Pronunciation: [hjˈuːmən sˈə͡ʊl] (IPA) 
The word "human soul" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ˈhjuːmən soʊl/. The "h" is pronounced as the sound /h/, the "u" as /juː/, the "m" as /m/, the "a" as /ə/, the "n" as /n/, the "s" as /s/, the "o" as /oʊ/, and the "l" as /l/. The "y" sound in "human" is represented by the "ju" combination in IPA, while the "ou" sound in "soul" is represented by the phoneme /oʊ/.
The human soul is a philosophical concept that refers to the immaterial, immortal essence or core of an individual's being. It is believed to be the seat of each person's consciousness, emotions, thoughts, and will. Considered as divine or sacred by many belief systems and religious traditions, the concept of the soul typically encompasses the idea of an eternal entity that transcends the physical body and continues to exist even after death.
The human soul is often perceived as the source of a person's individuality, personality, and moral character. It is believed to possess unique qualities and capabilities that distinguish it from other living beings, such as self-awareness, rationality, creativity, and the capacity for spirituality.
Various beliefs about the nature of the soul exist across different cultures, religions, and philosophies. Some traditions perceive the soul as a distinct entity that preexists birth, existing in a spiritual realm before entering a physical body. Others posit that it is created at birth, connected to a specific individual, and subsequently evolves and grows throughout their lifetime. Moreover, some religious belief systems propose different kinds of souls, such as animal souls or celestial souls, which may have distinct characteristics or purposes.
The concept of the human soul has been the subject of intense philosophical, theological, and metaphysical debates throughout history. Questions regarding its nature, existence, and relationship to the physical body continue to engage scholars, theologians, and individuals seeking a deeper understanding of the human experience.
The etymology of the word "human soul" can be traced back to multiple sources.
The term "human" comes from the Latin word "humanus", which is derived from "homo", meaning "man" or "human being". It is likely that this Latin word is derived from the earlier Proto-Indo-European root "dhghem", meaning "earth", as it is related to other words such as "humus" (earth, soil) and "humilis" (low, humble).
On the other hand, the word "soul" comes from the Old English word "sawol", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "saiwaz" or "saiwalō".
