# How do you pronounce "PHENOMizm"?
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362
**Category:** General Yo-Yo
**Created:** [September 19, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362 "2013-09-19T05:07:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SwissArmyTenor](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SwissArmyTenor)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/1 "2013-09-19T05:07:40Z")
Just got this throw today - love it, but just curious how to pronounce it! đ
âFEH-nom-izmâ - kind of reminiscent of âFeminismâ ? ;D
"Feh-NOM-izm - kind of like âPhenomenonâ ?
or perhaps
âFeh-nom-IZ-umâ ?
Never heard anyone say the name. Just idly curious.
Thanks in advance :-\*
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### Author:  [@SaltySalvador](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SaltySalvador)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/2 "2013-09-19T05:12:32Z")
I thought it was pronounced âfee-nom-izmâ
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### Author:  [@n01mportant](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/n01mportant)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/3 "2013-09-19T05:14:45Z")
Yeah I was thinking fee-nom-izm.
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### Author:  [@SwissArmyTenor](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SwissArmyTenor)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/4 "2013-09-19T05:17:50Z")
Could be! Heh⌠đ
I was also curious about which syllable is stressed.
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### Author:  [@yoyodoc](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyodoc)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/5 "2013-09-19T05:43:06Z")
The first syllable is not a long âeâ. If is not feeeeee. It is short⌠âFehâ⌠Like eh with an f in front.
Feh-nom. Feh-nom-ism.
Root word=Phenominal.
If you see a guy on a Skateboard, do 10 backside 360âs on the top edge of a cinderblock wall; you might say, âwow, that was Phenominalâ! You sure would not say,âFeeee-nominalâ!
> **[How to Pronounce French words mean the same in English](https://learn-french.wonderhowto.com/how-to/pronounce-french-words-mean-same-english-172229/)**
>
> Some French words look the same and have the same meaning in English but they are pronounced differently. This video series teaches you how to pronounce these words. Part 1 of 23 - How to Pronounce French words mean the same in English.
Yup
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### Author:  [@SaltySalvador](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SaltySalvador)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/6 "2013-09-19T06:21:47Z")
I only say that because I hear people pronounce the âPhenomâ as âFee-nom.â
I heard Tessa from yyj pronounce it that way. I dunno the legit way. I like the sound of âFeh-nomâ better anyway.
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### Author:  [@anonyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anonyo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/7 "2013-09-19T06:35:10Z")
> [@SaltySalvador](#):
>
> I only say that because I hear people pronounce the âPhenomâ as âFee-nom.â
>
> I heard Tessa from yyj pronounce it that way. I dunno the legit way. I like the sound of âFeh-nomâ better anyway.
Phenom would be âfee-nomâ.
Phenomizm would use the shorter E sound.
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### Author:  [@Yossarian](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yossarian)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/8 "2013-09-19T07:21:45Z")
You can hear Mickey pronounce it here:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9bdN7hQjLA)
His pronunciation is somewhere between the sounds used in âphenomâ and âphenomenalâ. It actually sounds like he is using the typical Japanese âeâ sound, which is similar to a shortened long âaâ sound in English. He also uses the longer Japanese âoâ sound rather than the shorter âoâ we would use in English.
Iâve mostly heard it [pronounced in English with Phenom as the root word](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3sUkqrZczU), probably since it is a spinoff of the Phenom and is stylized by YYJ as PHENOMizm.
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### Author:  [@SwissArmyTenor](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SwissArmyTenor)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/9 "2013-09-19T17:34:34Z")
So, âPHEN-om-izmâ it is.
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### Author:  [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/10 "2013-09-19T17:42:48Z")
Since the all-metal is the Phenom (âfee-nomâ) I didnât see any reason for the long-e to change for its metal/plastic sibling. The root is âphenomâ not âphenomenonâ, although Iâm sure both words in turn share the same latin origin.
Saying any variation aloud is pretty awkward⌠âFee-NAW-mismâ? No accented syllable? âFEE-nom-ismâ? If you made me say it aloud (and you canât!) I would go with this last one.
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### Author:  [@Gambit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Gambit)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/11 "2013-09-19T17:51:12Z")
> [@SwissArmyTenor](#):
>
> So, âPHEN-om-izmâ it is.
This. Weâve heard Mickey himself pronounce it, so I believe the case is closed.
âFen-o-mismâ
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### Author:  [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/12 "2013-09-19T17:58:11Z")
> [@Gambit](#):
>
> This. Weâve heard Mickey himself pronounce it, so I believe the case is closed.
>
> âFen-o-mismâ
I donât buy that argument. :wink: The word is clearly an English-derived word. Just because itâs his signature doesnât mean itâs impossible for him to mispronounce it! Jacques Laroque has a new signature yoyo with Nutty Yoyo Corp. thatâs called the Tiger. Heâs talking about it in an interview, and in his French accent, it sounds more like âteegerâ. Do we all start calling his signature throw the âteegerâ? Not likely!
Not saying that my interpretation is the right one; just that to me the case isnât closed. No matter how much Mickey can be considered an expert on his own yoyo, this is still an âAppeal from authorityâ argument, which is a logical fallacy.
