Spanish speakers, watch out: accident is not 'ak-sident' with a swallowed C, and not 'a-thident' either. It is /ˈæk-sɪ-dənt/ - a hard /k/ AND a soft /s/, because the two C's do different jobs.
The Rule: It is the soft-C rule twice. The first C is always /k/. The second C is /s/ before E, I or Y, giving CC = /ks/. Before any other letter the second C is also /k/, giving CC = /k/.
CC = /ks/ (before E, I, Y)
More: access, accept, eccentric, vaccinate.
CC = /k/ (everywhere else)
More: occasion, broccoli, tobacco, hiccup, occupy.
Why Does This Happen?
C has been 'soft' (/s/) before E, I and Y since Latin passed through French. When two C's meet, only the second one touches the vowel, so only the second one can soften. The first stays a solid /k/.
Quick Summary
| Next letter | CC sound | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| E, I, Y | /ks/ | accent, accident, success, vaccine |
| A, O, U, consonant | /k/ | account, occur, soccer, accommodate |
Want to train your ear and mouth on these patterns? Try our interactive pronunciation practice and hear each sound in context.