How to pronounce rugged
Say it like RUHG-ud. Rugged has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RUHG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rugged. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RUHG
- ud
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rugged pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RUHGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- udKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of rugged
American and British speakers say rugged in essentially the same way: /ˈrʌɡəd/ in the US and /ˈrʌɡɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: RUHG-id.
What does rugged mean?
- sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring“with a house full of boys you have to have rugged furniture”
- having long narrow shallow depressions (as grooves or wrinkles) in the surface“furrowed fields”“his furrowed face lit by a warming smile”
- topographically very uneven“broken terrain”“rugged ground”
Where does rugged come from?
From Middle English rugged, roggyd, ruggyd, derived from Old Norse rǫgg (“tuft, shagginess”), equivalent to rug (“rough, woollen material”) + -ed.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying rugged
How do you pronounce rugged?
Say RUHG-ud. The American pronunciation is /ˈrʌɡəd/. In British English it is /ˈrʌɡɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rugged?
Rugged has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RUHG). Broken into parts: RUHG · ud.
Do Americans and Brits say rugged the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrʌɡəd/ and the British form is /ˈrʌɡɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.