How to pronounce toughen
Say it like TUHF-un. Toughen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TUHF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce toughen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TUHF
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Toughen 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.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of toughen
American and British speakers say toughen in essentially the same way: /ˈtʌfən/ in the US and /ˈtʌfən/ in the UK.
British respelling: TUHF-un.
What does toughen mean?
- To make tough.“The new training program is designed to toughen the athletes.”
- To become tough.
Where does toughen come from?
From tough + -en.
Words that rhyme with toughen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of toughen.
Questions about saying toughen
How do you pronounce toughen?
Say TUHF-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʌfən/. In British English it is /ˈtʌfən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in toughen?
Toughen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TUHF). Broken into parts: TUHF · un.
Do Americans and Brits say toughen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtʌfən/ and the British form is /ˈtʌfən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.