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Pronunciation

How to pronounce “effect”

“effect” is pronounced /ɪˈfɛkt/ (ih-FEKT), and /ˈifɛkt/ and /əˈfɛkt/ are also accepted — 2 syllables, stressed on “fect”.
The sound

Say “effect” in 2 beats

Say it like this

effect

/ɪˈfɛkt/

The voice you hear here is American; a British voice is available in the app's settings.

2 beats
  1. efɪ
  2. fectfɛktstress
IPA (American)
/ɪˈfɛkt/
IPA (British)
/ɪˈfɛkt/
Also accepted
/ˈifɛkt/
Also accepted
/əˈfɛkt/
Respelling
ih-FEKT
Syllables
2 — ef-FECT
Stress
Stress the second syllable: ef-FECT. “fect” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.
Part of speech
noun, verb
Difficulty
Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
Watch out

Where “effect” goes wrong

  • Often heard

    “uh-FEKT”

    the noun effect starts with a short i or e; the verb affect starts with a schwa

Meaning

What “effect” means

  1. noun

    a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

    “the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise”

  2. noun

    an outward appearance

    “he made a good impression”

  3. noun

    an impression (especially one that is artificial or contrived)

    “he just did it for effect”

Say it in a sentence

“The new lighting had an immediate effect on the whole room.”
Sound by sound

The sounds inside this word

5 sounds, in the order you say them
ɪshort iffɛshort ekktt

Each sound has its own page: where the tongue goes, what it is usually confused with, and words to drill it on.

Questions

“effect”, answered

How do you pronounce “effect”?

“effect” is pronounced /ɪˈfɛkt/ (ih-FEKT), and /ˈifɛkt/ and /əˈfɛkt/ are also accepted — 2 syllables, stressed on “fect”. Build it as ef-FECT, then run the second syllable a little longer than the rest and let the others reduce.

How many syllables does “effect” have?

2: ef · fect. The beat lands on the second, “fect”.

Is “effect” /ɪˈfɛkt/ or /ˈifɛkt/?

Both. /ɪˈfɛkt/ is the form dictionaries list first (ih-FEKT).

What does “effect” mean?

As a noun: a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon For example: “the magnetic effect was greater when the rod was lengthwise” It carries 2 other senses as well — all of them said the same way.

Where is the stress in “effect”?

Stress the second syllable: ef-FECT. “fect” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.

Practise this word

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