4 syllables: fed, er, al, ists. Stress on fed.
FED-ur-uh-lists
/ˈfɛdɚəlɪsts/
federalists is pronounced FED-ur-uh-lists (/ˈfɛdɚəlɪsts/). It has four syllables (fed-er-al-ists), with the stress on "fed". Federalists refers to proponents of a system of government or a political party advocating a federation or union of states with a strong central authority. In historical context, it denotes supporters of the United States Constitution during the late 18th century. The term is used in political discourse to describe groups favoring centralized governance and a federal system. (2-4 sentences; 50-80 words).
Federalists refers to proponents of a system of government or a political party advocating a federation or union of states with a strong central authority. In historical context, it denotes supporters of the United States Constitution during the late 18th century. The term is used in political discourse to describe groups favoring centralized governance and a federal system. (2-4 sentences; 50-80 words)
- You may over-articulate the second syllable, saying /ˈfɛdərˌælɪsts/; instead, reduce to /ˈfɛdərəlɪsts/ with a schwa or borderline /ər/ in the second vowel. - Forget the final -s consonant wave; ensure you articulate a crisp /ts/ or /sts/ ending without extra syllables. - Stress mistakes: avoid stressing the second or third syllable; keep primary stress on FED. - In connected speech, the /d/ often blends into the following /ə/; practice with continuous speech to avoid an artificial pause between /fɛd/ and /ər/.
"The Federalists argued for a stronger national government in the ratification debates."
"During the 1787 convention, Federalists supported the new constitutional framework."
"The term Federalists is often contrasted with Anti-Federalists in early American history."
Pronounce as /ˈfɛdərəlɪsts/ for US and UK settings; stress is on the first syllable: FED-er-alists. The sequence -er- in the second syllable is a schwa-like vowel in rapid speech, and the final -ists is pronounced as /ɪsts/ with a short i. Tips: keep the /f/ and /d/ clear, avoid tensing the second syllable; gentle, quick ‘-əl-’ reduction helps natural rhythm.
Common errors include over-pronouncing the second syllable as /ˈfɛdərəlɪsts/ with a full vowel in -er-, or rendering the final -ists as /ɪstz/ or /ɪsts/ with extra consonant voicing. Another pitfall is stressing the wrong syllable, saying /ˈfɛdərjuːlɪsts/ or /fɛdəˈrəlɪsts/. Correction: keep the primary stress on FED, reduce the second syllable to a schwa /ə/ (or /ər/ in connected speech), and end with /ɪsts/.
In US English, /ˈfɛdərəlɪsts/ with a rhotic /r/ in the second syllable and clear /l/; UK English tends to reduce the second syllable slightly and may articulate the /r/ less prominently in non-rhotic positions, producing /ˈfedərəlɪsts/; Australian often lengthens the vowel in the first syllable slightly and uses a more centralized /ə/ in /ɜː/ish quality, yielding /ˈfɛdərəˌlɪsts/. In all, the final -ts remains crisp.
The difficulty lies in the sequence /dərə/ where the /ɹ/ (r) followed by a schwa can blur in rapid speech, and the final /ɪsts/ must stay light and fast to avoid an extra syllable. The stress on the first syllable can cause speakers to overemphasize the second syllable if not careful. Practice by isolating /fɛd/ and /ər/ before attaching the /əlɪsts/ ending.
Does -al- in 'federalists' carry a strong vowel or is it reduced? In careful speech you often hear a near-schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, i.e., /ˈfɛdərəˌlɪsts/ with the -al- portion reduced. In faster speech, the sequence /dər/ helps the word glide into the /lə/; focus on keeping the /t/ silent or very lightly released in rapid delivery.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /fɪ/ or /ˈfɛdərə/; keep /r/ clear but not exaggerated. - UK: less pronounced rhotics; the /r/ may be silent in some contexts; maintain /ˈfedərəlɪsts/ with a light /ə/. - AU: more centralized vowel qualities; the /ɜː/ or /ə/ might be a touch more centralized; practice with /ˈfɛdərəlɪsts/ and listen for a slightly flatter first vowel. - General tip: always link the schwa to the following syllable for smooth rhythm; avoid a choppy, staccato -itis ending.
The term Federalist comes from the Latin f?der?lis via the early modern period through the French fédéraliste and the English Federalist, ultimately used to describe supporters of a federal system—one in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent units. The notion of a federation traces back to constitutional theory in 17th- and 18th-century Europe, where thinkers debated centralization versus local autonomy. In American history, Federalists were supporters of the new U.S. Constitution and a stronger central government, distinguishing them from Anti-Federalists who favored states’ rights. The word entered English usage in the late 18th century, gaining prominence during the ratification debates of 1787–1788. The plural form federalists denotes adherents of the federal system; the singular federalist refers to an individual in favor of such governance. The term has since extended to various political movements in other federal systems and remains a label for proponents of centralized governance within a federation.
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Words that rhyme with "federalists"
-sts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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