In the English language, there exist several types of words. These words are differentiated based on various parameters. These parameters include figures of speech like verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, nouns etc. Other than that, there are several types of words that are classified based on their pronunciation. There are some words that are pronounced in the same manner but have multiple meanings. These types of words are known as homophones. One of the most prominent examples of homophones is seen between the words 1. Sole and 2. Soul.
Sole vs Soul
The main difference between sole and soul is their meanings. There are multiple meanings of the word sole, like only, solitary, a random thing belonging to a single person and something that is not shared, the surface of the foot of a living being, the component of a shoe that is placed below the feet etc. On the other hand, the meaning of the word soul is the component of a human being that is extremely spiritual and remains even after the human being is dead or the thoughts and attributes present deep down in a person’s mind.
The word sole has multiple meanings. The first meaning of the word is only solitary, which is an adjective. The second meaning of the word is surface of the foot present below, the component of a shoe that is situated beneath the feet which is a noun. The word is used by adding a suffix to it, which is “soleness”.
The meaning of the word soul is the spiritual element present in a person that is believed to stay even after the death of the person is known as the soul. Other than that, a soul is an element inside a person that has profound thoughts and beliefs. Many people do not believe in this concept, while some do believe in it.
Comparison Table Between Sole and Soul
| Parameters Of Comparison | Sole | Soul |
| Meanings | 1. Only, solitary 2. The surface of the foot. 3. The element of a shoe placed beneath the foot. | 1. Spiritual part of a human being that doesn’t diminish even after the person dies. 2. The deepest thoughts and feelings of a person. |
| Used as | Noun, verb, adjective | Noun, adjective |
| Spelling | Sole | Soul |
| Synonyms | Only, single, solitary, lone | Embodiment, emotion, passion, incarnation, essence |
| Antonyms | United, shared, together, mixed, general | Fear, discouragement, cowardice, thing |
What is Sole?
The meaning of the word sole as a noun is a surface that is present beneath the foot. It also has another meaning as a noun which is an element of a shoe that is situated below the foot of the wearer. Other than that, it also has other meanings where it is used as an adjective too.
The usage of the word sole as an adjective is done when it means solitary or only. For instance, if a person has a deep interest in book reading and he or she doesn’t have an interest in any other activities, then one can interpret that that person has a sole interest in book reading.
The word sole is used in the business world as well. There is a term called sole proprietorship, which means a business that can be owned by a certain company, organization, a person or by a partnership that has limited liability. The status of this kind of business can be expressed in legal terms as a non-separate entity that is legalized by the owner of the business.
There exist a fish called the sole fish. It is a kind of flatfish that is eaten mainly in the coastal areas of the continent of Europe. The structure of this fish is lean and flat. There are several other types of sole flatfish as well. Hence, there are multiple meanings of the word sole. It is used as an adjective, noun and verb.
What is Soul?
The word soul has primarily two meanings. The first meaning is the spiritual part of a human being that does not diminish even after his or her death. The second meaning of the word is the purest thoughts and feelings that a person has deep down in their mind.
In many religions and cultures, there are several interpretations of the word soul. It is considered the true essence of a human being. What a human being is, is truly defined and understood by getting to know more about the individual profoundly. Many other interpretations include, the soul is a set of a person’s other elements too.
Many religious interpretations entail a soul is a collection of several mental abilities and emotions like the individual’s characteristics, true nature, perspective, recollection, mentality, reason, conduct, integrity etc. Some explanations also put forth that a soul can either be mortal or immortal.
Several synonyms of the word soul include warmth, energy, spirit, commitment, incarnation, embodiment, personification, symbol, model, creature, body, human being, man, woman, living being, creature etc. Hence, the word “soul” is used as an adjective and noun as well.
Main Differences Between Sole and Soul
- The word sole has more meanings. On the other hand, the word soul has fewer meanings.
- The word sole has multiple meanings that are completely different from one another. On the other hand, the word soul has multiple meanings that are slightly similar to one another.
- The word sole has meanings like 1. Only, solitary 2. A type of fish 3. The surface is present below the feet 4. The element of a shoe is situated below the foot. On the other hand, the word soul has meanings like 1. The true essence of a human being 2. The spiritual part of a person is immortal.
- The word sole is in many forms like noun, adjective, verb. On the other hand, the word soul is in forms like nouns and adjectives.
- The word sole has synonyms like solitary, lone etc., on the other hand, the word soul has synonyms like personification, embodiment etc.
Conclusion
The language of English is a very vivid one, and it has several types of words in its vocabulary. Homophones are of many types. Some homophones have different meanings spellings but the same pronunciation. Some homophones have different meanings but have the same pronunciation as well as their spellings. Similar to this, there are other types of words in the English vocabulary.
References
- https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1969-12277-001
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-015-9161-4_4