1. Solute: The substance that dissolves in a solvent. It is usually present in a smaller amount compared to the solvent. Examples include sugar in water, salt in water, or alcohol in water.

2. Solvent: The substance that dissolves the solute. It is usually present in a larger amount compared to the solute. The most common solvent is water, but other solvents exist, like alcohol, acetone, or gasoline.

Think of it this way: the solute is what gets "mixed in" and the solvent is what does the "mixing".