Home › Glossary › Letter S

Sun

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A celestial body universally revered as a symbol of the supreme deity, divine light, truth, and life-giving power.

Detailed Definition
The sun is a primary symbol of the divine in numerous religions, from Ra in Egyptian mythology to Surya in Hinduism and the "Sun of Righteousness" in Malachi 4:2. It represents enlightenment, cosmic order, and the illuminating power of truth that dispels the darkness of ignorance. Poets consistently use the sun as a metaphor for God, for the awakened mind, or for the ultimate source of all life and creativity. Its daily cycle of rising and setting provides a powerful archetype for death and rebirth, hope, and the eternal return of divine grace.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Vedic poetry, the Sun (Surya) is divine charioteer: “Golden rays—Sun rides across sky, dispelling night’s illusion”; In Psalm 19, the Sun declares God’s glory: “Nothing is hidden from its heat—Sun as celestial herald”; In Japanese haiku, Sun symbolizes impermanence: “Sun sets on battlefield—glory fades like blood in dust”; In Sufi verse, the Sun is the Beloved’s radiance: “Your face—Sun that blinds my ego, heals my soul”; Contemporary poets use Sun for resilience: “After storm, Sun returns—not to forget, but to grow.”
Additional Notes
In poetry and religious symbolism, the Sun often transcends its astronomical identity to embody divine radiance, truth, and cyclical renewal; across traditions—from Ra in Egyptian mythology to Surya in Hinduism and Sol Invictus in Roman cults—the Sun signifies not only physical light but also spiritual illumination, making it a potent metaphor for epiphany, clarity, and the presence of the sacred in lyrical and devotional verse.
Other Meanings of “Sun”
Also Known As
Sol Helios Surya Ra Sól
Skip to main content