How to pronounce ablution
Say it like uh-BLOO-shun. Ablution has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BLOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ablution. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- BLOO
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ablution pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BLOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ablution
American and British speakers say ablution in essentially the same way: /əˈbluʃən/ in the US and /əˈbluːʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-BLOO-shun.
What does ablution mean?
- Originally, the purifying of oils and other substances by emulsification with hot water; now more generally, a thorough cleansing of a precipitate or other non-dissolved substance.
- The act of washing or cleansing the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite.
- Washing oneself; bathing, cleaning oneself up.
Where does ablution come from?
From Middle English ablucioun (“cleansing of impurities”), from Old French ablution, and its source, Late Latin ablūtiō (“a washing away”), from abluō (“wash away”), from ab- (“away”) + lavō (“wash”).
Words that rhyme with ablution
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ablution.
- solution
- distribution
- resolution
- constitution
- revolution
- evolution
- institution
- contribution
- execution
- pollution
Questions about saying ablution
How do you pronounce ablution?
Say uh-BLOO-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˈbluʃən/. In British English it is /əˈbluːʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ablution?
Ablution has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BLOO). Broken into parts: uh · BLOO · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say ablution the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈbluʃən/ and the British form is /əˈbluːʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.