Mastering Pronunciation: How to Pronounce ‘Tough’, 'Through’, ‘Though’ ‘Thorough’ & ‘Thought’ Correctly
Hello everyone! 🥰 Today’s pronunciation is a TOUGH one! 😅 Mastering the pronunciation of English words can be tricky, especially when it comes to those notorious "GH" words like ‘tough,’ ‘through,’ ‘though,’ ‘thorough,’ and ‘thought.’ These words not only look confusing but also sound vastly different despite their similar spellings. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the correct pronunciation of these challenging words, providing you with tips and tricks to master them with confidence. Whether you're a native speaker or learning English as a second language, this guide will help you navigate the complexities of these "GH" words effortlessly. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
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PRONOUNCING ‘THROUGH’
/θruː/
👄
/θruː/ 👄
1️⃣ Begin with the Initial Sound
Start with the "th" sound, which is voiced. To make this sound, place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth. Gently blow air out while vibrating your vocal cords. It should sound like the "th" in "this" or "that."
2️⃣ Move to the R Sound
After the "th" sound, move your tongue back slightly to produce the "r" sound. Your tongue should not touch the roof of your mouth. Instead, the sides of your tongue should be close to your upper teeth, creating a narrow passage for the air to flow through. This should produce a strong, rolling "r" sound.
3️⃣ Add the OO Vowel Sound
The vowel in "through" is pronounced like the long "oo" sound, similar to the "oo" in "moon" or "soon." To make this sound, round your lips and keep them slightly protruded. Your tongue should be high in the back of your mouth, creating a smooth and long "oo" sound.
4️⃣ End with the Silent GH
The "gh" at the end of "through" is silent and does not contribute any sound. Simply finish the word with the "oo" sound, allowing your mouth to close gently.
5️⃣ Blend It Together
Now, put it all together. Start with the "th" sound, then smoothly transition to the "r" sound, followed by the long "oo" sound. The word should sound like "throo."
6️⃣ Practice with Sentences
To reinforce your pronunciation, try using "through" in sentences like, "I walked through the park" or "He looked through the window."
PRONOUNCING ‘THOROUGH’
/ˈθʌrə/
👄
/ˈθʌrə/ 👄
1️⃣ Start with the Initial Sound
Begin with the "th" sound, which is voiced. To produce this sound, place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth. Exhale softly while vibrating your vocal cords, creating the "th" sound, similar to the beginning of "this" or "that."
2️⃣ Move to the First Vowel Sound (Short U)
The first vowel in "thorough" is pronounced like the short "u" sound, as in "cup" or "fun." To produce this sound, keep your mouth slightly open with your tongue relaxed in the middle of your mouth. The sound should be short and soft, like "uh."
3️⃣ Transition to the R Sound
After the "uh" sound, transition to the "r" sound. Pull your tongue slightly back from the short "u" position, without letting it touch the roof of your mouth. This should produce a clear, rolling "r" sound.
4️⃣ Add the Final Vowel Sound (Schwa)
The second vowel in "thorough" is a schwa, which is an unstressed and quick "uh" sound, similar to the "a" in "sofa." To pronounce this, keep your tongue relaxed in the middle of your mouth with your mouth slightly open. This sound is very soft and almost neutral.
5️⃣ Blend It Together
Now, put it all together. Start with the "th" sound, then smoothly transition to the short "uh" sound, followed by the "r" sound, and end with the soft schwa "uh." The word should sound like "THU-ruh."
6️⃣ Practice with Sentences
To reinforce your pronunciation, use "thorough" in sentences like, "She did a thorough job cleaning the house," or "Make sure to be thorough in your research."
PRONOUNCING ‘TOUGH’
/tʌf/
👄
/tʌf/ 👄
1️⃣ Start with the Initial Sound
Begin by focusing on the first sound, which is the "t" sound. It's a simple, sharp sound made by placing the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth and releasing a quick burst of air. It should sound like "tuh."
2️⃣ Move to the Vowel Sound
The vowel in "tough" is pronounced like the "uh" sound in "cup" or "up." To produce this sound, relax your tongue and keep it in the middle of your mouth. Your mouth should be slightly open, and the sound should be soft and short.
3️⃣ End with the Final Sound
The "gh" in "tough" is silent, but it affects the pronunciation of the preceding vowel. After the "uh" sound, simply close your mouth naturally without adding any extra sound. The word ends abruptly, similar to words like "rough" or "cough."
4️⃣ Blend It Together
Now, put it all together. Start with the "t" sound, follow with the "uh" vowel sound, and end with a natural closure of your mouth. It should sound like "tuhf."
5️⃣ Practice Makes Perfect
Repeat the word slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed until it sounds natural. Try using it in sentences, like "This math problem is really tough," to reinforce your pronunciation.
PRONOUNCING ‘THOUGH’
/ðəʊ/
👄
/ðəʊ/ 👄
1️⃣ Start with the Initial TH Sound
Begin with the "th" sound, which is voiced. To produce this sound, place the tip of your tongue between your upper and lower front teeth. Exhale softly while vibrating your vocal cords, creating the "th" sound, similar to the beginning of "this" or "that."
2️⃣ Move to the Long O Sound
The vowel in "though" is pronounced like the long "o" sound, similar to the "o" in "go" or "no." To make this sound, round your lips and keep them slightly protruded. Your tongue should be in the middle of your mouth, creating a smooth, drawn-out "oh" sound.
3️⃣ End with the Silent GH
The "gh" at the end of "though" is silent, so there is no additional sound to make. Simply end the word after the "oh" sound, allowing your mouth to close naturally.
4️⃣ Blend It Together
Now, put it all together. Start with the "th" sound, then smoothly transition to the long "oh" sound. The word should sound like "thoh."
5️⃣ Practice with Sentences
Practice the word in context to reinforce your pronunciation. Try sentences like, "I wanted to go, though it was late," or "She said she would call, though she didn’t."
QUESTIONS?
PRONOUNCING ‘THOUGHT’
/θɔːt/
👄
/θɔːt/ 👄
1️⃣ Start with the Initial Sound
Begin with the "th" sound, which is unvoiced. To make this sound, place the tip of your tongue lightly between your upper and lower front teeth. Blow air out softly without vibrating your vocal cords, creating the "th" sound as in "think" or "thin."
2️⃣ Move to the Vowel Sound (AW)
The vowel in "thought" is pronounced like the "aw" sound, as in "caught" or "saw." To produce this sound, open your mouth wide with your lips rounded, and lower your tongue slightly. The sound should be deep and resonant, like "aw."
3️⃣ End with the Final Sound (T)
Finish with the "t" sound. Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge just behind your upper front teeth, then release a quick burst of air. The sound should be crisp and clear, like "tuh."
4️⃣ Blend It Together
Now, put it all together. Start with the "th" sound, transition smoothly to the "aw" sound, and end with the crisp "t" sound. The word should sound like "thawt."
5️⃣ Practice with Sentences
To reinforce your pronunciation, use "thought" in sentences like, "I had a thought about the project," or "She thought it was a good idea."