Learn How to Pronounce tough
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How to pronounce:
tough
Definition:
(nou) someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing (nou) an aggressive and violent young criminal (nou) a cruel and brutal fellow
Phonetic Transcription:
tʌf
Examples:
It is a tough job to canalize.
Cycloid is tough and eager to fight.
He is tough, unforgiving and unyielding.
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: tough
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Common mistakes of tough pronunciation
- Misplacing the vowel sound: Many learners pronounce "tough" with a long "o" sound, similar to "toe." This is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is /tʌf/ in both US and UK English. Tip: Focus on the short "u" sound, as in "cup."
- Overemphasizing the "gh": Some individuals pronounce the "gh" in "tough" as if it were a distinct sound. In reality, it is silent. The correct pronunciation is /tʌf/. Tip: Remember, "gh" does not affect the sound; it is not pronounced.
- Incorrect stress placement: Learners sometimes stress the second syllable in "tough," treating it like a two-syllable word. However, "tough" is a single-syllable word pronounced /tʌf/. Tip: Keep the emphasis on the "t" and "u" sounds for clarity.
- Mixing up with "tougher": Some may confuse "tough" with "tougher," leading to an incorrect pronunciation. "Tough" is pronounced /tʌf/, while "tougher" has a different vowel sound: /ˈtʌfər/. Tip: Practice saying both words separately to distinguish their sounds.
- Adding a vowel sound at the end: A common mistake is to add an extra vowel sound at the end of "tough," making it sound like "toughy." The correct form is /tʌf/. Tip: Focus on ending the word firmly without adding extra sounds.