# Do you say "su-PREM-a-cist" or "su-PREM-ist"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572 "2017-09-17T20:43:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/1 "2017-09-17T20:43:36Z")
With all the talk of white supremacists lately, I’ve noticed that a few people say “su-PREM-ist” instead of “su-PREM-a-cist”. If you say that latter, are you thinking of a different word, or just dropping the “ac” in the middle? Or something else? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/2 "2017-09-17T21:42:08Z")
The former. (But I also put an extra syllable into sovereignty, saying “sovereignity.”) ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/3 "2017-09-17T21:44:37Z")
Su-prem-a-cist is clearly correct, as the word comes from supremacy rather than supreme. A Supremist is someone who thinks Diana Ross is the greatest vocal talent of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/4 "2017-09-17T21:44:51Z")
You know, I _do_ say “supremist” sometimes and I don’t know why. It’s obviously wrong. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/5 "2017-09-18T03:31:14Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Su-prem-a-cist is clearly correct, as the word comes from supremacy rather than supreme. Yay! As someone who consistently says real-a-tor, I’m pleased that I get this one right. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/6 "2017-09-18T03:34:00Z")
I employ the hard “c.” ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/7 "2017-09-18T03:55:18Z")
Both depending in part in the situation/context. For example I may say “John is a white su-PREM-ist” but later in the conversation say “I don’t want to be anywhere near any su-PREM-a-cist events” ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/8 "2017-09-18T04:33:57Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Both depending in part in the situation/context. For example I may say “John is a white su-PREM-ist” but later in the conversation say “I don’t want to be anywhere near any su-PREM-a-cist events” On purpose? The word has 4 syllables. It doesn’t change. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/9 "2017-09-18T04:40:27Z")
First, four syllables. /sʊˈprɛməsɪst/ ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/10 "2017-09-18T07:53:03Z")
I can’t recall ever being in an oral conversation about a related subject, but I guess I’d probably call a supremacist a supremacist. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/11 "2017-09-18T13:34:18Z")
BTW, I’m not here to say either one is right. I’m a die-hard descriptivist. I just noticed that several people I’ve heard on TV and the radio seem to be saying “supremist”, which I thought was kind of interesting. I can sort of understand why. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/12 "2017-09-18T15:31:50Z")
Supremacist, just like it’s spelled. I am bugged by those who drop the ‘ac’, just like I’m bugged by those who say “manufacture” when they mean “manufacturer” or “maint-nance” when they mean “main-ten-ance”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/13 "2017-09-18T15:44:11Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Supremacist, just like it’s spelled. I am bugged by those who drop the ‘ac’, just like I’m bugged by those who say “manufacture” when they mean “manufacturer” or “maint-nance” when they mean “main-ten-ance”. Are you bugged by people who say “Wensday”? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/14 "2017-09-18T15:52:48Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Are you bugged by people who say “Wensday”? Yes, and also “Febuary”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/15 "2017-09-18T15:57:55Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Yes, and also “Febuary”. You must have conniptions on WEDNESdays in FebRUary. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/16 "2017-09-18T16:02:17Z")
Whatever you do, don’t ask him questions about Worcestershire or Leicestershire. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/17 "2017-09-18T16:10:20Z")
Supremist? \ _That’s not even a word!!!_ Seriously, I’ve never heard anyone say it that way and it’s flat out wrong. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/18 "2017-09-18T16:18:40Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Supremist? \ _That’s not even a word!!!_ > > Seriously, I’ve never heard anyone say it that way and it’s flat out wrong. It gets 108,000 hits on Google. There are folks who even spell it that way. I bet you have heard it, and you just didn’t notice. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/19 "2017-09-18T17:08:23Z")
The baboon said “supremist” in a speech just after Charlottesville, and I immediately thought “He’s laundering the word.” Obviously he was tiptoeing around these people and avoiding holding them accountable. He didn’t say the actual word because the supremacists would be offended. And they heard him and they understood. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572/20 "2017-09-18T18:02:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You must have conniptions on WEDNESdays in FebRUary. 😉 I want everyone to enunciate as precisely as old Yankee Stadium announcer Bob Sheppard, whose diction was so perfect he could pronounce both ‘g’s in Wade Boggs’ name. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-say-su-prem-a-cist-or-su-prem-ist/796572.md?page=2)