How to pronounce oughts
Say it like OTS. Oughts 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 oughts. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OTS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oughts pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OTSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of oughts
American and British speakers say oughts in essentially the same way: /ɑts/ in the US and /ɔːts/ in the UK.
British respelling: AWTS.
What does oughts mean?
- plural of ought
- Alternative spelling of aughts (“first decade of a century”).
Words that rhyme with oughts
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oughts.
Questions about saying oughts
How do you pronounce oughts?
Say OTS. The American pronunciation is /ɑts/. In British English it is /ɔːts/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oughts?
Oughts is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: OTS.
Do Americans and Brits say oughts the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɑts/ and the British form is /ɔːts/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.