Spelling rules Words containing the letter-string -ough
ough letter pattern ough is one of the trickiest spellings in English. It can be used to spell a number of different sounds. It actually used to be pronounced as it is written, similar to the sounds you can hear in languages such as German or Dutch. Over time the pronunciation has changed but the spelling has not. Read the passage on the next page and see how many you can spot.
Although I brought enough dough, I thought I ought to end up with nought. The bread I baked was tough, felt rough, and made me cough. I looked through the window and saw the farmers thoroughly ploughing the fields. There had been a drought this year, and the boughs on the trees had fallen down. Click to highlight the ‘gh’ words
Did you notice that ough can be pronounced in different ways? Yes, let’s look at ough words sorted into different sounds…
/oa/ /ow/ /uff/ /off/ /ə/ /oo/ although dough though bought brought fought nought sought thought bough plough drought enough rough tough cough trough borough through Which is the most common pronunciation?
A good way to remember the spelling is the mnemonic O U Greedy Hen. Are you ready to spell some –ough words?
although Show the word Hide the word
dough Show the word Hide the word
though Show the word Hide the word
bought Show the word Hide the word
brought Show the word Hide the word
fought Show the word Hide the word
ought Show the word Hide the word
nought Show the word Hide the word
sought Show the word Hide the word
thought Show the word Hide the word
borough Show the word Hide the word
thorough Show the word Hide the word
bough Show the word Hide the word
plough Show the word Hide the word
drought Show the word Hide the word
cough Show the word Hide the word
trough Show the word Hide the word
enough Show the word Hide the word
rough Show the word Hide the word
tough Show the word Hide the word
through Show the word Hide the word
Try reading the words again…
although dough thought brought fought nought sought thought bough plough drought enough rough tough cough trough borough through
How did you do? Do you know how to spell words with ough?