2 syllables: ex, empts. Stress on empts.
/ɪɡˈzɛmpts/
Say it backExempts is a verb meaning to free someone or something from a duty, obligation, or rule. It is commonly used in legal, policy, and organizational contexts to indicate exemption or release from a requirement. The form 'exempts' denotes third-person singular present tense.
- You may insert an extra vowel between the /z/ and the /ɛm/ of the stressed syllable, producing something like ig-zuh- EMPTS. Keep it tight: /ɡzɛmpts/. - The final cluster /pt/ can be rushed or devoiced; practice a clean stop release into the final /s/: /t/ then short /s/. - Do not reduce the /ɪ/ in the first syllable; avoid 'ig-zem-pts' or 'ig-zempts' with a reduced vowel where the stress remains on EMPTS. Maintain the light schwa-like first syllable while preserving the crisp /g z/ onset. - In rapid speech you may elide the /z/; keep it audible to preserve the core /gz/ sequence and the stress pattern.
"The new policy exempts residents under 18 from the fee."
"Certain nonprofit organizations are exempted from paying the qualification tax, so the policy exempts them entirely."
"The court exempts the defendant from jury duty due to a medical condition."
Pronounce as /ɪɡˈzɛmpts/ in US/UK/AU. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: ex-EMPTS. Start with a short 'ig' vowel, then a crisp 'z' /z/ + 'empt' /ɛmpt/ cluster, and end with a clear /s/ sound. The 'x' here yields /gz/ after the initial i- sound, so you say 'ig' + 'z' directly into the 'ɛmpts' portion. Practice by saying 'ig-zempts' in a quick, even tempo, then link to the surrounding words without pausing after the stressed syllable.
Common errors include pronouncing it as 'ex-empt-s' with a too-short /z/ or misplacing the /z/ before the /ɛm/ cluster. Another mistake is blending the /gz/ into a single /g/ or /k/ sound, like 'ig-zempts' or 'eg-zempts'. The final 'pts' can be rushed or devoiced. Correction: clearly articulate the /gz/ sequence after the initial vowel, then release the /pt/ with a brief stop before the /s/. Emphasize the second syllable and avoid adding extra vowels between /z/ and /ɛmpt/.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /ɪɡˈzɛmpts/. US often realizes the initial 'ig' as a quick reduction, while UK and AU may show a slightly crisper /ɡz/ onset and more rounded vowel in /ɪ/. Rhoticity doesn’t change this word much since the vowel is within the stressed syllable rather than a post-vocalic r environment. Australians may have a marginally broader vowel in /ɪ/ depending on speaker, but the /zɛmpts/ remains consistent. Overall, the main differences are subtle vowel quality and speed of the /gz/ release.
The difficulty centers on the consonant cluster /gz/ followed by /ɛmpt/. The /z/ blends into the /ɛmpt/ cluster, and the final /pt/ requires a brief, crisp stop before the /s/. In rapid speech, you may drop the /z/ or merge /gz/ into /g/; you may also devoice the final /s/. Focus on the precise sequence: /ɡz/ → /ɛmpt/ → /s/, keeping the stress on the /zɛmpts/ portion and avoiding an extra vowel between /z/ and /ɛmpt/.
Notice the transition from the 'ex-' prefix to the root 'empts,' where the 'x' behaves like /gz/ rather than a standalone /k/ or /z/ sound. This makes it different from words ending in '-ex' that are pronounced with /k/ or /s/ alone. Ensure the 'gz' is tight and fast, then land on the syllable boundary before the final /s/. This micro-phonetic cue helps you avoid flattening the word or adding extraneous vowels.
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- US: tend toward a slightly tighter /ɡz/ and clearer /ɛmpt/; keep the vowels brisk and avoid lengthened pauses. - UK: may have a marginally more precise articulation of the /z/ and a slightly brighter /ɪ/; ensure non-rhoticity doesn’t affect the /z/ transition. - AU: often broader vowels; maintain the /ɡz/ cluster crisply and allow a swift, almost clipped /t/ before the final /s/. IPA notes: /ɪˈzɛmpts/ in some transcriptions may reflect a reduced initial vowel; prefer /ɪɡˈzɛmpts/ for accuracy.
Exempts comes from the Latin eximere, meaning to take out, remove, or take away. The prefix ex- implies outward or former, while emere is tied to emere, meaning to take, obtain, or acquire. Over time, eximere evolved into Old French esprendre or exempter, with the sense of freeing from a duty. The noun exemption shares the same root idea—being set apart from a rule. In English, exempts emerged in the early modern period as a verb form meaning to free from an obligation; by the 16th–17th centuries, exemptions and exempt had consolidated around legal and administrative language. The modern usage focuses on reducing responsibility or eligibility. First known use as a verb in English appears in legal documents and ecclesiastical records, with the sense of relieving from a charge or duty. The coalescence into general use grew as bureaucratic and policy language expanded, making exempts a common verb in policy descriptions and contractual language. The word has retained its core sense across centuries, though the contexts broadened—from religious exemptions to tax and regulatory relief, to general duties in organizational policy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "exempts" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "exempts"
-pts sounds
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