How to pronounce “laugh”
Laugh is pronounced /ˈlæf/. 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 “laugh”
✗ Often said: /ˈlɔːɡh/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈlæf/
Why the two come apart: at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here; also, a consonant letter takes an unexpected sound value here, so reading it "as written" comes out wrong.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “laugh” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“laugh” sound by sound
“laugh” 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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lTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
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æDrop the jaw noticeably, push the front of the tongue low and forward, and spread the lips — it is a flat, bright, fairly long American vowel.
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fRest the upper teeth lightly on the lower lip and push air through the gap without voicing.
Words that rhyme with “laugh”
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 “laugh”
Each of these differs from “laugh” 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 “laugh”
- How do you pronounce “laugh”?
- “laugh” is pronounced /ˈlæf/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “laugh”?
- “laugh” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “laugh”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈlɔːɡh/, but it is actually /ˈlæf/, because at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
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