How to pronounce tough
Say it like TUHF. Tough 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 tough. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TUHF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The gh is an f sound: 'tuff'.
Tough pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of tough
American and British speakers say tough in essentially the same way: /tʌf/ in the US and /tʌf/ in the UK.
British respelling: TUHF.
What does tough mean?
- not given to gentleness or sentimentality“a tough character”
- very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution“a rugged competitive examination”“the rugged conditions of frontier life”
- physically toughened“the tough bottoms of his feet”
- someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
- an aggressive and violent young criminal
- a cruel and brutal fellow
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with tough
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tough.
Words that sound like tough
Questions about saying tough
How do you pronounce tough?
Say TUHF. The American pronunciation is /tʌf/. In British English it is /tʌf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tough?
Tough is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TUHF.
Do Americans and Brits say tough the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tʌf/ and the British form is /tʌf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as tough?
Tough sounds the same as tuff in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.