10 mind-boggling ways to pronounce ‘ough’

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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. 

schwa sound for english fluency