How to pronounce nihilist
Say it like NY-hih-list. Nihilist has three 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 nihilist. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NY
- hih
- list
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nihilist 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.
- hihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- listKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of nihilist
American and British speakers say nihilist in essentially the same way: /ˈnaɪhɪlɪst/ in the US and /ˈnaɪhɪlɪst/ in the UK.
British respelling: NY-hih-list.
What does nihilist mean?
- A person who accepts or champions nihilism.
- An absolute skeptic; a person who believes in the truth of nothing.
- Nihilistic; seeing no value.
Where does nihilist come from?
From Latin nihil (“nothing”) + -ist.
Questions about saying nihilist
How do you pronounce nihilist?
Say NY-hih-list. The American pronunciation is /ˈnaɪhɪlɪst/. In British English it is /ˈnaɪhɪlɪst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nihilist?
Nihilist has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NY). Broken into parts: NY · hih · list.
Do Americans and Brits say nihilist the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnaɪhɪlɪst/ and the British form is /ˈnaɪhɪlɪst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.