Part III. The Letter-Combination –ough- : 7 different pronunciations!

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Sound(s)

Examples

1

[ɔ:]

ought [ ], brought [ ], thought [ ]

2

[u:]

through [ ]

3

[ou]

although [ ], dough [ ]

4

[au]

plough [ ]

5

[ɔf]

cough [ ]

6

[ʌf]

enough [ ], rough [ ], tough [ ]

7

[ə]

thorough(ly) [ ], thoroughfare [ ]

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Letter

Combinations

Sound(s)

Examples

Important Exceptions

1

ch +

j + U

l +

r +

[u:]

parachute [ ]

juke-box [ ]

blue [ ]

rude [ ], rule [ ]

______

2

-ui -

[(j)u:]

[(j)u(:)i]

[i]

[wi]

suit [ ], fruit [ ]

genuine [ ], suicide [ ] fluid [ ], ruin[ ],

biscuit [ ], circuit [ ]

cuisine [ ]

suite [swi:t]

3

gu-

[g]

guest [ ], guilt [ ]

---------

4

-ngu-

[ngw]

language [ ], penguin [ ]

----------

5

-qu-

[kw]

question [ ], banquet [ ]

conquer(er) [ˈkɔŋkə(rə)], quay [ki:],

6

-que

[k]

unique [ ], picturesque [ ]

queue [kju:]