INSTRUCTION 9 Today we are learning how to pronounce words that end in –ism. Remember, most words that end in –ism are stressed on the first syllable. There are however a lot of exceptions to this rule. Let’s have a look at some ism words we often mispronounce and examine their stress pattern. '-ism' words Stressed on the First Syllable nationalism Atheism Egotism Alcoholism Realism Symbolism Optimism Feminism Activism Heroism Nepotism Criticism Mechanism Communism Vandalism Symbolism Neutralism Mannerism Tribalism Syllogism Hypnotism Cannibalism Journalism Patriotism Alcoholism Skepticism Federalism Lesbianism Plagiarism Rheumatism Capitalism Spiritualism functionalism exceptions: '-ism' words stressed on other syllables antagonism materialism idealism absurdism metabolism evangelism empiricism imperialism colonialism expansionism impressionism industrialism ventriloquism egocentrism individualism monotheism ...