/səˈluʃən/
solution is pronounced /səˈluʃən/. A word meaning a means of solving a problem or dealing with a situation; also a homogeneous mixture in chemistry. It denotes an answer or method that resolves an issue, or a liquid prepared to dissolve another substance. In science contexts it refers to a liquid containing dissolved substances, typically formed by a solute and solvent. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words).
Say it backA word meaning a means of solving a problem or dealing with a situation; also a homogeneous mixture in chemistry. It denotes an answer or method that resolves an issue, or a liquid prepared to dissolve another substance. In science contexts it refers to a liquid containing dissolved substances, typically formed by a solute and solvent. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words)
"The mathematician proposed a clever solution to the complex equation."
"The lab prepared a saline solution for the experiment."
"Her quick solution to the scheduling conflict saved the project."
Pronounce as sə-LOO-shən, with primary stress on the second syllable: /səˈluːʃən/. Begin with a light schwa, move to a long /uː/ in the stressed syllable, then a clear /ʃ/ before a soft, quick /ən/. In careful speech you’ll hear three distinct segments: /sə/ + /ˈluː/ + /ʃən/. Listen to native audio to fine-tune the /ˈluː/ vowel quality and the final reduction.
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable as SO-lu-tion instead of sə-ˈluː-tion, (2) shortening the /luː/ into a quick /lu/ without the long vowel, (3) obscuring the /ʃ/ by blending it into the following syllable. Correction: use a clear, slightly longer /uː/ in the stressed syllable, keep /ˈluː/ as a single nucleus, and articulate /ʃ/ fully before the final /ən/. Practice with slow 듣자 pace to establish the rhythm.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ is not relevant here; primary stress on /ˈluː/; vowels approach a full /uː/ with a light schwa elsewhere. UK: similar but with slightly more centralized final /ən/ and less vowel rounding in some speakers. AU: often very similar to UK; slight Australian vowel broadening can slightly alter the /uː/ quality and the timbre of the final /ən/. In all, the core is sə-ˈluː-ʃən with minor vowel shifting by region.
Difficulties include the three-syllable rhythm with a mid syllable peak on /ˈluː/ and a final weak /ən/. The /ˈluː/ nucleus must be full and rounded, while the /ʃ/ consonant requires precise tongue blade contact. The sequence /luːʃ/ can blur in quick speech, so maintaining a distinct /ˈluː/ and clear /ʃ/ helps intelligibility. Slow practice clarifies timing and segment boundaries.
A key point is the mid-stressed second syllable /ˈluː/. Many learners anticipate a strong stress on the first or third syllable; instead the stress falls on the second: so-LU-tion. This affects pitch and tempo in connected speech. Additionally, ensure the /t/ of -tion is not left to a silent partner; in careful speech, the -tion can have a light /t/ release before the final /ən/ depending on rhythm.
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The word solution comes from Middle English solution, via Old French solutien, from Latin solutio, from solvere meaning “to loosen, loosen up, release, pay.” The Latin root solvus means “loosened, released.” In early Latin usage, solutio referred to loosening or dissolving, then extended to the act of solving a problem (loosening an enigma) and, in chemistry, a liquid in which something is dissolved. In medieval and early modern science, solutio described both the act of dissolving substances and the result of a process that frees or resolves a difficulty. By the 14th–16th centuries, English usage had separated into the sense of an answer to a puzzle or problem and the chemical sense of a liquid in which substances are dissolved; the pronunciation and spelling stabilized in Modern English as it’s used today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "solution" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "solution" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "solution"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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