10 mind-boggling ways to pronounce ‘ough’
English spelling isn’t entirely phonetic, which means that many words aren't spelt the way they sound. This is particularly true for words ending in -ough.
To prove that point, check out the following ten words ending in -ough, each with their own distinct pronunciations:
- "cough" (which rhymes with "off")
- "rough" (which rhymes with "stuff")
- "dough" (which rhymes with "no")
- "through" (which rhymes with "do")
- "thought" (which sounds like "awe")
- "plough" (an alternative spelling of "plow")
- "hiccough" (an alternative spelling of "hiccup")
- "hough" (an alternative spelling of "hock")
- "lough" (an alternative spelling of "loch")
- "thorough" (which is the schwa sound (ə) all on its own!)
Good luck with saying this sentence:
"A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed."
Conclusion
English pronunciation can be a minefield. Words ending in -ough rather prove this assertion. However, a great deal of auditory exposure to English will help you to internalise the pronunciation of individual words.
