How to Pronounce “thought”

American (US)

/θɔːt/

British (UK)

/θɔːt/

Australian (AU)

/θoːt/

noun — A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.

Example: The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

The -ough trap. -ough is the least predictable spelling in English: the same four letters cover at least six different pronunciations (through, though, thought, tough, plough, thorough). The spelling of “thought” tells you almost nothing — learn this one by ear.

What does "thought" mean?

thought (noun): A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking. For example — The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

How do you pronounce "thought" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "thought", /θɔːt/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "thought"?

/θɔːt/ in American English, /θɔːt/ in British English, /θoːt/ in Australian English.

Chunking and Pausing in English — Where to Pause When Speaking

Fluency is where you pause, not how fast you speak. Thought groups, pause placement, why pausing changes meaning — and the drills that train it.

• O vowel accent words
• -OUGH words