How to pronounce “effect”
Effect is pronounced /ɪˈfekt/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — fekt. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting fekt in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “effect”
✗ Often said: /ˈefekt/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ɪˈfekt/
Why the two come apart: the stress lands on the second syllable (“fekt”), not on the first one — putting the beat at the front is the mistake almost everyone makes; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “effect” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“effect” sound by sound
“effect” is built out of 5 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
-
ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
-
fRest the upper teeth lightly on the lower lip and push air through the gap without voicing.
-
eHold the tongue mid-high and forward with the jaw slightly open and lips relaxed and unrounded.
-
kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
-
tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
Words that rhyme with “effect”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “effect”
Each of these differs from “effect” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “effect”
- How do you pronounce “effect”?
- “effect” is pronounced /ɪˈfekt/, with the stress on the second syllable (fekt). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “effect”?
- “effect” has 2 syllables: ɪ · fekt. The stress pattern is oO.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “effect”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈefekt/, but it is actually /ɪˈfekt/, because the stress lands on the second syllable (“fekt”), not on the first one — putting the beat at the front is the mistake almost everyone makes.
Stop looking words up one at a time
You just looked up one word. PHONO puts the IPA above every word of whatever you are reading — in your browser, in a PDF, in any app — the moment you select it. An offline pronunciation dictionary, US and UK audio, one hotkey.