Learn How to Pronounce taught

Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!

Find your word:

Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!

How to pronounce:

Listen to the pronunciation:

taught

Definition:

(nou) an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)

Phonetic Transcription:

tiːtʃ

Learn more about:
taught

Related Words:

education

school

student

How to perfect your pronunciation of: taught

Learn Individual Sounds

Break taught down into individual sounds such as tiːtʃ. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

Copy Others

Use the tools above to find out how different people say taught in their accents, then try to repeat after them.

Pick an Accent

Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.

Record Yourself

Say taught in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with taught.

Get a Native Tutor

Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.

Common mistakes of taught pronunciation

Misplacing vowel sounds: Some learners pronounce "taught" with an incorrect vowel, like /ɔː/ instead of /ɑː/ in US English (/tɔt/). Tip: Focus on the /ɑː/ sound, as in "father," for accuracy.
Incorrect stress placement: "Taught" is often mispronounced with the stress on the second syllable, sounding like /təˈtʃɔt/. Tip: Remember that "taught" is a single-syllable word, stressed as /tɔt/ in US and /tɔːt/ in UK.
Overemphasizing the "gh": Some people mistakenly pronounce the "gh" in "taught" as /g/. This leads to /gɔt/. Tip: The "gh" is silent; focus on the /t/ sound at the end.
Confusing with "thought": Learners sometimes mix up "taught" with "thought," pronouncing it as /θɔt/. Tip: Differentiate by practicing the distinct vowel sounds: /ɑː/ for "taught" and /ɔː/ for "thought."
Adding an extra vowel sound: Some may say "taught" as /təˈtɔt/, inserting an unnecessary schwa. Tip: Keep it simple; pronounce "taught" as /tɔt/ in US and /tɔːt/ in UK without extra sounds.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "taught"?

You pronounce "taught" as /tɔt/ in American English and /tɔːt/ in British English. The primary stress is on the single syllable, making it sound strong and clear.

Is there a schwa sound in "taught"?

No, there is no schwa sound in "taught." The vowel sound is a long "aw" in both American and British pronunciations, so it is pronounced clearly without any reduction.

What are common mistakes when pronouncing "taught"?

A common mistake is pronouncing "taught" with a short vowel sound, like "tot." Remember to use the longer vowel sound, similar to "thought," to avoid confusion.

Are there any regional variations in the pronunciation of "taught"?

While "taught" generally has consistent pronunciation, some regional accents may slightly alter the vowel sound. However, the primary stress and overall pronunciation remain similar across different English dialects.