verb — to influence or change something — 'The weather affects my mood.'
mouth shape
first syllable is a schwa /ə/ — relaxed, unstressed, barely there — then stressed /ˈfɛkt/
affect
/əˈfɛkt/
vowel length
plays as: “the weather affects my mood”
noun — a result caused by something else — 'The weather has an effect on my mood.'
mouth shape
first syllable is a short, clipped /ɪ/ — tongue high and forward — then the same stressed /ˈfɛkt/ as affect
effect
/ɪˈfɛkt/
vowel length
plays as: “the weather has an effect on my mood”
Honest note
In fast, natural speech, the first syllables of affect and effect often blend together and sound nearly identical — both can reduce toward a quick, unstressed vowel. Don’t rely on your ear alone here: context and spelling are what actually tell you which one is meant.
Key difference
affect (verb): first syllable is a schwa /ə/ — 'to affect'.
effect (noun): first syllable is a short /ɪ/ — 'an effect'.
Both share the same stressed second syllable, /fɛkt/ — only the unstressed first vowel differs.
Memory tip: RAVEN
Remember: Affect = Verb, Effect = Noun.
Example sentences
affect:“The weather affects my mood.”
effect:“The weather has an effect on my mood.”
Hear it in the wild
Real speech from native speakers — the most reliable way to check a pronunciation, since automated audio can vary by device and browser.
affect
Hear native speakers say “affect” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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effect
Hear native speakers say “effect” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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How teachers explain this
Approved tips from the community, sorted by helpfulness
Word families
affect family ▸
effect family ▸
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