KAH-myuh-niz-uhm
/ˈkɑmjəˌnɪzəm/
communism is pronounced KAH-myuh-niz-uhm (/ˈkɑmjəˌnɪzəm/). Communism is a political and economic ideology advocating communal ownership of means of production, with a classless society as the ultimate goal. It analyzes class struggle and aims to abolish private property to distribute resources according to need. In practice, “communism” often refers to theories derived from Marxist thought and the historical movements that claimed to implement them.
Communism is a political and economic ideology advocating communal ownership of means of production, with a classless society as the ultimate goal. It analyzes class struggle and aims to abolish private property to distribute resources according to need. In practice, “communism” often refers to theories derived from Marxist thought and the historical movements that claimed to implement them.
"The seminar explored the core principles of communism and its historical impact."
"Her speech critiqued how some regimes branded themselves as communist while curtailing personal freedoms."
"Scholars debated whether late-20th-century states were truly communist or more accurately socialist with authoritarian overtones."
Pronounce it as /ˈkɒm.juː.nɪ.zəm/ in careful US English or /ˈkɒm.jʊ.nɪ.zəm/ in many UK/AU contexts. The primary stress is on the first syllable COM-, followed by a brief, soft -u- in the middle and a weak -mɪz- before the final -əm. Mouth position: start with a rounded /ɒ/ in the first syllable, glide to /ju/ or /jʊ/ for the second, then /nɪ/ and a quick, light /zəm/ at the end. Listen for a smooth, continuous flow rather than separate, crisp syllables.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting it on -nism or -sm), mispronouncing the middle vowel as /ɪ/ instead of a lax /jʊ/ sequence, and adding an extra syllable in the middle (co-mmu-nism). Correct by: keeping primary stress on COM-, using a clear /ju/ or /jʊ/ after /m/, and finishing with a short, unstressed /zəm/. Practice with minimal pairs: COM-ju-nizm vs COM-nu-nizm clarifies the middle vowel and syllable boundaries.
In US speech, you’ll hear /ˈkɒm.juː.nɪ.zəm/ with a more rounded first vowel and a longer /uː/ in the second syllable. UK/AU accents typically feature /ˈkɒm.jʊ.nɪ.zəm/ with a shorter /ʊ/ vs /juː/; both share non-rhotic tendencies and a lightly pronounced final -m. The main differences lie in the vowel length and quality of the second syllable’s vowel before -nɪ- and -zəm, with rhoticity affecting whether an /r/ is heard before a vowel in some US variants.
The challenge comes from the cluster /mjuː/ or /mju/ in the middle, which often morphs to /mʊ/ or /mju/ depending on accent, and the final schwa-like /zəm/ that can be devoiced. The initial COM- can be easily mis-stressed on the second or third syllable. Also, some speakers misread -mun- as /mun/ or /mən/; focus on sustaining a clean /ˈkɒm/ with a concise second syllable center and a quick, soft end. IPA guidance helps anchor your articulations.
In communism, the stress is on the first syllable COM-. The middle syllable 'mu' is unstressed and quick, typically pronounced as /ju/ or /jʊ/ depending on the dialect. Make the transition from /ˈkɒm/ to /jə/ or /ju/ smooth, avoiding a heavy emphasis on the middle syllable. Accurate timing keeps the word flowing and prevents a choppy rhythm.
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The word communism comes from the French word communisme, which itself derives from commun, meaning “common, shared.” The root is Latin communis, meaning “of or for the community; shared by all.” The suffix -ism denotes a system, doctrine, or belief. The term began appearing in European political discourse in the early 19th century as writers contrasted communism with other economic systems and with utopian social ideals. Its modern theoretical framework is closely tied to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who articulated scientific socialism and laid out a theory of historical materialism where class struggle leads to a stateless, classless society. The term gained prominence in the 1840s and 1850s during debates about workers’ movements and revolutionary philosophy. Over the 20th century it broadened to describe various political movements that claimed to implement communal ownership and the abolition of private property, often evolving into state-centric regimes. First known written uses appear in French and German treatises of the 1840s, with English usage rising in political discourse by the 1850s. The word’s meaning has since shifted with different historical contexts, but the core association remains: a social system organized around communal ownership and egalitarian distribution.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "communism" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "communism"
-ism sounds
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