How to pronounce “bought”
Bought is pronounced /ˈbɑːt/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “bought”
✗ Often said: /ˈbaʊɡht/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈbɑːt/
Why the two come apart: the silent “gh” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “bought” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“bought” sound by sound
“bought” is built out of 3 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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bPress both lips together and release them while the vocal folds are already vibrating, with no puff of air.
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ɑːOpen the mouth wide, drop the tongue low and back, keep the lips unrounded, and hold it long — the doctor-says-"ahh" vowel.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
Silent letters in “bought”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- ghThe letter “gh”Silent “gh” — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “bought”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “bought”
Each of these differs from “bought” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “bought”
- How do you pronounce “bought”?
- “bought” is pronounced /ˈbɑːt/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “bought”?
- “bought” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “bought”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈbaʊɡht/, but it is actually /ˈbɑːt/, because the silent “gh” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “bought” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “gh”.
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