2 syllables: Re, sult. Stress on sult.
riz-UHLT
/ɹɪˈzʌlt/
Result is pronounced riz-UHLT (/ɹɪˈzʌlt/). It has two syllables (Re-sult), with the stress on "sult". Result is a noun meaning the outcome or consequence of a process or action. It refers to what happens after an event, effort, or computation, often implying a measurable or observable end product. In discussion, it can also denote the logical conclusion drawn from evidence or reasoning.
nounResult is a noun meaning the outcome or consequence of a process or action. It refers to what happens after an event, effort, or computation, often implying a measurable or observable end product. In discussion, it can also denote the logical conclusion drawn from evidence or reasoning.
- Common Mistake 1: Under-articulating the final /lt/, making the word sound like /ˈrɪ.zəl/ or /ˈrɪ.zəl̩/. Correction: finish with a crisp /l/ and /t/, even if faint, to separate syllables clearly. Practice ending with a small, deliberate touch of the tongue at the alveolar ridge for /t/. - Common Mistake 2: Over-reducing the second syllable; many say /ˈrɪ.zət/ or /ˈrɪ.zətl/ losing the schwa. Correction: keep the second syllable as /zə/ with a relaxed tongue and jaw, not a full vowel sound, then glide into the /lt/. - Common Mistake 3: Stress misplacement between syllables; often heard as ri-ZULT. Correction: emphasize the first syllable /ˈrɪ/ and keep the second syllable lighter; practice with slow tempo to feel the beat between syllables.
"The result of the experiment showed a significant improvement in accuracy."
"What’s the result when you multiply 6 by 7?"
"Her careful planning yielded a positive result for the project."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈrɪ.zəlt/. The /ˈrɪ/ begins with a near-close near-front vowel, followed by a light /z/ and a schwa in the second syllable, then a final /lt/ cluster. In rapid speech the second vowel may reduce slightly. Ensure the /l/ and /t/ are crisp; avoid vocalizing the /ə/ too long. For audio reference, listen to standard dictionaries or pronunciation tutorials that demonstrate emphasis on the first syllable and clear /z/ before the schwa and final consonant cluster.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying ri-ZULT with misplaced emphasis on the second syllable. (2) Fusing /zə/ into a single quick schwa or slurring the /lt/ into a syllable break. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈrɪ/ and articulate the /z/ clearly before the reduced /ə/ in the second syllable, then enunciate the /lt/ as a light but audible coda. Practice saying /ˈrɪ.zəlt/ slowly, then gradually increase speed while keeping the two segments distinct.
In US English, the second syllable often has a lighter, reduced vowel, and the /t/ can be more dental or alveolar depending on the speaker, with a non-rhotic tendency in surrounding speech not affecting stress. UK speakers typically maintain a clear second vowel but may reduce more, with a crisper /t/ sometimes released as a light [t]. Australian English tends toward a more centralized /ə/ and slightly flatter intonation, but the first syllable remains stressed. Across all, the initial /ˈrɪ/ is the anchor of the word.
The difficulty stems from the consonant cluster /lt/ at the end after an unstressed vowel, which can lead to a rushed or blended finish in fast speech. The midsize /ə/ in the second syllable is often reduced, obscuring the syllable boundary for listeners. Beginners also misplace the primary stress or over-articulate the middle /z/ turning it into /zɪ/ or /zəl/ rather than /zə/. Focus on crisp /z/ followed by a short schwa and a clean /lt/ to avoid ambiguity.
A unique feature is the immediate /z/ before a reduced vowel in a two-syllable word, which can cause the /z/ to sound less distinct if the following vowel is not properly relaxed. Also, the /lt/ coda demands a brief release. You’ll notice that some speakers voice the /l/ and /t/ softly in rapid speech, making the word sound more like /ˈrɪ.zəlt/ with a subdued final cluster. Practicing the two-syllable cadence helps ensure the consonants stay audible.
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- US: tendency to reduce the second syllable; keep /zə/ compressed. Ensure the /r/ is clearly formed with the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge. - UK: may have slightly crisper /t/ and a more pronounced /ɪ/ in the first syllable; keep non-rhotic influence with a clear /ˈrɪ/ initial but lighter post-vocalic r. - AU: more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a soft /l/; keep the final /lt/ crisp but not overemphasized. Use IPA /ˈrɪ.zəlt/ as reference; maintain rhotic awareness where applicable.
The noun result originates from the Latin word resultus, past participle of obteneri meaning 'to come back, to be obtained.' In Latin, resulting meaning pertained to what is yielded or obtained. The Middle French adopted it as resultat, then English borrowed as result in the 14th century. The sense evolved from “something obtained as a consequence” to the broader modern definition of an outcome or consequence of an action or process. Initially used in scholastic and legal contexts to describe conclusions or outcomes, the term broadened with science, mathematics, and everyday discourse, preserving its core notion of a derived end state. The spelling and pronunciation stabilized as 'result' in English, with the initial stress moving to the first syllable in many varieties. Over time, the word also appeared in phrases like “the result of,” “to result in,” and, in mathematics, “the result of an operation.” First known use in English traces to the 14th century manuscripts where it appeared as resultat or resultant, gradually simplifying to the modern form. Today, result is a common, versatile noun used across domains—from experimental outcomes to conclusions drawn from data—and retains a formal, objective tone in academic and professional contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Result"
-ult sounds
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