How to Pronounce "dough"
The correct pronunciation of "dough" is DOH /dəʊ/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "DAWF" habit for good.
dough
/dəʊ/A thick, soft mixture of flour and water used to make bread.
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Record yourself saying “dough” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "DAWF" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'DAWF', 'DUFF', or 'DOW', sounding out the 'gh' or reading 'ough' as 'ow'. | DOH /dəʊ/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | One syllable (DOH). |
How Do You Pronounce "dough"?
"dough" is pronounced DOH /dəʊ/. The stress is on the one syllable (DOH). As a noun, it means a thick, soft mixture of flour and water used to make bread.
The 'ough' is a long 'oh' — DOH, rhyming with 'go', not 'daff', 'duff', or 'dow'.
Note: US /doʊ/. Either way it sounds exactly like 'doe' and 'do' in 'do-re-mi', never 'duff' or 'dow'.
Say "dough" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
DOH — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
One syllable (DOH). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The 'ough' is a long 'oh' — DOH, rhyming with 'go', not 'daff', 'duff', or 'dow'.
Blend and repeat
Now say "dough" at normal speed: DOH. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "dough" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
go → doe → DOH
All share the same long 'oh' and no final 'f'.
NOT DAWF — DOH
The 'gh' is silent; it ends on 'oh'.
Say at speed: "Knead the dough."
One clean 'oh', no 'f' sound.
Why "dough" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian speakers try to voice the 'gh', but in 'dough' the 'ough' is a silent-ending long 'oh'.
Tip: Say it like 'doe' or the 'doh' in a song: DOH, rhyming with 'go'.
Hear “dough” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
Knead the dough for ten minutes.
The dough needs to rise.
She rolled out the dough.
Words Related to "dough"
Now say it inside a sentence
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Frequently Asked Questions
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