Parasol is a light, portable canopy on a stick used to provide shade from the sun. Functioning as a noun, it denotes a sunshade rather than rain protection, and is often carried or placed to shield a person or object outdoors. The term combines para- (beside/near) with -sol (sun), reflecting its purpose of blocking sunlight.
"- She opened the parasol to shelter her from the midday sun."
"- The market vendor set up a colorful parasol to shade his stall."
"- A delicate lace parasol framed her white dress at the garden party."
"- He carried a compact parasol on rainy days as a precaution against sun glare."
Parasol originates from the early modern French parasol, formed from para- (not, by way of; alongside) and sol (sun). The first element para- here is related to protection or opposing the sun, while sol derives from Latin sol, meaning sun. The term entered English in the 18th century as a loanword to differentiate from rain umbrellas; parasol specifically denotes a sunshade rather than rain protection. Around the 1700s, parasols became fashionable accessories in Europe, carried by both genders among the upper classes, especially in sunny outdoor social settings. The word traveled with fashion and fashion journalism, becoming a standard object in households across the English-speaking world by the 19th century. While a rain umbrella and parasol share morphology, the parasol’s design—often lighter, with a sun-reflective canopy—emphasized aesthetics as well as function. In modern usage, parasol has retained its specialized meaning in both everyday language and literature, and in some regions, the term umbrella is more common, with parasol reserved for decorative or formal contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Parasol"
-cal sounds
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Parasol is pronounced with three syllables: PÁR-a-sol (stress on the first syllable). IPA (US/UK/AU): US ˈpær.əˌsɒl, UK ˈpær.əˌsɒl, AU ˈpæɹ.əˌsɒl. The primary stress is on the first syllable, with a light secondary beat on the second. The 'a' in the first syllable sounds like the short 'a' in cat, the 'o' in the last syllable is a broad 'o' like in lot in non-rhotic accents, and the middle 'a' is a schwa. For practice, say “PARR-uh-sahl” with a crisp, unrounded final syllable.
Common mistakes include flattening the outer syllable into a quick 'sawl' or over-smoothing the middle 'uh' so it sounds like ‘par-ossol’. Another error is adding an extra syllable as 'para-sol’ with a heavy middle vowel. Correction: keep three distinct syllables PÁR-ə-sɔl, ensure the middle is a soft schwa and the final 'ol' is a clear, open-mid back rounded vowel. Practice by isolating each syllable: PÁR, ə, sɔl, then blend.
In US and UK, the initial 'par' rhymes with 'car' in non-rhotic UK where r is not pronounced in coda; US and AU typically pronounce the /r/ only before a vowel, so US/AU may have a slightly more rhotic feel in connected speech. The middle vowel is a schwa in most dialects, and the final /l/ is clear. The main difference is the rhotic vs non-rhotic r coloring in some UK speakers and the quality of the middle vowel under stress. Overall: US/UK/AU share PÁR-ə-sɔl but with subtle vowel length and r-color in US.
Parasol challenges include maintaining three distinct syllables in fluent speech, keeping the middle vowel as a lax schwa without reducing it into a quick 'uh' and ensuring the final 'sɔl' has a clean back rounded vowel without turning it into 'sol' or 'sall'. The initial 'par' demands the short 'a' quality; avoid a prolonged 'a' or a mis-timed stress that bleeds into the second syllable. IPA cues help; aim for ˈpær.əˌsɒl with crisp consonants.
Parasol includes a non-morphemic middle schwa that can be softened or omitted in rapid speech, particularly in US fast talk or when the speaker is tired, turning toward a reduced form like ˈpær.səl. Keeping the middle as a clear schwa helps standard comprehension. It’s also not a nasalized vowel; the /ə/ is a mid-central vowel. In careful speech, you’ll hear PÁR-ə-sɔl as the most reliable form.
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