aroma
aroma
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
The word aroma is most commonly pronounced with three syllables. The primary stress is on the second syllable.
US English (IPA): /əˈroʊmə/
UK English (IPA): /əˈrəʊmə/
🔊 Syllable Breakdown
Here are the sounds for each syllable in the word:
a- (ə): The "uh" sound, like the 'a' in about. This is an unstressed schwa sound.
-ro- (ˈroʊ / ˈrəʊ): The "roh" sound. This is the stressed syllable, containing a long 'o' vowel.
-ma (mə): The "muh" sound, like the 'a' in coma. This is another unstressed schwa sound.
Word Form Variations
Singular: aroma
Plural: aromas
Adjective: aromatic (meaning having or producing a distinct, typically pleasant smell)
Related Noun: aromatherapy (a healing practice using aromatic essential oils)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: A distinct, pervasive, and typically pleasant smell, especially one that is complex and pleasing to the senses.
Synonyms: fragrance, scent, bouquet, perfume, redolence
Antonyms: stench, stink, reek, malodor
Definition: A subtle, pervasive quality or atmosphere that is associated with something; a characteristic feeling or "flavor."
Synonyms: air, aura, ambiance, mood, essence, flavor
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms)
Examples of Use
📚 In Books
In Non-Fiction (Wine): "A wine's 'nose' or aroma... is a major part of its appeal and personality. It’s the first clue to the wine's grape variety, its origin, and even its age." (Karen MacNeil, The Wine Bible)
In Literature: "He passed a shop where spices were sold, and the aroma that drifted out—cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg—reminded him instantly of his grandmother's kitchen."
📰 In Newspapers & Online Publications
In a Food Review: "As the server approached, the aroma of the truffle fries—a sharp, earthy scent—arrived first, promising a rich flavor that the dish thankfully delivered."
In a Coffee Advertisement: "Our new holiday blend features a warm, inviting aroma with notes of toasted chestnut and sweet brown sugar."
In a Lifestyle Article: "Experts suggest using aromatherapy, as the simple aroma of lavender or chamomile can help signal to your brain that it’s time to unwind and sleep."
📺 In Entertainment
On a Cooking Show: "You can tell the sauce is reducing properly because the aroma in the kitchen changes. It gets deeper, sweeter, and more concentrated." (A host on a program like MasterChef or The Great British Bake Off)
In a Video Game: (Item description for a "Hearty Stew") "A thick, bubbling stew. Its savory aroma makes you feel warm and restores your health."
On a YouTube/Social Media Platform: "I just unboxed this new candle, and the aroma is already filling the room. It’s this amazing blend of sandalwood and fig."
🗣️ In General Public Discourse
In Everyday Conversation: "I just love the aroma of coffee brewing in the morning. It's the only thing that gets me out of bed."
As a Metaphor: "He walked into the negotiation with the unmistakable aroma of success, confident and prepared."
In Real Estate: "The agent advised them to bake cookies before the open house, noting that the warm, comforting aroma would make the space feel more like home."
10 Famous Quotes Using Aroma
Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere. (Henry David Thoreau)
Nothing awakens reminiscence like an aroma. (Victor Hugo)
Love is like an aroma, like a current, like rain. (Frida Kahlo)
Coffee justifies the existence of the word 'aroma'. (Glen Duncan)
Your attitude is like the aroma of your heart. (Alex Kendrick)
It was very pleasant to savor its aroma, for smells have the power to evoke the past... (Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate)
There is something about the aroma of fresh books that's totally intoxicating. (Debra Ginsberg)
We must not inquire too curiously into motives... the aroma is mixed with the grosser air. (George Eliot, Middlemarch)
...nothing haunted the nostrils all the way out to the barn as did the aroma of boiling coffee. (Edna Lewis, The Taste of Country Cooking)
Storytelling tastes best in the kitchen, told deep inside the aroma of cooking... (Brenda Sutton Rose)
Etymology
The word aroma has a very direct path to English, starting in ancient Greece.
It comes from the Greek word árōma.
Original Meaning
Here is the most interesting part: in Greek, árōma didn't mean "a smell." It meant "a spice, seasoning, or fragrant herb."
So, when people originally used the word, they were talking about the physical object itself—like the cinnamon, cloves, or rosemary—not the scent coming from it.
The Journey to English
The ancient Greeks passed the word to the Romans, who adopted it into Latin as arōma, still meaning "a spice."
The word then entered English around the 13th or 14th century, most likely through Old French (aromat).
First Known Use in English: When "aroma" first appeared in English, it kept this original meaning. It referred to a spice or, sometimes, a fragrant perfume or ointment made from spices.
How the Meaning Changed
Over hundreds of years, the association between these "aromas" (spices) and the strong, pleasant smells they produced became so strong that the word's meaning shifted.
People eventually started using "aroma" to describe the scent itself rather than the thing producing the scent. This is a common way language evolves—we name the sensation after the object that causes it. By the 1800s, the modern meaning of "a pleasant, complex smell" had become the most common way to use the word, just as we use it today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Aroma
The sweet aroma of success
The aroma of victory
The aroma of old books
An aroma of suspicion
An aroma of wealth
Wake up and smell the coffee (Often implies "face reality," directly related to aroma)
Smell a rat (To suspect deception)
Come up smelling of roses (To emerge from a difficult situation with a good reputation)
Throw someone off the scent (To mislead someone who is in pursuit or investigating)
Hot on the scent (To be very close to finding or discovering someone or something)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of aroma from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
