How to pronounce existentialism
Say it like eg-zuh-STEN-chuh-liz-um. Existentialism has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (STEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce existentialism. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- eg
- zuh
- STEN
- chuh
- liz
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Existentialism pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- egGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- zuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- STENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- chuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lizGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of existentialism
American and British speakers say existentialism in essentially the same way: /ˌɛɡzəˈstɛntʃəˌlɪzəm/ in the US and /ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəlɪzəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: eg-zih-STEN-shuh-lih-zum.
What does existentialism mean?
- A 20th-century philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices; also (generally), a philosophy which emphasizes existence over essence.“The heyday of existentialism occurred in the mid-twentieth century.”
- The philosophical views of a particular thinker associated with the existentialist movement.“Sartre’s existentialism is atheistic, but the existentialism of Marcel is distinctly Christian.”
Where does existentialism come from?
From existential + -ism (suffix forming the names of schools of thought, systems, or theories), modeled after German Existentialismus.
Questions about saying existentialism
How do you pronounce existentialism?
Say eg-zuh-STEN-chuh-liz-um. The American pronunciation is /ˌɛɡzəˈstɛntʃəˌlɪzəm/. In British English it is /ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəlɪzəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in existentialism?
Existentialism has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (STEN). Broken into parts: eg · zuh · STEN · chuh · liz · um.
Do Americans and Brits say existentialism the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɛɡzəˈstɛntʃəˌlɪzəm/ and the British form is /ˌɛɡzɪˈstɛnʃəlɪzəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.