Bathing Suit is a noun referring to a garment worn for swimming or sunbathing, typically a one- or two-piece outfit. It denotes swimwear designed for water activities and beach or poolside use. The term combines notions of bathing (swimming) with a functional garment, and is widely used in American English, with regional variants in naming styles and coverage.
US: /ˈbæθɪŋ suːt/; emphasis on first syllable, clear /θ/; keep /uː/ long and rounded. UK: /ˈbɑːðɪŋ sjuːt/ or /ˈbæθɪŋ suːt/; involve slightly more open /ɑː/ and maybe /sjuːt/ sequence; non-rhotic influence may alter linking. AU: /ˈbæθɪŋ suːt/ with similar US vowel, but you may hear /sjuːt/ or /suːt/ depending on speaker; maintain interdental /θ/ and avoid merging with /s/.
"She packed her bathing suit for the trip to the coast."
"The shop had a wide selection of bathing suits in different colors."
"He forgot his bathing suit and had to borrow one."
"Their annual beach party required everyone to wear a stylish bathing suit."
Bathing originates from the Old English batian, connected to bathe or bathe, meaning to wash oneself. Suit comes from Latin sutitus via Old French sute, evolving to mean clothing that fits or befits, and later a set of garments. The combined term bathing suit emerges in the 19th century as swimwear designed for practical water activity, replacing heavy, concealing garments with lighter fabrics that reduce drag. Early bathing suits were full-coverage and made of wool, evolving through the early 20th century to more form-fitting designs as textiles improved. The phrase first appears in American English in print around the late 1800s to early 1900s, reflecting the growing popularity of seaside recreation and the standardization of swim attire for both modesty and performance in aquatic sports.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Bathing Suit" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Bathing Suit"
-uit sounds
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- Pronounce as two words: /ˈbæθɪŋ/ and /suːt/ in US English, with primary stress on the first word. US: /ˈbæθɪŋ suːt/. UK: /ˈbɑːðɪŋ juːt/ or /suːt/? Typically /ˈbɑːðɪŋ suːt/ but many speakers say /ˈbæθɪŋ suːt/ in casual contexts. Mouth positions: /ˈbæ/ with open front lax vowel, /θ/ as interdental fricative, /ɪŋ/ with tongue near the alveolar ridge, and /suːt/ with a long /uː/ and final /t/. Audio reference: try hearing the phrase “bath-ing suit” on Pronounce or Forvo and imitate the space between words as a light breath.
- Slurring /θ/ and /ð/ into /f/ or /s/: say the interdental friction clearly: avoid substituting with /f/. - Dropping the /ɪŋ/ ending or nasal blur: fully articulate the /ɪŋ/ so it doesn’t merge with /suːt/. - Vowel distortion in /eɪ/ vs /æ/: maintain the /æ/ in /ˈbæθɪŋ/ and avoid a stretched /ə/ middle; keep /æ/ crisp. Corrections: practice /ˈbæθ-ɪŋ/ together, hold /ɪŋ/ with a light nasal release, then the /suːt/ with rounded lips.” ,
- US: strong /æ/ in /ˈbæθɪŋ/, clear /θ/; /suːt/ with long /uː/. - UK: can use /ˈbɑːðɪŋ sjuːt/ with more open /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ in some regions; non-rhoticity may affect linking; /sjuːt/ or /suːt/ depending on speaker. - AU: often /ˈbæθɪŋ sjuːt/ with similar US vowels; rolling r not involved; some use /sɜːt/ due to broad pronunciations. Focus is on interdental /θ/ retention and vowel quality in /æ/ vs /ɑː/.
It combines a cluster of sounds: /ˈbæθ-ɪŋ/ has a delicate interdental /θ/ where many learners substitute /f/ or /s/, and the /ɪŋ/ needs precise tongue-nasal coordination, especially when followed by /suːt/. The phrase also experiments with vowel quality shifts between /æ/ and /eɪ/ across dialects, and the two-word boundary can cause rhythm issues. Mastery comes from practicing the triplet: /bæθ/ + /ɪŋ/ + /suːt/ with stable transitions.
Silent letters are not a concern here, but you will find variation in how speakers connect the two words. In rapid speech some say 'bathin' suit' with a reduced /ɪŋ/ and slight pause or liaison. Focus on maintaining the /θ/ and the long /uː/ in /suːt/ even when the phrase is fast.
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