What is sole? Pronunciation and usage in English

sole means . Learn how to pronounce and use sole through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of sole

soleadjective

/səʊl//səʊl/
Definition & pronunciation of sole

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "sole" in English. There are two main ways it's pronounced, and they depend slightly on the context:

1. As in "Foot Sole" (most common):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈsoʊl/ (rhymes with "bowl")
  • Breakdown:
    • "so": Sounds like the word "so" (as in "so sad"). Think of a short, open "o" sound.
    • "l": Pronounced as a regular "l" sound.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is on the "so" syllable.

2. As in "Only One" (less common, but important to know):

  • Pronunciation: /soʊl/ (rhymes with "roll")
  • Breakdown:
    • "so": This is the same as above – a short, open "o" sound.
    • "l": Pronounced as a regular "l" sound.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is on the "so" syllable.

Here's a quick way to remember:

If you’re talking about a foot, it's almost always /ˈsoʊl/.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What were you using the word "sole" for? (e.g., talking about your foot, a single thing, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word sole in English

Let's break down how to use the word "sole" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several distinct meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. The Foot:

  • Most Common Meaning: This is the most familiar meaning – the bottom part of your foot.
    • "He stepped on the sole of my shoe."
    • "The doctor examined the sole of my foot for blisters."
    • "I’ve got a blister on my sole."

2. Shoe Sole:

  • Specifically the bottom of a shoe: Often used when talking about footwear.
    • “The new sneakers have a durable rubber sole.”
    • “He replaced the sole of his hiking boots.”

3. The Only One (Main/Unique):

  • As an adjective - meaning "only," "unique," or "exclusive": This is a more formal usage.
    • "She is the sole heir to the fortune." (Only heir)
    • “He was the sole survivor of the accident.” (Only survivor)
    • "This restaurant offers a sole opportunity to taste authentic Italian cuisine." (Exclusive opportunity)
    • "He’s the sole decision-maker on this project." (Unique decision-maker)

4. The Center (of something – less common):

  • Figuratively – meaning "center" or "heart": This is used less frequently.
    • “The sole of her happiness was her family.” (The center of her happiness)
    • “He remained the sole reason for her continued dedication." (The central focus)

5. A Small Piece (of something – mainly in woodworking):

  • In woodworking – a small piece attached to the bottom of something (like a lid or a shelf):
    • “The sole of the basket was reinforced with a thin piece of wood.”
    • “He added a little sole to the bottom of the box to protect the surface.”

Tips for Using "Sole":

  • Context is Key: The meaning of "sole" is almost entirely determined by the context in which it’s used.
  • Don’t Confuse It With “Sell”: They are completely different words!
  • Formal vs. Informal: The “only one” meaning is generally more formal.

Resources for More Examples:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to use the word "sole"? (e.g., "I'm writing a sentence about feet," or "I'm writing a business proposal," or "I’m just curious about the word's different meanings.")

Synonyms for the word sole

Practice with vocabulary sole

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The company's success was attributed to the __________ dedication of its founder.
  2. Her __________ focus on data analysis helped her uncover crucial insights.
  3. As the __________ provider of cloud services in the region, they hold a significant market advantage.
  4. Despite numerous challenges, the team managed to achieve their goal __________ the deadline.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which word best describes the company's exclusive right to distribute the product? a) joint b) primary c) sole d) shared
  2. Which of the following words can describe the only reason for a particular outcome? a) unique b) primary c) sole d) initial
  3. To ensure data integrity, the system administrator had __________ access to the critical server. a) communal b) shared c) restricted d) sole
  4. When evaluating research findings, it's important to consider both qualitative and __________ data. a) quantitative b) collective c) subjective d) theoretical
  5. The __________ of the problem lies in the insufficient funding, not in the team's capabilities. a) core b) facade c) periphery d) symptom

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The company is the only supplier of this specialized component. Rewrite:
  2. Her only responsibility in the project was to manage stakeholder communication. Rewrite:
  3. The project's success depended completely on the team's ability to collaborate effectively. Rewrite:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. sole
  2. primary
  3. sole
  4. within

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) sole
  2. a) unique, c) sole
  3. d) sole
  4. a) quantitative
  5. a) core

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The company is the sole supplier of this specialized component.
  2. Her sole responsibility in the project was to manage stakeholder communication.
  3. The project's success depended entirely on the team's ability to collaborate effectively.

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