How to pronounce hough
Say it like HOK. Hough is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hough. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hough pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of hough
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: HOK.
What does hough mean?
- Alternative form of hock (“the hollow behind the knee”).
- Alternative form of hock (“tarsal joint of a digitigrade quadruped”).
- Alternative form of hock (“to hamstring”).
- Alternative form of hoe.
Where does hough come from?
The regular modern English development would be /hʌf/, /haʊ/; this has been replaced by /hɒk/, originating in the compound huxen (also *hoxen), from Old English hōhsinu.
Words that rhyme with hough
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hough.
Words that sound like hough
Questions about saying hough
How do you pronounce hough?
Say HOK. The American pronunciation is /hɑk/. In British English it is /hɒk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hough?
Hough is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HOK.
Is hough pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /hɒk/ (HOK).
What words sound the same as hough?
Hough sounds the same as hock in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.