 syllables: ex, cept, ed. Stress on cept.
ik-SEP-tid
/ɪˈksɛptɪd/
excepted is pronounced ik-SEP-tid (/ɪˈksɛptɪd/). It has three syllables (ex-cept-ed), with the stress on "cept". Excepted is a verb form meaning “considered excepted” or “excluded from a general rule or classification.” It denotes that something is set apart from a group or category for a particular reason. In use, it often appears in formal or legal contexts, or in discussions of exceptions, where a member or item is not included in a standard rule or provision.
Excepted is a verb form meaning “considered excepted” or “excluded from a general rule or classification.” It denotes that something is set apart from a group or category for a particular reason. In use, it often appears in formal or legal contexts, or in discussions of exceptions, where a member or item is not included in a standard rule or provision.
"All employees are required to wear uniforms, excepted those on medical leave."
"The rule applies to most tests, excepted cases where safety concerns arise."
"Several contracts were renewed, excepted where the client failed to meet payment terms."
You pronounce it as iK-SEPT-id, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪkˈsɛptɪd/. Start with a short i in the first syllable, then a crisp “sept” with the e as in “set,” and end with a light, unstressed “ed.” The final -ed is a voiced d sound in connected speech but can be very light in careful speech.
Common errors include over-connecting the final -ed to the previous consonant (s ef-ted) and misplacing stress, saying ex-CEP-ted or ex-CEPT-id. Another frequent mispronunciation is treating the second syllable as a long vowel (eh) instead of the short ɛ as in set. Correct by focusing on /ˈsɛpt/ and keeping the first vowel as a short, lax i /ɪ/ and the final /ɪd/ as a light, quick -ed.
In US and UK, the primary stress remains on the second syllable: /ɪkˈsɛptɪd/. US tends toward slightly more flapped or relaxed t-like sound in rapid speech, while UK keeps a crisper t. Australian speakers also keep /ˈɪkˈsep.tɪd/ with a clear t but may exhibit broader vowel quality in the first vowel. The final -ed remains a light /d/ or even unreleased in fast speech across varieties.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster around -cept- and the unstressed final -ed. The /ˈsɛpt/ segment requires a clean, short vowel and a clipped t release; many learners insert an extra vowel or soften the t into a d. Mastery comes from practicing the two-syllable rhythm with correct stress and a light, quick ending /ɪd/. Work on the transition from /s/ to /p/ and keeping the mouth closed quickly for the final sound.
No, excepted does not have a silent letter. Every letter contributes to the pronounced word. The sequence -cept- uses the c and p clearly, and the final -ed is pronounced as a light /ɪd/ or /d/ in connected speech. The emphasis is on the second syllable, /ˈsɛpt/. If you hear someone say /ɪkˈsɛk.tɪd/ or similar, that’s an error in blending the syllables or an over-aspirated t; aim for a clean /t/ release leading into the /ɪd/ ending.
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Excepted derives from the late Middle English word excepten, from Old French excepter, from Latin excipere, meaning “to take out, to except.” The Latin ex- means “out of, away from,” and capere means “to take.” The form with -ed emerged as a past participle and past tense used in legal and formal English to indicate something that has been singled out or omitted from a general rule. The word’s evolution reflects a shift from simple “take out” to the nuance of “being set apart from a rule.” By the 15th century, except was a conjunction or preposition meaning “but,” later narrowing in usage to its legal/complementary sense. In modern English, excepted functions primarily as a verb form in legal, administrative, or formal prose, signaling a specific exemption or removal from a general rule. The word’s spelling and pronunciation have remained relatively stable, though usage has specialized in contexts involving exclusions or deviations. Contemporary corpora show “excepted” most often in sentences where a blanket policy is described, followed by a clause indicating the exception. The historical resilience of the term is tied to its precise semantic role as a marker of deviation within a rule-bound framework.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "excepted" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "excepted"
-ted sounds
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