2 syllables: is, m. Stress on is.
IZ-uhm
/ˈɪzəm/
ism is pronounced IZ-uhm (/ˈɪzəm/). It has two syllables (is-m), with the stress on "is". ism is a suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs or adjectives (for example, realism, capitalism). It also appears in standalone words describing belief systems or practices. In phonetics, the sequence is a single syllable with a stressed consonant sound followed by the schwa or a reduced vowel in fast speech, yielding a compact, clipped ending. Overall, it signals a system, doctrine, or characteristic quality within a larger term.
ism is a suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs or adjectives (for example, realism, capitalism). It also appears in standalone words describing belief systems or practices. In phonetics, the sequence is a single syllable with a stressed consonant sound followed by the schwa or a reduced vowel in fast speech, yielding a compact, clipped ending. Overall, it signals a system, doctrine, or characteristic quality within a larger term.
- You might over-articulate the second syllable, making it sound like /ˈɪz.ɪ.zəm/ rather than a quick /ˈɪz.ɪz(ə)m/. Focus on a compact second vowel and almost-invisible schwa where appropriate. - Another pitfall is adding a full vowel before final /m/ and producing /ˈɪz.ɪ.zə m/. Keep the final /m/ immediately after the second vowel and release softly. - The most common error is placing stress on the suffix or distributing it evenly across both syllables; remember the primary stress stays on the first syllable /ˈɪz/.
"The artist explored minimalism as an ism in modern design."
"Relativism is an ism that questions absolute truth."
"The therapist warned against cult-like ism in groups."
Pronounce it as /ˈɪz.ɪz(ə)m/ in careful speech, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable ends with a clear z sound, and the second syllable contains a reduced vowel before a final lightly released m. In fast speech you may hear /ˈɪzəm/ or /ˈɪz.ɪz/ depending on rhythm. Mute or de-emphasize any extra vowel between the two syllables in rapid contexts. IPA references: US as /ˈɪz.ɪz(ə)m/, UK similarly /ˈɪz.ɪz(ə)m/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (treating it as a two-syllable, heavily stressed word) and adding an unnecessary extra vowel between the two syllables (like /ˈɪz.ɪ.zəm/). Another frequent slip is a drawn-out final -m instead of a brief, clipped release. To correct, practice a sharp initial /ɪz/ cluster, then quickly reduce the second vowel to a schwa or faster /ɪz/ before the final /m/. Recording can help you hear over-articulation.
In US, UK, and AU, the main features are similar, with /ˈɪz/ as the stressed onset and a short, reduced vowel before /m/. The key variation is the degree of rhoticity and vowel length: US often has a slightly longer first vowel and a more clipped final 'm'; UK tends toward a lighter, more central vowel in the second syllable; AU can blend more, yielding a less distinct final syllable in rapid speech. Across all, avoid adding a rhotic 'r' or prolonging the final consonant.
The challenge lies in balancing a clear, crisp onset /ɪz/ with a rapid, lightly articulated second syllable that sometimes reduces to /ɪz/ or /əm/ without a strong vowel. The final /m/ requires gentle release rather than a strong nasal stop. Learners often insert an extra vowel between /ɪz/ and /m/ or over-articulate the second syllable. Practice aiming for a swift transition: /ˈɪz.ɪz(m)/ with a controlled, quiet final /m/.
Yes—focus on the boundary between the stem /ɪz/ and the suffix element, which is often reduced in fast speech. The first syllable carries primary stress, and the second syllable should be compact, with the vowel reduced to a schwa or omitted in quicker phrases. Ensuring the -m is released without voicing that drags the preceding vowel helps achieve natural rhythm in phrases like 'capitalism' and 'realism'.
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- US: emphasize a crisp, slightly longer first /ɪ/ then a quick /z/; keep the second syllable brief and muffled like /-ɪz/ or /-əz/ before /m/; rhoticity is not a factor here. - UK: lighter overall; aim for a shorter, less pronounced second syllable; keep /ɪ/ as a near-close near-front vowel and /z/ as a clear but not overly prolonged voiceless consonant; final /m/ should be a clean closure. - AU: tends toward more vowel blending and reduced vowel quality in the second syllable; practice quick transition between /ɪz/ and /m/ with a softer mouth closure; keep rhythm steady in connected speech.
The word ism originates from the Greek suffix -ισμός (-ismos) via Latin -ismus and French -isme, used to form abstract nouns from roots indicating behavior, belief, or practice. The root concept comes from the Greek suffix -ισμός (-ismos), which indicates a system, set of practices, or characteristic of a person or group. In English, -ism first appears in the late Middle English period, borrowed during the 14th–15th centuries as scholars translated philosophical treatises and religious writings. Originally used to denote religious creeds or political ideologies, the suffix broadened to any systematic belief or characteristic (e.g., realism, liberalism). Over centuries, -ism became a productive derivational morpheme, enabling a vast array of terms across domains such as art (Impressionism), politics (communism), and linguistics (competitiveness, positivism). The first widely attested English uses often appear in scholarly contexts, with early printed texts in the 15th and 16th centuries documenting intellectual movements. Today, -ism remains a versatile, high-frequency morpheme that signals a formalized system, doctrine, or trend, frequently used in academic, cultural, and critical discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "ism"
-ism sounds
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