accept and except

[jctgf]

Hi,
I notice no or almost no difference between the pronunciation of these words.
Are they really pronounced the same way?
Thanks.

[stuartnz]

Originally Posted by jctgf

Hi,
I notice no or almost no difference between the pronunciation of these words.
Are they really pronounced the same way?
Thanks.

(not a professional teacher) In the interests of clarity of meaning, they probably should not be pronounced the same way, but they often are. At least here in NZ, I would say that they are most often almost indistinguishable when spoken, and so the context in which they are used is the only means of determining which is meant.

[jctgf]

Hi Stuart!
I personally prefer to pronounce "accept" with a very distinctive "a", like the "a" of "America". Do you think it is a problem?
Thanks.

[stuartnz]

Originally Posted by jctgf

Hi Stuart!
I personally prefer to pronounce "accept" with a very distinctive "a", like the "a" of "America". Do you think it is a problem?
Thanks.

Not a problem at all. I often make the difference audibly clear if I think there is any possibility of confusion or uncertainty.

[Buddhaheart]

At least in theory the <a> in “accept” is pronounced as the unaccented schwa /c/ (a central vowel) while the first <e> in “except” is pronounced as the short /w/ (a mid high front vowel).

[Kevin89]

I have an Oxford dictionary with very useful pronunciation symbols (IPA) written behind the words. I looked up both words and this is what this dictionary tells me:
Except: /ɪkˈsept/
Accept: /əkˈsept/
Note that even the stress on the syllables are exactly the same. The only difference is that accept starts with a schwa, and that except starts with a /ɪ/ like in <sit>. So there is a difference, but indeed quite hard to tell when the language is spoken in its normal speed.
PS: The symbols are written in recieved pronunciation accent.

[lisa333]

(not a professional teacher) In common usage in American English, they sound (to my ear) exactly the same.

Listen to it on Dictionary.com or SpellingCity.com. Sounds the same to me.....