age, message


On a strong syllable, this follows the mat-mate pattern:
/eɪdʒ/
age, cage, page, rage, wage

On a weak syllable, we pronounce it as below:
/ɪdʒ/
advantaɡe, averaɡe, baɡɡaɡe, cabbaɡe, couraɡe, damaɡe
garage*, ɡarbaɡe, imaɡe, lanɡuaɡe /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/, luɡɡaɡe, manaɡe, messaɡe, passage, percentage

*You might also hear /ˈɡæraː(d)ʒ/ or /ɡəˈrɑːʒ/ depending on how 'French' people try to be.

The word massage remains an exception: /ˈmæsɑː(d)ʒ/ or /məˈsɑː(d)ʒ/.

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