3 syllables: ae, ro, sol. Stress on ae.
ER-uh-sahl
/ˈɛɹəˌsɑl/
aerosol is pronounced ER-uh-sahl (/ˈɛɹəˌsɑl/). It has three syllables (ae-ro-sol), with the stress on "ae". Aerosol is a fine suspension of microscopic solid or liquid particles in a gas, typically air. The term is used for substances released as sprays or plumes from devices or natural processes, and in science it denotes small particles that can remain airborne under certain conditions. It is commonly associated with products like sprayers or medical inhalants, and with environmental and atmospheric science contexts.
Aerosol is a fine suspension of microscopic solid or liquid particles in a gas, typically air. The term is used for substances released as sprays or plumes from devices or natural processes, and in science it denotes small particles that can remain airborne under certain conditions. It is commonly associated with products like sprayers or medical inhalants, and with environmental and atmospheric science contexts.
- You may insert a full vowel in the second syllable, saying 'air-ay-soll' or 'air-ee-soll'. Result: awkward rhythm and sound. Correct: keep the middle syllable reduced to a schwa or near-schwa ‘ə’ to maintain natural tempo. - Slurring the final -ol into a plain 'ol' like 'hole' can happen if you don’t round lips. Correction: make the final /ɔl/ with rounded lips and a longer, but controlled, o sound. - Some speakers place too much emphasis on the final syllable, turning aerosol into a three-stress word. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable with a lighter secondary stress and quick final syllable.
"The painter used an aerosol spray to coat the metal surface."
"Researchers studied aerosol behavior to understand how viruses travel in the air."
"The canister releases an aerosol mist when the nozzle is pressed."
Pronounce as /ˈɛərəˌsɒl/ (US) or /ˈeərəˌsɒːl/ (UK/AU). The primary stress sits on the first syllable: AER-, followed by a lighter second and a clear final -sol. Think: AER-uh-sahl. For clarity, the middle vowel is a schwa or mid-central in many speakers, so you’ll hear a quick, relaxed second syllable before the final long -ol.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the second syllable into a full vowel like -ay- or -ee-, instead of a reduced -uh- (schwa). 2) Misplacing the final -ol as a hard ‘o’ like in 'sole' rather than a lighter, rounded -ɔl. Correction: keep the second syllable short, reduce it to a schwa or near-schwa, then glide into a rounded /ɔl/. Practice with minimal pairs: ‘air-uh-soll’ vs ‘air-ray-soll’ to feel the difference.
US tends to pronounce /ˈɛərəˌsɔl/ with a clear /ɛə/ in the first syllable and a rhotacized or reduced second vowel before /ɔl/. UK/AU favor /ˈeərəˌsɒːl/ or /ˈeə-rə-sɔːl/ with a more pronounced non-rhoticity and a longer second syllable vowel in some speakers. Overall, US often shows a slightly higher first vowel and quicker second syllable; UK/AU may feature a longer, more rounded second vowel and slower tempo.
It challenges you with the two-syllable rhythm and the shift from a mid-front vowel to a rounded back vowel, plus subtle vowel reduction in the middle syllable. The sequence AER-uh-sohl requires smooth transitions: /ˈeə.ɹə.ˌsɔl/ (US) or /ˈeə.ɹɒːl/ (UK). Pay attention to reducing the middle vowel and maintaining the final rounded /ɔl/ without turning it into a plain /o/.
People often ask about the 'ea' sound in aerosol. In many dialects, the first syllable features a triphthong-like effect moving from /æ/ or /ɛə/ into /ə/; you should aim for a smooth glide from the first vowel to a reduced second vowel, before an explicit /ɔl/. This pattern yields /ˈɛə.rə.sɔl/ (US) or /ˈeə.rəsɒːl/ (UK/AU), with attention to the final rounded /ɔl/.
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- US: emphasize the first syllable with /ˈɛə/ and use a slightly more rhotic quality in /ɹ/ before the schwa; keep /ɔl/ rounded. - UK: softer /ɜː/ or /eə/ in the first syllable, non-rhotic trailing, and a longer /ɒː/ before /l/. - AU: similar to UK with broader vowel quality, often a longer, more open first vowel, maintain non-rhoticity in some speakers. Use IPA references to compare subtle vowel shifts and r-coloring.
Aerosol comes from the Greek aio- (air) combined with Latin suspensio (a suspension) and the English suffix -ol denoting a substance or agent. The concept emerged in the early 20th century as scientists described minute particles suspended in air. The term gained prominence with the rise of inhalation therapies and spray technologies. First used in scientific literature around the 1920s–1930s, aerosol described both airborne particles and the apparatus that generates them. In modern usage, it encompasses a broad range of dispersions including environmental aerosols (dust, pollen, soot) and engineered aerosols used in medicine, cosmetics, and manufacturing, with evolving definitions as measurement methods improved and regulatory frameworks expanded.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "aerosol" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "aerosol" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "aerosol"
-ct) sounds
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