MAH-nuh-thee-iz-uhm
/ˈmɑnəˌθiɪzəm/
Monotheism is pronounced MAH-nuh-thee-iz-uhm (/ˈmɑnəˌθiɪzəm/). Monotheism is the belief in a single, all-powerful deity. It contrasts with polytheism, which accepts multiple gods, and is foundational to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The term emphasizes a unified divine entity and the exclusive worship of that entity.
nounMonotheism is the belief in a single, all-powerful deity. It contrasts with polytheism, which accepts multiple gods, and is foundational to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The term emphasizes a unified divine entity and the exclusive worship of that entity.
"Scholars trace the spread of monotheism through ancient Near Eastern religions."
"Philosophers debated whether monotheism could coexist with polytheistic cultural practices."
"The conference explored how monotheism shaped ethical monism and moral responsibility."
Pronounce as /ˌmɒnəˈθiːɪzəm/ (US/UK) with stress on the second syllable: mo-NO-thee-izm. Start with /mɒn/ “mon” as in 'monk' but shorter vowel, then /ə/ a quick schwa, followed by /ˈθiː/ 'thee' with a long E, and end with /zəm/ 'zə m'. In careful speech the 'th' is a voiceless dental fricative /θ/; ensure your tongue sits between the teeth. Audio reference: try hearing on Pronounce or YouGlish with religious vocabulary.
Two common errors: (1) pronouncing 'mono' as /ˈmoʊnə/ with a long O instead of /ˈmɒnə/ or /ˈmɒnə/; (2) misplacing the stress by saying monothe-ISM /ˌmɒnəˈθiːzəm/ instead of mo-NO-the-izm. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable, using a short /ɒ/ in the first syllable, and ensuring the /θ/ is a voiceless dental fricative. Finally, don’t confuse the ending with a silent syllable; pronounce /zəm/ clearly.
US: /ˌmɒnəˈθiːɪzəm/ with rhotic r in connected speech and a clear /æ/ or /ɒ/ in 'mon' depending on dialect. UK: /ˌmɒnəˈθiːɪz(ə)m/ with shorter rless vowel and a slightly stronger schwa. AU: /ˌmɒnəˈθiːɪzəm/ similar to UK but with more clipped vowels and a non-rhotic accent; some speakers may reduce /ə/ more strongly in fast speech. Ensure the /θ/ remains distinct across accents.
The difficulty comes from the cluster /ˈθiː/ after /nə/ and the multisyllabic rhythm requiring you to keep the primary stress on the second syllable while keeping the final /zəm/ steady. Also, the dental fricative /θ/ is challenging for speakers not used to it, and the sequence /θiːɪ/ can blur into /tiːɪ/. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on /nəˈθiːɪzəm/ to stabilize the transition.
The key feature is the long vowel in the stressed syllable /ˈθiː/ and the explicit dental fricative /θ/. Some speakers may devoice the final /z/ resulting in /zəm/ vs. /zəm/. Emphasize the dental fricative start of the stressed syllable and maintain a crisp /z/ in the final syllable to preserve accuracy and intelligibility.
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Monotheism derives from the Greek prefix mono- meaning 'one' and theos meaning 'god,' combined in the early Christian and late ancient debates to refer to belief in one god. The term entered English via Latin monotheismus and Medieval Latin monotheismus, influenced by earlier Hebrew and Greek religious vocabularies. Early Jewish and Christian writers contrasted monotheism with polytheistic practices; in Islamic tradition, the term aligns with tawhid, the indivisible oneness of God. The word’s first known uses in English appear in the 17th century, but the concept dates to antiquity as a doctrinal emphasis within monotheistic traditions. Over centuries, scholars progressively refined the word to distinguish exclusive worship from flexible or henotheistic positions, with modern usage often linked to debates about secularism and religious pluralism.
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Words that rhyme with "Monotheism"
-ism sounds
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