3 syllables: Wah, ha, bism. Stress on ha.
wah-HAB-iz-uhm
/wɑˈhæbɪzəm/
Wahhabism is pronounced wah-HAB-iz-uhm (/wɑˈhæbɪzəm/). It has three syllables (Wah-ha-bism), with the stress on "ha". Wahhabism is a conservative reform movement within Sunni Islam, originating in 18th‑century Najd led by Muhammad ibn Abd al‑Wahhab. It emphasizes strict adherence to the Qur’an and Hadith, and a purist stance against folk practices and innovations. In scholarly and public discourse, it is often discussed in relation to its doctrinal criteria, historical expansion, and political influence in certain regions.
nounWahhabism is a conservative reform movement within Sunni Islam, originating in 18th‑century Najd led by Muhammad ibn Abd al‑Wahhab. It emphasizes strict adherence to the Qur’an and Hadith, and a purist stance against folk practices and innovations. In scholarly and public discourse, it is often discussed in relation to its doctrinal criteria, historical expansion, and political influence in certain regions.
How to Pronounce Wahhabism
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Wahhabism is pronounced wah-HAH-biz-əm with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US wɑːˈhæbɪz(ə)m, UK wɔːˈhæbɪzɪzəm, AU wɒˈhæbɪzɪzəm. Start with an open back low vowel before the H, then a clear /hæ/ as in 'ham', followed by /bɪ/ and a final schwa plus /m/. Ensure the second syllable has stronger prominence than the first.
Common errors include reducing the second syllable to /hæ/ without the full /hæbɪ/ sequence, and misplacing the stress, pronouncing it as wah-HAB-ism. Also, dropping the bilabial /b/ or giving /z/ too early in the 'z' sound. Correction: articulate /hæbɪ/ as a clear двух‑part segment, keep the /z/ in /zɪz/ before the final /əm/, and maintain primary stress on the second syllable: /wɑːˈhæbɪz(ə)m/.
In US English the first vowel is a back /ɑː/ and stress on the second syllable; in UK English the first vowel is slightly more open and back; in Australian English, vowel quality shifts toward /ɒ/ or /ɒː/ with a less rhotic accent approaching non‑rhotic. The /z/ in -z- is consistent; pronunciation remains /wɑːˈhæbɪz(ə)m/ with minor vowels adjustments.
Difficulties stem from the multi‑syllabic stress pattern and near‑mirror of name Wahhab with a compact /wɑː/ onset, plus the /hæbɪ/ cluster unfamiliar to learners who are not familiar with Arabic phonology. The /a/ in /æ/ in /hæ/ can be tricky after a long vowel in the first syllable; the /z(ə)m/ ending with an optional schwa adds a non‑obvious offset.
One unique feature is the 'hh' cluster after W—though spelled Wahha-, it is pronounced with a single /h/ sound in the first open syllable, followed by /bɪ/. The second syllable carries the primary stress and includes a short /ɪ/ before /z/; final /m/ is typically a light nasal unless emphasized in careful speech. IPA cue: /wɑːˈhæbɪz(ə)m/.
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Wahhabism derives from the name of its founder, Muhammad ibn Abd al‑Wahhab (1703–1792). The term is formed by combining his nisba (family or tribal association) with the movement name, signifying ‘the doctrine of Wahhab (of Wahhab)’. The root idea traces to al‑Wahhab’s emphasis on a return to two primary sources of Islam: the Qur’an and the hadith. Early usage in the 18th century contextualized it as a reformist school within the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, opposing certain local practices deemed innovatory (bid‘ah). European and Middle Eastern writers adopted the label Wahhabism in the 19th and 20th centuries, often in polemical tones related to political alliances with the Saudi state. Over time, the label has intersected with broader Salafi currents, with scholars debating whether Wahhabism should be understood as a historical phase, a theological school, or a broader reformist identity within Sunni Islam. First known English usage dates to the early 19th century when Western observers described the movement during colonial‑era engagements in the Arabian Peninsula; the term has persisted in scholarship and geopolitics since then.
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Words that rhyme with "Wahhabism"
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