Bough is a large branch of a tree, especially one that grows from the main trunk. In usage, it often appears in poetic or natural descriptions and can connote growth, shelter, or metaphorical branches of a family or project. The word emphasizes a sturdy, extended limb rather than a twig, and is typically used in literary or descriptive contexts. It is pronounced with a long o sound and end-stops in a soft, unreleased -f or -v sound-free consonant cluster depending on context.
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US: /baʊ/ with a slightly flatter /a/ nucleus, longer glide into /ʊ/. UK: /baʊ/ similar nucleus; slight rounding difference; AU: /baʊ/ often more relaxed jaw, slightly longer vowel duration. Vowel quality: ensure /a/ is open and not centralized; /ʊ/ is shorter but rounded. Consonants: /b/ is a clean stop, avoid voicing into the following onset; intonation remains level for neutral statements. IPA references: US /baʊ/, UK /baʊ/, AU /baʊ/.
"The bird nested on the bough of the old oak."
"Snow clung to every bough after the storm."
"A sudden gust bent the bough and shattered the silence."
"From the cottage window, she watched the wind ripple through the boughs."
Bough comes from Old English bōh, related to Dutch boog and German Boge, all from Proto-Germanic *boguz, a branch or bend in a tree. The term existed in early Old English with senses referring to a limb or main branch, distinct from smaller twigs. Over time, the pronunciation shifted toward a long o sound, and the spelling stabilized as bough in Middle English while retaining its meaning of a substantial branch rather than a twig. Its semantic field broadened slightly in poetic usage, especially in verse, to evoke natural shelter, canopy, or extended parts of a tree, which also appears in metaphorical expressions (the bough of a family tree, the boughs of a road). First known uses in surviving texts appear in medieval and early modern English, often in descriptions of trees and landscapes. The word’s non-rhotic pronunciation in several dialects influenced spelling conventions, contributing to its ghostly, archaic flavor in modern poetry and literature. While the core meaning remains “a major branch,” in contemporary usage it also carries a timeless, scenic resonance that makes it a favorite in nature writing and evocative prose.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "bough" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "bough" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "bough"
-ugh sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as /baʊ/ in US and UK. The initial sound is a plain voiced bilabial stop? Actually /b/; lips together then release. The nucleus is a diphthong starting with /a/ and gliding to /ʊ/; the word ends with a simple /w/ transition into the vowel. Stress is on the single syllable. Think: 'bah-ow' quickly, but connected as one syllable. In IPA: US/UK: /boʊ/ is common misnomer; correct is /baʊ/. Use a short, smooth glide into the vowel. Audio resources: listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors: treating it as /boʊ/ with a longer, pure /oʊ/ vowel; misplacing the initial consonant as /b/ with a rounded lip posture; or adding an extra syllable. Correction: start with a clean /b/ closure, then glide from /a/ to /ʊ/ quickly to form /aʊ/, ensuring there is no added consonant after the diphthong. Keep the lips relaxed and avoid protruding the jaw; keep the mouth rounded just enough for /ʊ/. Practice with minimal pairs to tune the glide.
US and UK share /baʊ/ with minor vowel quality differences; however, in some American dialects, the /a/ can be slightly lower and the /ʊ/ less rounded, creating a quicker diphthong. Australian speakers often maintain the same /baʊ/ quality but with slightly broader vowel duration and a less tense /a/ onset, affecting the acoustic energy distribution. The key is ensuring the same initial /b/ closure followed by the glide, but expect subtle differences in vowel height and diphthong timing. IPA references: US /baʊ/, UK /baʊ/; AU /baʊ/.
It hinges on the /aʊ/ diphthong, which requires a precise mouth movement from a low/open /a/ to a near-high /ʊ/ with a quick transition. The silent gh can tempt people to overemphasize a consonant; avoid adding a final /f/ or /g/. The cluster demands accurate tongue position, with the middle of the tongue moving from an open low position toward a near-high back position, and lips rounding just enough for /ʊ/. Practice with tongue-touch cues and record yourself.
Bough is a single-syllable word with primary stress on that syllable (monosyllabic word). The challenge lies in producing the vowel accurately rather than secondary stress or any consonant cluster. Keep the vocal energy steady through /baʊ/ without inserting extra sounds. Emphasize a clean onset and smooth glide from /a/ to /ʊ/; avoid a prolonged /o/ or halting stop after the initial /b/.
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