How to pronounce "exact"

exact

Noun
American
/ɪɡˈzækt/

Syllable Breakdown

ex act

How natives say exact

British
/ɪɡˈzækt/

Syllable Breakdown

ex act

How natives say exact

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with a short 'ih' sound like in 'it'.

  • Move to a hard 'g' sound, similar to 'go'.

  • Emphasize 'zak', pronouncing it with a relaxed 'a' and ending with 'kt'.

Common Mistakes

  • ex-act instead of ig-zact

  • ex-zact instead of ig-zact

  • ek-zact instead of ig-zact

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with a short 'ih' sound similar to 'it'.

  • Follow with a hard 'g' as in 'go'.

  • Emphasize 'zak' with a lighter 'a' and complete with 'kt'.

common mistakes

  • same as American

  • same as American

  • same as American

FAQ

Is the 'g' silent?

No, you pronounce the 'g' firmly like in 'go'.

How do I stress the word?

Emphasize the 'zak' part of the word.

Is 'exact' always two syllables?

Yes, 'exact' is always broken down into 'ex-act'.

Definition

exact

The precise amount or time.

Word Family

exactly

/ɪɡˈzæktli/

adverb

Precisely

Example: That's exactly what I mean.

exactness

/ɪɡˈzæktnəs/

noun

Quality of being precise

Example: The exactness of her work is amazing.

inexact

/ˌɪnɪɡˈzækt/

adjective

Not precise

Example: The data is inexact.

Key Pronunciation Differences

'Exactly' adds a 'ly' sound at the end.

'Exactness' adds a 'ness' sound.

'Inexact' begins with an 'in' sound, unlike 'exact'.

Pro Tips

Breaking Down the Word

Practice saying each syllable slowly first, then combine them.

Recording Yourself

Listen to recordings of native speakers, then record yourself to compare.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Exact

ability

/əˈbɪləti/

accessory

/əkˈsɛsəri/

adapt

/əˈdæpt/

adjust

/əˈdʒʌst/

advance

/ədˈvæns/

also

/ˈɔl.soʊ/

alter

/ˈɔltər/

apparatus

/ˌæp.əˈɹeɪ.təs/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

adjoin

abroad

agenda