The 6 Pronunciations of -OUGH Words in English
George Bernard Shaw famously quipped about English spelling irregularities. The spelling -ough can be pronounced in 6 completely different ways depending on etymology. Master them once and for all with SayItVid video proof.
"A rough-coated, dough-faced ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough, after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed."
The 9-Sound Linguistic Classic/oʊ/ (as in 'go')
Conjunction meaning 'despite the fact that'
Formal version of though
Flour mixture for baking bread
/uː/ (as in 'too')
Preposition meaning 'moving in one side and out of the other'
/ɔː/ (as in 'saw')
Past tense of think, or an idea
Past tense of buy
Past tense of bring
Modal auxiliary verb indicating duty
/ʌf/ (as in 'stuff')
Strong, durable, or physically difficult
Not smooth, uneven texture
As much or as many as required
/ɒf/ (as in 'off')
Expelling air from the lungs suddenly
A long, narrow open container for animals
/ə/ (schwa, as in 'sofa')
Complete with regard to every detail
An administrative municipal division
Side-by-Side -OUGH Contrast Table
Compare the top 6 most common words side by side to ensure you never confuse their vowel sounds:
| Word | IPA | Rhymes With | Meaning | SayItVid Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| though | /ðoʊ/ | go, no, slow | However / despite | Pronounce on SayItVid |
| through | /θruː/ | too, blue, shoe | In one side, out the other | Pronounce on SayItVid |
| thought | /θɔːt/ | caught, taught | Past tense of think | Pronounce on SayItVid |
| tough | /tʌf/ | stuff, rough, buff | Strong / difficult | Pronounce on SayItVid |
| cough | /kɒf/ | off, scoff | Expel air from lungs | Pronounce on SayItVid |
| thorough | /ˈθɜːr.oʊ/ | burrow, furrow | Meticulous / complete | Pronounce on SayItVid |