2 syllables: di, lute. Stress on lute.
/dəˈluːt/
Say it backDilute means to make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding a solvent, typically water, reducing concentration. It can also refer to diminishing the strength, force, or clarity of something abstract. The term conveys a process of lowering potency through dilution, often in scientific, culinary, or metaphorical contexts.
"- To observe the reaction, gently dilute the solution with water."
"- The chef diluted the sauce to suit the crowd’s preference for milder flavor."
"- Their argument was diluted by vague language and hedging."
Pronounce as di-LUTE with the stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /dəˈluːt/ (US, UK, AU share the /ˈluːt/ ending). Start with a schwa in the first syllable: /də/. Then the long 'u' as in 'food' /uː/ and finish with a crisp /t/. Commonly, the 'l' is light but audible: /d̥əˈluːt/. Listen for the steady vowel prolongation in the second syllable. Audio examples: Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries or Forvo can help confirm the exact speaker pronunciation.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable to say di-LUTE as DI-lute, which sounds like a mis-accented word. (2) Shortening the second vowel to a lax /ɪ/ or /ə/, producing di-LIT or duh-LIT instead of /luːt/. Correction: keep the second syllable with a long /uː/ as in 'food' and emphasize the second syllable: /dəˈluːt/. Practice by slow, deliberate release: /dƏ/ + /ˈluːt/.
In US, UK, and AU, the ending stays /-luːt/; the primary variation is the initial vowel: US often reduces the first to a schwa /dəˈluːt/; UK and AU similarly use /dəˈluːt/. Some Australian speakers may sound slightly flatter with a more centralized vowel in fast speech, and in UK non-rhotic accents, you may hear less pronounced r-coloring elsewhere, though /t/ is typically crisp. Overall, the main difference is vowel quality before the /ː/ and the first syllable pronunciation: /də/ or /də/ with subtle regional flavors.
The challenge lies in the fast transition from a reduced first syllable to a long vowel in the second syllable and the final /t/. You manage it by keeping the /ə/ relaxed and short, then opening into a clear /luː/ with a strong, precise /t/. Also maintain the alveolar stop clearly at the end. If you rush, you’ll blur the /ˈluː/ and end up with /lət/ or /lut/. Slow practice with focused mouth positions helps stabilize the sequence.
A word-specific nuance is the two-syllable rhythm and high-energy onset of the second syllable. The dip in the first syllable is not dramatic; keep it as a quick, soft /ə/ leading into the long /uː/. Additionally, watch for potential assimilation in rapid speech where the /d/ may be unreleased before /lə/: you might hear /dəˈluːt/ or occasionally /dəɫˈluːt/. Aim for a crisp /d/ at the start and a full /luːt/ at the end.
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The word dilute comes from Latin diluere, meaning to wash away, dissolve, or cleanse, from dis- (apart, away) + luere (to wash). In Latin, diluere referred to washing away or loosening impurities. The term entered English via early modern science vocabularies, especially in alchemy and later chemistry, to describe reducing the concentration of a solution by adding a solvent. The metaphorical sense—reducing strength or intensity—emerged as scientific terminology extended into general usage. First known uses appear in 16th–17th century scientific texts discussing solutions, when experimenters described diluting liquids to observe reactions more clearly. Over time, dilute broadened to non-literal contexts: diluting an argument, diluting a fragrance, or diluting influence. The core idea remained consistent: to lower potency, density, or clarity by introducing a diluent, typically water or another solvent. Contemporary usage spans chemistry, cooking, pharmacology, and everyday language, retaining a formal to neutral register depending on context.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "dilute" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "dilute"
-ute sounds
-uit sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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