How to pronounce thorough
Say it like THUR-roh. Thorough has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUR).
- THUR
- roh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Two syllables: 'THUR-oh' in the US, 'THUH-ruh' in Britain.
Thorough pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THURSay this part loudest and longest.
- rohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of thorough
American and British speakers say thorough in essentially the same way: /ˈθɜroʊ/ in the US and /ˈθʌrə/ in the UK.
British respelling: THUHR-uh.
Other ways to say thorough
Thorough also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- THOR-oh /ˈθɔroʊ/
What does thorough mean?
- Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail.“The Prime Minister announced a thorough investigation into the death of a father-of-two in police custody.”
- Utter; complete; absolute.
Where does thorough come from?
From Middle English thoruȝ, þoruȝ, from Old English þuruh, a byform of Old English þurh, whence comes English through.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with thorough
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of thorough.
Questions about saying thorough
How do you pronounce thorough?
Say THUR-roh. The American pronunciation is /ˈθɜroʊ/. In British English it is /ˈθʌrə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in thorough?
Thorough has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THUR). Broken into parts: THUR · roh.
Do Americans and Brits say thorough the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈθɜroʊ/ and the British form is /ˈθʌrə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.