How to pronounce roughness
Say it like RUHF-nus. Roughness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RUHF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce roughness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RUHF
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Roughness pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of roughness
American and British speakers say roughness in essentially the same way: /ˈrʌfnəs/ in the US and /ˈrʌfnəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: RUHF-nus.
What does roughness mean?
- The property of being rough, coarseness.“The roughness of the road made me wonder if my car would fall apart.”
- Something that is rough; a rough spot.
- Roughage; coarse fodder.
Where does roughness come from?
Inherited from Middle English roughnes /roughnesse.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with roughness
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of roughness.
Questions about saying roughness
How do you pronounce roughness?
Say RUHF-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈrʌfnəs/. In British English it is /ˈrʌfnəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in roughness?
Roughness has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RUHF). Broken into parts: RUHF · nus.
Do Americans and Brits say roughness the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrʌfnəs/ and the British form is /ˈrʌfnəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.