A few days ago
Jake H

How do you pronounce ‘Nihilism’?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism

Is it: NILL-iz-em

Or: NIE-ull-iz-em

Or.. something else? I’ve heard it both ways from two different (intelligent) people and was wondering what the correct way to pronounce it is.

Top 6 Answers
A few days ago
xanjo

Favorite Answer

The correct pronounciation according to the Oxford Dictionary, is ni-iliz’m (or nie ill iz im)

hope this helps.

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A few days ago
Anonymous
I’ve always heard it pronounced as “NEE-ul-ism” – the second syllable is sort of slurred into the first (for lack of a better way to put it!)
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A few days ago
Anonymous
The second one is the only way I have ever heard it pronounced.
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A few days ago
Bad Kitty!
I only ever heard it pronounced “NILE – izm.

According to Merriam-Webster, “NEAL- izm” is a secondary pronunciation.

Audio examples here:

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/nihilism

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A few days ago
peteryoung144
The second one is commonly used.
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A few days ago
and everything nice
I’d say.. “Neeeeel.ism.” like “neal…ism.”
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