How to Pronounce Tough

To pronounce "tough", say TUFF — one syllable, IPA /ˈtəf/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

tough

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Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ˈtəf/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/tˈʌf/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “tough”

"tough" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat.

What does tough mean?

adjective

  1. Of a material, strong and resilient; sturdy.
  2. Of food, difficult to cut or chew.

interjection

  1. Used to indicate lack of sympathy

noun

  1. A person who obtains things by force; a thug or bully.

Keep practicing

Related pages on PronounceIt, chosen from what we know about this word.

Train the contrast: three vs tree, law vs low

Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

/əʊ/ — long o/aʊ/ — ow/t/ — t

Tough appears in The "-ough" Problem: One Spelling, Eight Sounds — others from that list:

throughthoughthoughtboughcoughenoughhiccough

Read next: 20 Commonly Mispronounced English Words (and How to Say Them)

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "tough"?▾

To pronounce "tough", say TUFF — one syllable, IPA /ˈtəf/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

How many syllables are in "tough"?▾

"Tough" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "tough"?▾

The IPA transcription of "tough" is /ˈtəf/.

What does "tough" mean?▾

Tough: Of a material, strong and resilient; sturdy.

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