To pronounce "sough," say "suhf" with a soft "uh" sound, like the word "rough" but with an "s" at the start. This onomatopoeic word mimics the sound of wind in trees.
The word "sough" has two syllables: "sough" (suf). The stress falls on the first syllable. It rhymes with "cough" but starts with an "s" sound instead of a "k" sound.
Many people confuse "sough" with "so" plus "ugh," but the correct pronunciation blends the sounds smoothly. Think of it as "suhf" with a quick release of the "f" sound at the end.
"Sough" is primarily used as a noun or verb to describe a murmuring sound, often of wind or water. For example:
The word is less common in everyday speech but appears in literary and descriptive contexts. It's often confused with "saw" or "sawed," but those words have a harder "a" sound.
People often mispronounce "sough" as "so" followed by "ugh," making it sound like "so-ugh." However, the correct pronunciation is "suhf," blending the sounds together.
Another common mistake is pronouncing it like "saw," but "sough" has a softer "uh" sound, similar to the "ough" in "though."
To practice pronouncing "sough," try saying "rough" and then replace the "r" sound with an "s" sound. Your mouth should move from a rounded position for the "uh" sound to a narrow position for the "f" sound at the end.
For a real-world example, listen to how the word is pronounced in this audio clip. Notice how the "s" sound leads directly into the "uh" sound, creating a smooth transition.
When I first encountered the word "sough," I mispronounced it as "so-ugh." It wasn't until I heard it in a poem that I realized the correct pronunciation was "suhf." Since then, I've used it to describe the sound of wind in trees, finding it a perfect fit for the gentle, murmuring noise.