JOO-day-iz-uhm
/ˈdʒudeɪˌɪzəm/
Judaism is pronounced JOO-day-iz-uhm (/ˈdʒudeɪˌɪzəm/). Judaism is a noun referring to the religion, philosophy, and way of life of the Jewish people. It encompasses beliefs, practices, traditions, and identity rooted in biblical and rabbinic teachings. The term can also denote the cultural and historical community associated with Judaism. It is often discussed in religious, academic, and cultural contexts and is widely recognized across languages and media.
nounJudaism is a noun referring to the religion, philosophy, and way of life of the Jewish people. It encompasses beliefs, practices, traditions, and identity rooted in biblical and rabbinic teachings. The term can also denote the cultural and historical community associated with Judaism. It is often discussed in religious, academic, and cultural contexts and is widely recognized across languages and media.
"She studied Judaism to understand its historical development and modern expressions."
"The festival celebrations and synagogue services are central to Judaism for many communities."
"Scholars debated the influence of Judaism on Western philosophy and ethics."
Judaism is pronounced juˈdeɪ.ɪ.zəm (US/UK/AU). The primary stress is on the second syllable: ju-DEI-iz-əm, with the vowel sounds /u/ in 'Ju', /ˈdeɪ/ as the stressed diphthong, and a final schwa /əm/. Start with a light, quick /d/ plus a long /eɪ/ glide, then an unstressed /ɪ/ before /zəm/. Practicing with audio can help you hear the /dʒ/ initial sound merging into /j/: /dʒ/ resembles 'j' in 'judge' leading into /u/. You’ll hear the rhythm as 2 strong syllables followed by a lighter ending.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying ju-DEI- może), mispronouncing the initial /dʒ/ as a hard /j/ or /j/ in isolation, and shortening the final unstressed syllables. Correcting steps: 1) ensure primary stress on the second syllable /ˈdeɪ/; 2) articulate the initial /dʒ/ as a single affricate before /u/; 3) finish with a clear /ɪzəm/ ending, not /ɪz/ or /əm/; keep the final schwa soft and the m lightly pronounced.
In US/UK, the rhythm stays ju-ˈdeɪ-ɪ-zəm, with stress on the second syllable and a rhotacized or non-rhotacized style depending on speaker. US often maintains a clear /ɪ/ before /zəm/, UK may sound a touch more clipped on the final syllable with a subtle /ə/ instead of /ɪ/. Australian pronunciation tends to be more centralized vowels with a slightly more open /æ/ for 'Jud-' among some speakers, while keeping /dʒ/ and the /əˈzeɪ/ pattern intact.
The difficulty lies in the combination of the initial /dʒ/ sound, the stressed mid-syllable /deɪ/, and the final unstressed -ɪzəm. Balancing the diphthong /eɪ/ with a rapid, lightly enunciated final /zəm/ can be tricky, especially for speakers whose language lacks an /dʒ/ cluster or where final schwas are reduced. Focus on the stressed /deɪ/ and keep the /ɪ/ as a short, precise vowel before /zəm/.
A key feature is the shifting stress pattern across languages while preserving the /dʒ/ onset and the /zəm/ ending. In careful speech, you’ll emphasize the /ˈdeɪ/ portion, distinguishing it from similar-sounding terms by ensuring a crisp /z/ before the final /əm/. Also, the first vowel is a rounded /u/ sound, not a plain /u:/, so you should maintain a slight lip rounding for the 'Ju' portion.
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Judaism derives from the Hebrew word Yehudah (Yehuda) meaning 'praise' or 'laudation', linked to the tribe of Judah and the people of Judah. The term arrived in English via Latin Iudaismus or Iudaeismus, from Greek Ioudaismos, originally used to denote the religious practices of Jews. The root יְהוּדִים (Yehudim) meaning ‘the Jews’ evolved to describe the religious tradition associated with the people of Judah, linking to the Judaic faith. In medieval and early modern Europe, the term broadened to refer to the religious, cultural, and social identity of Jewish communities. Over time, “Judaism” has come to denote the organized system of beliefs, laws, ethics, and rituals that define Jewish life, as well as the broader historical and cultural phenomenon surrounding the Jewish people. First known uses in English appear in translations and scholarly works of the late 17th to 18th centuries, expanding globally with scholarly, political, and religious discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Judaism" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Judaism"
-ium sounds
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