How to pronounce sough
Say it like SOWF. Sough 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 sough. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOWF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sough pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOWFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of sough
American and British speakers say sough in essentially the same way: /saʊf/ in the US and /saʊf/ in the UK.
British respelling: SOWF.
Other ways to say sough
Sough also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- SOH /soʊ/
What does sough mean?
- To make a soft rustling or murmuring sound.
- A murmuring sound; rushing, rustling, or whistling sound.
- A gentle breeze; a waft; a breath.
- A (deep) sigh.
- A small drain; an adit.
Where does sough come from?
From Middle English *sough, swough, swogh, from Middle English swoȝen, swowen, from Old English swōgan (“to make a sound; move with noise; rush; roar”), from Proto-West Germanic *swōgan, from Proto-Germanic *swōganą from Proto-Indo-European
Questions about saying sough
How do you pronounce sough?
Say SOWF. The American pronunciation is /saʊf/. In British English it is /saʊf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sough?
Sough is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SOWF.
Do Americans and Brits say sough the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /saʊf/ and the British form is /saʊf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.