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### Author:  [@SwissArmyTenor](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SwissArmyTenor)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/13 "2013-09-19T18:12:19Z")
> [@GregP](#):
>
> I donât buy that argument. :wink: The word is clearly an English-derived word. Just because itâs his signature doesnât mean itâs impossible for him to mispronounce it!
True, but until we hear differently (that he did mispronounce it) seems we should go with how he says it. Iâd guess chances are small that he is mis-pronouncing it - particularly assuming that he knows about the âPhenomâ (FEE-nom) yoyo and its pronunciation. ;D
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### Author:  [@Gambit](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Gambit)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/14 "2013-09-19T19:25:38Z")
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=banpDYf5MU4)
How much more proof does one need? You might say it âFee-nomâ because of your accent, but it seems that most of Japan agrees on its correct pronunciation.
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### Author:  [@yoyodoc](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyodoc)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/15 "2013-09-19T20:03:13Z")
> [@Gambit](#):
>
> [http://youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=banpDYf5MU4](http://youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=banpDYf5MU4)
>
> How much more proof does one need? You might say it âFee-nomâ because of your accent, but it seems that most of Japan agrees on its correct pronunciation.
Thanks⌠Gambit. I actually tried offering a valid, accurate explanation. But some people prefer their own individual pronunciations. You notice that link I posted up of the girl actually articulating an associated word, seemed to fall on deaf ears, lol. She even says,âwatch my lips as I speak the wordâ.
The video link you posted pretty much buries the axe head in the tree stump.
So, itâs a Mickey Signature yoyo, he named it, he says the name out loud. And yet others chime in to suggest it Mickey is saying the name incorrectly?
Whatever, hahahahahaha.
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### Author:  [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/16 "2013-09-19T22:06:10Z")
Câmon, Mo. Youâre a logical guy! Iâm just pointing out that itâs an âAppeal from authorityâ which is quite simply a logical fallacy. It just is. As much as a red herring or a circular argument.
Itâs probably pronounced the way you say (I DID say that Iâm not claiming mine is correctâŚ). I just think itâs a mistake to think that a person is correct based on false premises (appeal from authority).
Another personâs pronounciation (also from the same countryâŚ) is still appeal from authority, although theyâre even less of an authority than Mickey!
Also⌠the video you posted was for the word âphenomenalâ. Not the word âphenomâ. Which is pronounced âfee-nomâ. I already addressed this pointâŚitâs not like I ignored it; it was just invalid and I explained why. The original metal is called the Phenom. It makes sense that the follow-up would be based on the same word, no?
But, some people just donât like to actually read the logical and sensible counter-arguments, instead just assuming that the first thing they posted is correct, plugging their ears and going âlalalalaâ when somebody else says, âOK, but what about thisâŚâ because they donât want to spend the mental energy considering another perspective.
Whatever, hahahahaha! :wink:
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### Author:  [@YoCyanightYo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/YoCyanightYo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/17 "2013-09-19T22:10:11Z")
Fen-om-iz-em is how I pronounce it đ
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### Author:  [@ChessingtonValley](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/ChessingtonValley)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/18 "2013-09-19T23:19:47Z")
> [@GregP](#):
>
> Câmon, Mo. Youâre a logical guy! Iâm just pointing out that itâs an âAppeal from authorityâ which is quite simply a logical fallacy. It just is. As much as a red herring or a circular argument.
>
> Itâs probably pronounced the way you say (I DID say that Iâm not claiming mine is correctâŚ). I just think itâs a mistake to think that a person is correct based on false premises (appeal from authority).
>
> Another personâs pronounciation (also from the same countryâŚ) is still appeal from authority, although theyâre even less of an authority than Mickey!
>
> Also⌠the video you posted was for the word âphenomenalâ. Not the word âphenomâ. Which is pronounced âfee-nomâ. I already addressed this pointâŚitâs not like I ignored it; it was just invalid and I explained why. The original metal is called the Phenom. It makes sense that the follow-up would be based on the same word, no?
>
> But, some people just donât like to actually read the logical and sensible counter-arguments, instead just assuming that the first thing they posted is correct, plugging their ears and going âlalalalaâ when somebody else says, âOK, but what about thisâŚâ because they donât want to spend the mental energy considering another perspective.
>
> Whatever, hahahahaha! :wink:
Well personally I believe the Japanese got it, this is because a lot of them spend quite sometime to learn the English language correctly. While here in America we sort of slouch off and sometimes we slur words together and do not spend that much time on learning the English language properly (unless you are a English major). At any rate the English language is messed up anyways, so really anything goes. :wink:
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### Author:  [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/19 "2013-09-19T23:52:11Z")
Just to be clear: I think that regional pronounciations are fine. I donât think Mickey is âmispronouncingâ it, either. But if the question is, âfor me, as a native English speaker, how do I pronounce âphenomâ,â thereâs only one answer: âfee-nomâ.
Since the PHENOMizm is just âfee-nomâ with the âizmâ tacked on, Iâm simply making a logical extension that it seems like it should be pronounced âfee-nom-ismâ.
