How to pronounce “dough”
Dough is pronounced /ˈdoʊ/. 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 “dough”
✗ Often said: /ˈdaʊɡh/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈdoʊ/
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 “dough” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“dough” sound by sound
“dough” is built out of 2 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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dSame tongue position as /t/ — tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth — but voice the sound and release it without aspiration.
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oʊStart with mid-back, lightly rounded lips and glide toward /ʊ/, tightening the rounding as you finish.
Silent letters in “dough”
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 “dough”
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 “dough”
Each of these differs from “dough” 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 “dough”
- How do you pronounce “dough”?
- “dough” is pronounced /ˈdoʊ/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “dough”?
- “dough” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “dough”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈdaʊɡh/, but it is actually /ˈdoʊ/, because the silent “gh” is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “dough” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent “gh”.
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