How to pronounce nihilism
Say it like NY-uh-liz-um. Nihilism has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nihilism. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NY
- uh
- liz
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nihilism pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- uhKeep 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 nihilism
American and British speakers say nihilism in essentially the same way: /ˈnaɪəˌlɪzəm/ in the US and /ˈnaɪhɪlɪzəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: NY-hih-lih-zum.
What does nihilism mean?
- The view that all endeavors are devoid of objective meaning.
- The rejection of, or opposition to, religious beliefs, (inherent or objective) moral principles, legal rules, etc., often due to the view that life is meaningless (sense 1).
- The rejection of non-proven or non-rationalized assertions in the social and political spheres of society.
Where does nihilism come from?
Probably borrowed from French nihilisme, German Nihilismus, or Late Latin nihilismus; the French, German, and Latin words are derived from Latin nihil (“indefinite nothing”), from nihilum (“nothing”), from ne- (prefix negating the principal
Questions about saying nihilism
How do you pronounce nihilism?
Say NY-uh-liz-um. The American pronunciation is /ˈnaɪəˌlɪzəm/. In British English it is /ˈnaɪhɪlɪzəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nihilism?
Nihilism has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NY). Broken into parts: NY · uh · liz · um.
Do Americans and Brits say nihilism the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnaɪəˌlɪzəm/ and the British form is /ˈnaɪhɪlɪzəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.