Letâs go to a different yoyo for a second⌠oh, I dunno⌠the Sleipnir? Nobody in this thread pronounces it exactly the way you would pronounce it in Old Norse, and not many of us pronounce it the way you would in a Scandinavian country. Thereâs probably a sizeable split between âSlape-nearâ, âSlype-nearâ and âSleep-nearâ for that matter. :wink: Now, YYR is a Japanese company, and I would be willing to bet that a great many people in the Japanese yoyo community, including YYR staff and players, would pronounce it differently yet again⌠the âSLâ dipthong doesnât work too well for Japanese speakers, and there tends to be extra sounds after hard consonants, just as in French. Suffice it to say, when speaking in Japanese or in English with a Japanese accent, those fine folks ARE pronouncing it correctly for their region!
So the question is: when we are NOT pronouncing it with a Japanese accent, are we mispronouncing it? After all, YYR named it⌠shouldnât we pronounce it how they named it? Should we make sure weâre effecting a proper french accent when we say âLa Goutte?â Do I need to roll my âRâ for âEl Ranchero,â or is it OK to pronounce it otherwise because it was named by a Canadian company? :wink: Iâll tell you this much: I pronounce âkarateâ âka-roddyâ (more or less) because when I try to say âkara-TAYâ (accent on last syllable) I feel like all kinds of a d-bag.
Back to Mickey: itâs worth noting that he pronounces it slightly differently from time to time, and that despite any proficiency (quite considerable!) he has with English, thereâs still a detectable accent. Is he pronouncing it âcorrectlyâ? Sure! Is he pronouncing it correctly for a native English speaker? Debatable.
The most likely answer is probably not a definitive answer, either: in the YYJ offices and teams, there is not likely one agreed-upon pronunciation. :wink: Itâs just one of those words that probably doesnât have a single proper and definitive pronunciation. Based on what I know of linguistics and the English language, Iâmma go with âfee-nom-ismâ. If youâd rather go with something else, Iâm certainly not bothered.
My only point really was that of a logic pedant: appeal to authority is not a valid argument. :wink: Thatâs all!
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### Author:  [@ChessingtonValley](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/ChessingtonValley)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-phenomizm/59362/20 "2013-09-20T00:07:04Z")
> [@GregP](#):
>
> Just to be clear: I think that regional pronounciations are fine. I donât think Mickey is âmispronouncingâ it, either. But if the question is, âfor me, as a native English speaker, how do I pronounce âphenomâ,â thereâs only one answer: âfee-nomâ.
>
> Since the PHENOMizm is just âfee-nomâ with the âizmâ tacked on, Iâm simply making a logical extension that it seems like it should be pronounced âfee-nom-ismâ.
>
> Letâs go to a different yoyo for a second⌠oh, I dunno⌠the Sleipnir? Nobody in this thread pronounces it exactly the way you would pronounce it in Old Norse, and not many of us pronounce it the way you would in a Scandinavian country. Thereâs probably a sizeable split between âSlape-nearâ, âSlype-nearâ and âSleep-nearâ for that matter. :wink: Now, YYR is a Japanese company, and I would be willing to bet that a great many people in the Japanese yoyo community, including YYR staff and players, would pronounce it differently yet again⌠the âSLâ dipthong doesnât work too well for Japanese speakers, and there tends to be extra sounds after hard consonants, just as in French. Suffice it to say, when speaking in Japanese or in English with a Japanese accent, those fine folks ARE pronouncing it correctly for their region!
>
> So the question is: when we are NOT pronouncing it with a Japanese accent, are we mispronouncing it? After all, YYR named it⌠shouldnât we pronounce it how they named it? Should we make sure weâre effecting a proper french accent when we say âLa Goutte?â Do I need to roll my âRâ for âEl Ranchero,â or is it OK to pronounce it otherwise because it was named by a Canadian company? :wink: Iâll tell you this much: I pronounce âkarateâ âka-roddyâ (more or less) because when I try to say âkara-TAYâ (accent on last syllable) I feel like all kinds of a d-bag.
>
> Back to Mickey: itâs worth noting that he pronounces it slightly differently from time to time, and that despite any proficiency (quite considerable!) he has with English, thereâs still a detectable accent. Is he pronouncing it âcorrectlyâ? Sure! Is he pronouncing it correctly for a native English speaker? Debatable.
>
> The most likely answer is probably not a definitive answer, either: in the YYJ offices and teams, there is not likely one agreed-upon pronunciation. :wink: Itâs just one of those words that probably doesnât have a single proper and definitive pronunciation. Based on what I know of linguistics and the English language, Iâmma go with âfee-nom-ismâ. If youâd rather go with something else, Iâm certainly not bothered.
>
> My only point really was that of a logic pedant: appeal to authority is not a valid argument. :wink: Thatâs all!
Okay, I feel like I learned that in philosophy :P, but I still believe English is messed up because there arenât really any rules, and if there is, there is always an exception for it. Which is why I say really anything goes âfee-nomâ,âfeh-nomâ, Iâm sure it is correct either way.
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