3 syllables: Pol, lu, tion. Stress on lu.
puh-LOO-shuhn
/pəˈluʃən/
Pollution is pronounced puh-LOO-shuhn (/pəˈluʃən/). It has three syllables (Pol-lu-tion), with the stress on "lu". Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or energy into the environment, causing adverse effects to air, water, or soil. It is typically driven by human activity but can also include natural sources. The term covers contaminants from industrial processes, vehicles, waste, and chemical use that degrade ecosystems and human health.
nounPollution is the introduction of harmful substances or energy into the environment, causing adverse effects to air, water, or soil. It is typically driven by human activity but can also include natural sources. The term covers contaminants from industrial processes, vehicles, waste, and chemical use that degrade ecosystems and human health.
"Urban planners are grappling with air pollution and its impact on public health."
"Efforts to reduce water pollution include better waste treatment and stricter regulations."
"Noise pollution is a growing concern near busy airports and highways."
Pollution is pronounced puh-LOO-shun, with the primary stress on the second syllable. The IPA is /pəˈluːʃən/. Start with a relaxed 'p' sound, reduce the first syllable to a schwa, elongate the /uː/ vowel in the second syllable, and finish with a light /ʃən/ cluster. If you’re listening, you’ll hear a clear second-syllable emphasis: puh-LOO-shun.
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable (POH-lution) instead of the second; (2) mispronouncing the vowel sequence, treating /luː/ as a short /lʊ/ or /lu/; (3) rushing the final /ən/ into a quick 'un' without the light /ʃ/ plus schwa. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable, ensure a long /uː/ in /luː/, and finish with a clear /ʃən/ flow—puh-LOO-shun.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /pəˈluːʃən/ remains, but /ɜː/ vs /ə/ differences can occur in the first vowel; US tends toward a tighter, shorter /ə/ and a more rhotic r-influenced rhythm in connected speech, while UK tends to crisper consonants and slightly more rounded vowels. Australian may have a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a slightly reduced second syllable; overall, the /ˈluː/ remains the central feature with strong second-syllable stress.
The difficulty lies in the secondary stress placement and the consonant cluster /ʃən/ at the end. The /p/ onset followed by a reduced first syllable /ə/ can obscure the syllable boundary, making the second syllable appear less prominent. Also, keeping /luː/ long while transitioning quickly to /ʃən/ requires controlled articulation and precise timing of the voiceless /ʃ/ with the schwa.
The unique feature is the steady, strong secondary syllable stress on /luː/. You’ll hear a perceptible vowel lengthened in the second syllable, which supports the contrast with related words like 'pollute' (verb) where the final syllable differs. Emphasize /ˈluː/ and keep the /ʃ/ clear, not blended with the /ən/.
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Pollution derives from the Middle French pollution, from the Latin pollutio, from poluere 'to soil, defile' (related to polutus 'soilied, dirty'). The root pol- conveys the idea of dirt or impurity, extended metaphorically to moral and social corruption in Romance languages. In English, pollution gained scientific and environmental usage in the 19th century amid industrialization, as emissions, effluents, and atmospheric contaminants drew attention to ecological damage. The term broadened beyond moral or civil disorder to denote the physical adulteration of air, water, and land, often with unintended consequences for health and biodiversity. Over time, pollution has become a core policy and public health concern, with language now specifying pollutant types (air, water, soil, noise, light) and sources (industrial, agricultural, urban). First known English uses appear in 19th-century texts discussing sanitation and contamination, but the modern environmental sense crystallized as scientific disciplines documented rising pollutants and their impacts on ecosystems and human welfare.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pollution" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pollution" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pollution"
-ion sounds
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