How to pronounce lough
Say it like LOK. Lough 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 lough. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lough pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of lough
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: LOK.
What does lough mean?
- A lake or long, narrow inlet, especially in Ireland.
- lake, pool
Where does lough come from?
Borrowed from Irish loch (from Old Irish loch), from Proto-Celtic *loku (“lake, pool”), from Proto-Indo-European *lókus (“pond, pool”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lough
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lough.
Words that sound like lough
Questions about saying lough
How do you pronounce lough?
Say LOK. The American pronunciation is /lɑk/. In British English it is /lɒk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lough?
Lough is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LOK.
Is lough 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 /lɒk/ (LOK).
What words sound the same as lough?
Lough sounds the same as lakh, loch, lock in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.