Mein Kampf is a controversial political treatise by Adolf Hitler. The title, German for 'My Struggle,' refers to the author’s personal and political manifesto written in the 1920s. The term is used today primarily in historical or academic contexts, rarely in casual speech due to its extremist associations.
"The library archived the edition of Mein Kampf as part of a study on 20th-century politics."
"Scholars often discuss the influence of Mein Kampf when examining Nazi ideology and propaganda."
"Some instructors assign chapters from Mein Kampf to illustrate historical context and rhetoric."
"Public debates about censorship sometimes center on whether access to Mein Kampf should be restricted.”"
Mein Kampf is the German title of Adolf Hitler’s autobiographical political manifesto. 'Mein' is the genitive/possessive form of 'ich' meaning 'my' in German, reflecting the personal ownership of the work. 'Kampf' translates to 'struggle' or 'fight,' a term with roots in Middle High German 'kampf' from the Old High German 'cambf,' related to quarrel or combat. The combined phrase signals a declared personal mission, blending self-outline with political program. The concept of a 'kampf' has historical precedent in German literature and political rhetoric, where authors claimed a guiding 'struggle' of ideas. The work was serialized and self-published in 1925–1926 as Hitler rose to power within the Nazi movement; it symbolized a blueprint for the regime’s ideology. Since World War II, the title has been a focal point in ethics, censorship, and Holocaust education. In contemporary discourse, the term is encountered primarily in historical analysis, censorship debates, and discussions about extremist propaganda. The word remains polarizing and carries strong connotations of totalitarianism and antisemitism, influencing how it is approached in academic and public contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Mein Kampf"
-ump sounds
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IPA (US/UK/AU): /maɪn kʌmpf/. The first word rhymes with 'mine' (long /aɪ/), with a clear 'n' at the end; the second syllable 'Kampf' uses a short 'u' sound as in 'cup' plus a final 'pf' cluster, pronounced together as one syllable. Stress falls on the first word: MEIN. Tip: avoid anglicizing the second word; keep the 'pf' cluster tight, almost lip-to-teeth combination as in German.
Common errors: 1) Anglicizing 'Mein' to 'meen' with a drawn-out 'ee' instead of /maɪn/; keep the diphthong /aɪ/. 2) Mispronouncing 'Kampf' as 'kampf' with a strong English 'mp'—instead, render the final 'pf' where the lips briefly touch and release into an explosive 'f' sound; avoid a hard 'p' before 'f'. Correct approach: /maɪn kʌmpf/ with a palatal-labial fusion for 'pf'.
US/UK/AU share the /maɪn/ onset, but 'Kampf' pronounces differently due to German /pf/; US tends toward a softer 'pf' vs UK/AU, which may de-emphasize the /p/ before /f/. Rhotic influence is minimal in the second word. All variants keep /aɪ/ in 'Mein', but non-rhotic accents may subtly drop r-like resonances in surrounding phrases, not in the standalone title.
Difficulties center on the German consonant cluster 'pf' in 'Kampf' and the diphthong /aɪ/ in 'Mein'. Many English speakers truncate or misplace the /p/ or insert a 'f' too late, turning /pf/ into /p/ or /f/. Positioning of lips: prepare for a brief lip closure before releasing into /f/. The rhythm is two syllables with a clipped final clump, so practice the switch from a front vowel to a train-like fricative.
Unique feature: the 'pf' cluster in 'Kampf'; keep both the bilabial plosive and the labial fricative distinct but almost simultaneous—like a brief /p/ followed by /f/ with little vowel between. The main emphasis remains on 'Mein,' so ensure the first syllable carries primary stress and the second is fast but clear. Practicing with native audio helps nail the exact timing.
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