FASH-iz-uhm
/ˈfæˌʃɪzəm/
Fascism is pronounced FASH-iz-uhm (/ˈfæˌʃɪzəm/). Fascism is a political ideology that advocates a centralized, autocratic government led by a dictatorial leader, intense nationalism, and suppression of dissent. It rejects liberal democracy in favor of totalitarian control, often employing propaganda and militaristic symbolism. The term originated in the early 20th century and is associated with regimes that emphasize strength, unity, and obedience above individual rights.
nounFascism is a political ideology that advocates a centralized, autocratic government led by a dictatorial leader, intense nationalism, and suppression of dissent. It rejects liberal democracy in favor of totalitarian control, often employing propaganda and militaristic symbolism. The term originated in the early 20th century and is associated with regimes that emphasize strength, unity, and obedience above individual rights.
How to Pronounce Fascism
"The academic warned that contemporary movements bearing fascist traits could erode democratic norms."
"She wrote a critique of fascism, highlighting the dangers of nationalist mythmaking."
"The history lecture traced fascism’s rise to economic turmoil and social unrest."
Pronounce as /ˈfæʃ.ɪ.zəm/ in US and UK; primary stress on the first syllable. Tip: the middle ‘shi’ sounds like ‘she’ but with a short i, and the final ‘zm’ is an almost syllabic z plus m. You can listen to reputable diction sources for audio reference and mimic the rhythm of ‘FAS-hiz-um’ with a light schwa in the middle.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (placing on second syllable), pronouncing as ‘fas-sizm’ with a dark, long vowel across syllables, or turning the second vowel into a full ‘i’ sound. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a short, clipped ‘i’ in the second syllable, and finish with a soft ‘-z-um’ via a relaxed jaw. Listen to /ˈfæʃ.ɪ.zəm/ and imitate the rhythm.
In US and UK, the initial /ˈfæ/ is the same, with /ʃ/ following. US speakers often reduce the middle vowel slightly, yielding /ˈfæʃ.ɪ.zəm/; UK speakers may maintain a clearer /ɪ/ and lighter /z/. Australian tends toward a quick, clipped middle syllable and slightly broader vowel in /ˈfæ.ʃɪ.zəm/. Overall, rhoticity is not a major factor here; the main variation is vowel quality and speed.
The difficulty lies in the rapid, three-syllable sequence with a light mid-vocalic nucleus and the final cluster /ʒ/ followed by /m/, which can blur in casual speech. The two-letter “sh” (/ʃ/) sound in the middle requires a precise place of articulation, especially after a stressed syllable. Focus on maintaining a crisp /ʃ/ and a quick, reduced /ɪ/ in the middle to avoid elongating the vowel.
In fascism, the letter cluster is not pronounced as /sk/ but as the /ʃ/ sound, giving the sequence /fæʃ.ɪ.zəm/. The 'sc' here yields a single palatal fricative /ʃ/ (like 'sh'). This is a common pitfall; learners may pronounce /fæsˈkɪz.ɪm/ or /fæskɪzəm/. Correct approach keeps /ʃ/ after /fæ/ and results in /fæ ʃ ɪ z əm/ with a mild, unstressed final syllable.
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The word fascism derives from the Italian fascio, meaning a bundle or group, symbolizing strength through unity. It was adopted by the Italian political movement founded by Benito Mussolini in the early 20th century. The term was popularized as an ideology advocating a centralized autocratic state and nationalistic fervor. The concept grew from early 1900s Italian nationalist currents and socialist influences, but shifted toward anti-democratic, militaristic governance. In English, fascism entered discourse around the 1920s and became associated with Mussolini’s regime and later with dictator-led movements; it is used historically to describe regimes characterized by authoritarian leadership, suppression of dissent, and propaganda, as well as more modern usages to critique similar authoritarian tendencies. First known use in English occurred around the 1920s, aligning with political science scholarship on European totalitarian movements.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Fascism" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Fascism"
-asm sounds
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