Accent test

How to pronounce roughly

roughly
/ˈrʌfli/
2 syllables, stress on the first

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Press the button and say “roughly”. You get a percentage and see which sounds came out right.

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What to watch for

-ough- has no single reading in English: though /ðəʊ/, through /θruː/, tough /tʌf/, thought /θɔːt/. It has to be learned word by word.

Roughly, sound by sound

/r/as in redThe tongue curls back and touches nothing. No tap, no trill.
/ʌ/as in cupA short, relaxed “uh”; the mouth is barely open.
/f/as in fiveUpper teeth on the lower lip, no voice.
/l/as in lookTongue tip on the ridge behind the teeth; air flows around the sides.
/i/as in sheepA long, tense “ee”; lips spread as in a smile.

In a sentence

I'm roughly the same age as Tom is.

More words with the /r/ sound

Questions and answers

How do you pronounce roughly?

Roughly is pronounced /ˈrʌfli/ in American English.

How many syllables are in roughly?

Roughly has 2 syllables.

Which syllable is stressed in roughly?

The first syllable: /ˈrʌfli/.

Is there a silent or unusual letter in roughly?

-ough- has no single reading in English: though /ðəʊ/, through /θruː/, tough /tʌf/, thought /θɔːt/. It has to be learned word by word.

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