Dadaism is a movement in art and literature that emerged in the early 20th century as a revolt against conventional aesthetics and societal norms. It embraces absurdity, chance, and anti-bourgeois attitudes, challenging traditional values. As a term, it refers to the ideas, works, and ethos associated with the Dada movement across various cities and media.
US: clear, rhotic vowel patterns; stress remains on the first syllable, vowels are short and crisp; UK: longer /ɑː/ on the first vowel, lightness on second; AU: tends toward mid vowels with slightly rounded /ɪ/ in final syllable, more relaxed intonation. IPA anchors: US /ˈdæ.dæ.ɪ.zəm/, UK /ˈdɑː.də.ɪ.zəm/, AU /ˈdæ.də.ɪ.zəm/. Key contrasts: rhoticity affects the /ɜː/ or /ə/ in some variants, not crucial here but influence is in the second syllable vowel length and rhotic articulation of surrounding vowels.
"Dadaism influenced avant-garde poetry and visual art, pushing artists to experiment with found objects and nonsensical juxtapositions."
"Scholars debate how Dadaism anticipated later movements like Surrealism and Fluxus, yet retained a distinct anti-art stance."
"The gallery opening blended performances with readings that showcased Dadaism’s playful hostility toward tradition."
"In catalog essays, researchers describe Dadaism as a reaction to the trauma of World War I and a critique of rationalism."
Dadaism derives from the French term Dada, used in Zurich cabarets and cabarets of 1916 as a nonsensical exclamation. The word’s origin is debated and likely playful rather than semantic; some accounts claim it was chosen randomly from a dictionary, while others attribute it to a child’s “dada” call. As a movement, Dada emerged around 1916–1919 in Zurich, New York, Berlin, and Paris, coalescing from artists who fled conventional culture during World War I. Early manifestos and performances rejected rationality, championing spontaneity, collage, chance, and anti-art sentiment. By the 1920s, Dadaism had diversified into visual arts, performance, and literature, influencing later modernist currents such as Surrealism and Constructivism. The term became an umbrella for playful, provocative, and anti-establishment creative approaches that persisted in critical discourse long after the original collectives dissolved. First known use in English-language sources appears around 1916–1919 in headlines and manifestos; in German, Dada’s adoption coincided with Cabaret Voltaire’s founding and the broader European avant-garde, embedding the term in art-historical lexicon with enduring symbolic associations of rebellion and inelegant humor.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Dadaism" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dadaism" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Dadaism" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Dadaism"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
You say Dadaism as /ˈdæ.dæ.ɪ.zəm/ in US English or /ˈdɑː.də.ɪ.zəm/ in UK English, with the primary stress on the first syllable. Break it into three syllables: DA-da-ism, where DA is emphasized. Position your mouth for /æ/ (open front unrounded) in the first two vowels, and finish with /zəm/ soothing to make the final syllable light. Audio reference: you can compare to “Dada” + “ism” in pronunciation tools to verify the /æ/ vs /ɑː/ difference.
Common errors include flattening the middle vowel into /ə/ or /ɪ/ making it DA-duh-ism, and misplacing the stress by saying da-DA-ism. Correct by emphasizing the first two syllables: DA-da-ism, with /æ/ in US and /ɑː/ in UK. Keep final /zəm/ as a soft, voiced consonant followed by a reduced /əm/. Practice slow: /ˈdæ.dæ.ɪ.zəm/ and then accelerate. Listening to native references and shadowing helps fix the rhythm and vowel quality.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈdæ.dæ.ɪ.zəm/, with a clear /æ/ in the first two vowels. UK English typically shifts to /ˈdɑː.də.ɪ.zəm/ with a longer /ɑː/ and a schwa in the second syllable; the rhythm remains stress-on-first-syllable. Australian tends to merge /ə/ less than UK, producing /ˈdæ.də.ɪ.zəm/ or /ˈdæ.dæ.ɪ.zəm/ depending on speaker. Focus on the initial DA, keep the middle unstressed-ish, and round out the final /zəm/ smoothly.
The difficulty lies in the alternating short vowels and the sequence /ˈdæ.dæ.ɪ.zəm/, which places stress on the first syllable and keeps the middle unstressed vowel sound. The /ɪ/ in the third syllable can trip learners expecting a plain /iː/ or /i/. Practice by isolating each segment: DA-DA-ism, then blend with light /z/ and a quick schwa in /zəm/. Pay attention to the transition between /æ/ and /ɪ/ to avoid a harsh diphthong.
The word’s two initial DAs create a reduplicated rhythm DA-DA, which is common in English loan-words but needs clean, equal vowel quality. The third syllable is /ɪ/ or /ɪz/ depending on the variant, so you should ensure the /ɪ/ doesn’t reduce to a near-schwa. Visualize saying DA-DA as a tight unit, then finish with -ism quickly. IPA anchors: US /ˈdæ.dæ.ɪ.zəm/, UK /ˈdɑː.də.ɪ.zəm/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Dadaism"!
No related words found
