2 syllables: Na, zi. Stress on Na.
NAH-tsee
/ˈnɑtsi/
Nazi is pronounced NAH-tsee (/ˈnɑtsi/). It has two syllables (Na-zi), with the stress on "Na". Nazi (noun, plural Nazis or Nazi) refers to a member or follower of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, the regime led by Adolf Hitler that ruled Germany from 1933–1945. The term carries strong historical and moral connotations related to totalitarianism, anti-Semitism, and the crimes of the Holocaust. In modern use, it can describe adherents to extremist, racist ideologies with pejorative intent.
nounNazi (noun, plural Nazis or Nazi) refers to a member or follower of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, the regime led by Adolf Hitler that ruled Germany from 1933–1945. The term carries strong historical and moral connotations related to totalitarianism, anti-Semitism, and the crimes of the Holocaust. In modern use, it can describe adherents to extremist, racist ideologies with pejorative intent.
"The exhibit explains how the Nazi regime came to power in the early 1930s."
"Some far-right groups still invoke Nazi symbolism to intimidate others."
"Many countries have outlawed Nazi propaganda and symbols."
Pronounce as NAW-tsy in US; in IPA: US: ˈnɑːtsi, UK: ˈnɒtsi, AU: ˈnɒtsi. The first syllable is stressed. Start with an open back unrounded vowel in the first syllable, then a voiceless /t/ followed by a light /s/ and short /i/ sound. Keep lips relaxed, jaw steady; aim for a crisp, clean /t/ and a soft /i/ like 'see' without length. You’ll often hear a quick, almost silent second vowel; avoid a drawn-out 'a' or an extra syllable.
Common errors include pronouncing it as 'nazi' with a long 'a' in the first syllable (rhymes with 'la-ZEE' in some accents) and turning the /t/ into a 'd' (nas-zi). Another pitfall is adding a schwa before the final 'i' or over-articulating the final 'i' as in 'tie.' Correction: keep the first vowel as /ɑː/ (US) or /ɒ/ (UK/AU) with a short, crisp /t/ before /si/. End with a short, lax /i/ (IPA /i/), not a vowel-heavy glide.
US English typically uses stressed /ˈnɑːtsi/ with a broad open /ɑː/. UK and AU often use /ˈnɒtsi/ with a shorter, more back /ɒ/ vowel and a crisper /t/; rhoticity doesn’t usually affect the word since it ends in /i/. The main difference is vowel quality in the first syllable and the subtle length of the first vowel. All variants maintain the /t/ before /s/ and a short final /i/.
The difficulty lies in the short, sharp /t/ cluster before /si/ and the potential confusion between US /ɑː/ vs UK/AU /ɒ/. Learners may overshoot the /t/ or insert extra vowels, turning /tsi/ into /tzi/ or /tsiː/. Focus on a clean stop before the /s/, with a compact /i/ at the end rather than a full vowel. Keep the mouth ready for the rapid transition from back vowel to alveolar /t/ + /s/.
Is the 'si' at the end of Nazi pronounced as /si/ or /zi/? In standard English, it is /si/ (as in 'see'), not /zi/. The /s/ is voiceless, immediately followed by the high-front unrounded vowel /i/. Ensure no assimilation makes the /s/ sound like /z/; keep the voiceless /s/ stream momentary and crisp.
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Nazi is an English noun formed in the early 1920s from the shorthand for National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) in German. The German term Nationalsozialist, first attested in the 1920s, is shortened to Nazi as a colloquial nickname. The suffix -i or -y was a common informalization in German-speaking political circles, and the English adoption of Nazi emerged by the mid-1920s as the party rose to power. The word quickly acquired strongly negative connotations due to the party’s totalitarian agenda and the atrocities of the regime, with usage intensifying during and after World War II. In modern usage, Nazi remains a loaded label applied to individuals or groups advocating or embodying similar extremist, racist, or genocidal ideologies. Its semantics have reinforced moral condemnation, and in many jurisdictions it is treated as a hate or extremist descriptor when used pejoratively. Etymologically, the term reflects political branding of a specific party and leader, then broadened to describe followers of a broader authoritarian ideology. First known use in English appears in print around the late 1920s to 1930s as coverage of the Nazi movement and its leadership.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Nazi" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Nazi"
-tty sounds
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