2 syllables: Fas, cist. Stress on Fas.
FASH-ist
/ˈfæʃɪst/
Fascist is pronounced FASH-ist (/ˈfæʃɪst/). It has two syllables (Fas-cist), with the stress on "Fas". Fascist (noun) refers to a person who supports or advocates a centralized, authoritarian government and supremacist or nationalist ideologies, often with dictatorial power. It can describe an individual who adheres to fascist principles. The term is frequently used to critique or condemn extremist politics and methods. It carries strong negative connotations in most contexts.
nounFascist (noun) refers to a person who supports or advocates a centralized, authoritarian government and supremacist or nationalist ideologies, often with dictatorial power. It can describe an individual who adheres to fascist principles. The term is frequently used to critique or condemn extremist politics and methods. It carries strong negative connotations in most contexts.
How to Pronounce Fascist
"The protest leader accused his opponent of being a fascist for supporting violent suppression of dissent."
"Historically, fascists promoted aggressive nationalism and centralized control over the state."
"Many scholars study how fascists manipulate propaganda to gain public support."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on the two-syllable accent: /ˈfæˌʃɪst/ (prioritizing the short /æ/ in the first syllable and the lax /ɪ/ in the second). The stress pattern is initial primary stress on the first syllable with a light second syllable onset. Tip: keep /æ/ bright and open, then glide into /ʃ/ before the /ɪ/ and final /st/. Practice with sources like Forvo for audio reference and align with your own natural voice.
Common errors: 1) Merging the two syllables too evenly, producing /ˈfæːˌʃɪst/—aim for crisp second syllable onset /ʃɪ/. 2) Overpronouncing the /æ/ or making it too forward, which clouds the expected /æ/ in fast speech. Correct by relaxing the jaw and using a shorter first vowel to land in /æ/ quickly. 3) Flapping or inserting a vowel between /f/ and /æ/; keep /f/ release clean before the vowel. Practice with minimal pairs like fascist vs face-ist are not correct; instead focus on fascist vs fast-ist patterns.
US: rhotic with clearer /r/? Actually /ˈfæˌʃɪst/; /ˈfæs.ɪst/ in some dialects; the first syllable is stressed, rapid transition to /ʃ/ for the second. UK: often two syllables with an unstressed second vowel and sometimes more clipped /ˈfæs.ɪst/; AU: similar to UK but with slightly broader vowels; vowel length remains short. Accent differences mainly center on the vowels in /æ/ vs /a/ and the /r/ not present; rhoticity is not relevant for fascist since there is no /r/ in default pronunciations.
Because it blends a stressed open-front vowel /æ/ into a palatalized /ʃ/ cluster before a voiceless /t/; many learners mispronounce by adding extra vowels or de-emphasizing /ʃ/. The sequence /æ-ʃ/ is fast, and in connected speech the /st/ can reduce slightly. Also, the stress on the first syllable and rapid onset of /ʃ/ can cause tempo issues. Practice by isolating the /æ/ and /ʃ/ sequence slowly, then link to /st/.
A unique facet is the strong onset cluster /f/ followed by /æ/ and the palatal /ʃ/ before the lax /ɪ/ and final /st/. This creates a tight, rapid mouth movement: lower jaw opens for /æ/, tongue moves to alveopalatal /ʃ/, then a quick /ɪ/ before /st/. Keeping tongue high for /ʃ/ and ensuring the /s/ and /t/ are clearly released helps avoid blending. Use careful mouth positioning and practice with minimal pairs and shadowing.
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US: rhotic but fascist does not include /r/. Focus on a tight /æ/ and a crisp /ʃ/ followed by /ɪ/ and final /st/. UK: keep /æ/ drift toward /a/ in some dialects but keep clarity on /ʃ/? AU: vowels may be broader; keep the same sequence; maintain crisp /st/. Use IPA as anchor: /ˈfæˌʃɪst/ or /ˈfæs.ɪst/ depending on speaker. Listen to variations in Cambridge/ Oxford dictionaries for UK; Forvo for regional accents.
The noun fascist derives from the Italian fascio, meaning a bundle or group, and the Fascisti, the name of the political movement founded in Italy by Benito Mussolini in 1919. The root fasc- is linked to Latin fasces, a bundle of rods bound around an axe carried by magistrates in ancient Rome, symbolizing unified authority and power. The term in its political sense emerged in early 20th-century Italy to describe followers of Mussolini’s brand of ultranationalism and totalitarian rule. English usage began in the 1920s as the Italian movement gained notoriety and spread influences, ultimately adopting the general meaning of “authoritarian nationalist extremism” beyond Italy. Over time, fascist has taken on a strongly pejorative tone in most English-speaking contexts, applied to movements, ideologies, or individuals exhibiting dictatorial control, suppression of dissent, militaristic aggression, and racial or ethnic supremacy. Modern discussions emphasize the dangers of fascist ideologies, their propensity for propaganda, scapegoating, and violent enforcement, often in historical retrospection or contemporary critique. The word’s emotional charge and historical context shape its usage and impact in political discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Fascist" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Fascist"
-ast sounds
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