Why Does “Ough” Make Me Want to Cry?

Let’s be honest: some parts of English spelling feel like they were designed to confuse people. One of the strangest examples? The little group of letters “-ough.” 😵‍💫

If you’ve ever read words like though, through, rough, or cough and thought, “Why are these all so different?”, you’re not alone. My students ask about this all the time—and they’re right to be confused!

What Makes “-ough” So Difficult?

Because English is not a phonetic language, the way a word is written doesn’t always match how we say it.

Let’s look at a few examples. They all end in “-ough”... but they don’t sound the same at all:

• Though (means however or but) – sounds like “tho” (rhymes with go)

• Through (means from one side to another) – sounds like “throo” (rhymes with blue)

• Rough (means not smooth) – sounds like “ruff” (rhymes with stuff)

• Cough (when you’re sick) – sounds like “coff” (rhymes with off)

• Bough (a large tree branch) – sounds like “bow” (rhymes with cow)

• Thought (past tense of think) – sounds like “thawt” (rhymes with not)

• Plough (UK spelling) / Plow (US spelling) – also sounds like cow

Same spelling at the end—seven different sounds!

📺 “I Love Lucy” Gets It Right

This pronunciation madness was perfectly shown in the classic TV show I Love Lucy, one of the most famous shows in American television history.

In one hilarious episode, Ricky Ricardo (played by Desi Arnaz) is trying to learn English and completely loses his patience when Lucy teaches him words like tough, through, enough, and though.

It’s a perfect demonstration of how confusing English can be—even for adults! I watched I Love Lucy all the time when I was a child. It’s still my favorite TV show. Lucille Ball—the star of the show—is one of the most legendary comedians in American television and film history. Her timing, expressions, and energy made her a comedy icon.

Other Weird Words in English

The confusion doesn’t stop at “-ough.” Here are a few more examples of English being... well, English:

• Colonel – sounds like “kernel” (yes, really)

• Island – that “s” is silent

• Debt – we don’t say the “b”

• Wednesday – sounds more like “Wens-day”

If you’ve ever felt like English spelling doesn’t make sense, it’s because... sometimes it really doesn’t!

So What Can You Do?

Here’s what I tell my students:

1. Don’t worry about logic – Learn the pronunciation word by word.

2. Listen as much as you can – Watching videos or listening to podcasts helps a lot.

3. Repeat out loud – Say words again and again until they feel natural.

4. Keep a list – Write down new words with a note on how to pronounce them.

5. Ask your teacher – That’s what I’m here for!

✍️ Try This Mini Challenge!

Match each word to how it sounds. Write your answers in the comments!

A. Rough

B. Though

C. Cough

D. Bough

E. Through

1. Sounds like “coff”

2. Sounds like “ruff”

3. Sounds like “bow” (as in cow)

4. Sounds like “go”

5. Sounds like “blue”

🎯 Final Thoughts

English spelling is messy. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to know every rule—you just need confidence, practice, and a sense of humor. 😉

Have you struggled with “-ough” words or other strange English spellings? Leave a comment or send me your favorite examples!