How many different ways can "ough" be pronounced in the English language?

truefaithmom

6 in North American English, 10 in British English. Ough is a combination in the English language. In Middle English where the spelling arose it was probably pronounced with a back rounded vowel and a velar fricative. It is by far the group of letters with the most unpredictable pronunciation, having six in North American English and over ten in British English. A few of the more common are: /u/ as in "through" (cf. boo). /ɔ/ as in "thought" (cf. taut). /oʊ/ as in "though" (cf. toe). /ɒf, ʌf/ as in "cough" (cf. off). /ʌf/ as in "rough" (cf. ruffian). /aʊ/ as in "plough" (Commonwealth spelling; cf. plow). /ʌp/ as in "hiccough" (now uncommon variant of hiccup; cf. up) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ough_(combination) Jun 19 08, 11:50 AM

dj168

Isn't thought and cough the same sound? Jun 19 08, 9:04 PM

JCSon

No, the "ough" in 'thought' has the "au" sound, while in 'cough', it as the "off" sound. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ough Jun 19 08, 10:12 PM

Baloo55th

A small town near where I live is called Burscough. Outsiders tend to call it burs-coe (rhyme with toe). The local pronunciation is burs-kir (rhymes with stir - sort of - not with borough which has a schwa). Jun 20 08, 11:20 AM