One syllable: Brogue.
brohg
/bɹoʊɡ/
Brogue is pronounced brohg (/bɹoʊɡ/). It has one syllable (Brogue), with the stress on "Brogue". Brogue (noun) refers to a strong regional accent, especially Irish or Scottish, often with distinctive vowel sounds and R-coloring. It also denotes a sturdy type of leather shoe with decorative perforations. In general use, it can describe a noticeable non-native or atypical way of speaking. The term carries cultural nuance and can be praised or playfully stereotyped depending on context.
nounBrogue (noun) refers to a strong regional accent, especially Irish or Scottish, often with distinctive vowel sounds and R-coloring. It also denotes a sturdy type of leather shoe with decorative perforations. In general use, it can describe a noticeable non-native or atypical way of speaking. The term carries cultural nuance and can be praised or playfully stereotyped depending on context.
"- He spoke with a thick Irish brogue that was impossible to miss."
"- The actor’s brogue gave authenticity to the character’s Northern Irish background."
"- She admired the old leather brogue shoes, worn and polished from years of travel."
/ˈbroʊɡ/ (US) or /ˈbrəʊɡ/ (UK/older US readings); the stress is on the first syllable. Begin with a clear /b/ lip closure, then /r/ with a bunched or tapped variation, move into a long /oʊ/ glide, and finish with the /ɡ/ in an aspirated release. You’ll hear the vowel elongation in many dialects; in US contexts the diphthong tends to be more pronounced, while UK varieties may be shorter and lighter, especially in non-rhotic speech.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress (putting it on the second syllable in some non-native speakers), mispronouncing the /oʊ/ as a short /o/ or /ɔ/, and failing to release the final /ɡ/ clearly (often truncating to /ɡ/ with no release). Correct by emphasizing the first syllable with a strong /ˈbroʊɡ/ and ensuring the diphthong moves smoothly from /oʊ/ to a clear /ɡ/ release, not a halted or nasalized end.
In General American, you’ll typically hear /ˈbroʊɡ/ with a clear /oʊ/ and a strong rhotic /r/. In UK English, it’s often /ˈbrəʊɡ/, with a more centralized or reduced second vowel and sometimes a less pronounced rhoticity depending on region. In Australian English, expect /ˈbrəʊɡ/ or /ˈbroːɡ/ with a flatter /ɔː/ish turn and typically non-rhotic tendencies similar to UK. Vowel quality and rhythm vary, but the final /ɡ/ remains a hard stop in all three.
The difficulty stems from the diphthong /oʊ/ and the initial consonant cluster /br/. Many learners struggle to glide smoothly between /oʊ/ and the /ɡ/, and to keep the /r/ non-velar in non-rhotic varieties. Additionally, regional cues like the British /əʊ/ vs US /oʊ/ and whether the speaker rhymes with 'bog' can create confusion. Practicing the full glide and final plosive release, with attention to a precise mouth shape, helps stabilize pronunciation.
A unique feature is the potential vowel reduction or vowel shaping in rapid speech, where the /oʊ/ can shift toward a more centralized vowel in casual speech, especially before a strong /ɡ/ release. In some dialects, you may hear a slightly schwa-like middle vowel before the /ɡ/, particularly in connected speech. Maintaining a clear diphthong in careful speech preserves the distinctive sound both in formal and studio contexts.
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The word brogue originates from the Old Irish word bruog meaning ‘shoe with decorative perforations’. The sense shift to refer to the accent arises from Irish and Scottish speech perceptions in English-speaking contexts, where the conspicuous, musical quality of regional pronunciations prompted the association with the term ‘brogue’ for a distinctive way of speaking. In Middle English and Early Modern English, the term also appeared as a general term for a rustic or foreign-sounding speech, often with a playful or pejorative tint. By the 18th and 19th centuries, English-language lexicography commonly used brogue to describe Irish and Scottish speech patterns in particular, while also describing shoes—thus, the dual meaning persists in modern usage. The term invites ethnic and cultural nuance, and contemporary usage tends to favor context-appropriate, respectful references to speech patterns rather than broad stereotyping. First known uses appear in English texts referencing foreign or regional speech in the late medieval period, with more precise attributions to Irish and Scottish accents emerging in later centuries as English-language literature and journalism described regional speech differences more explicitly.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Brogue" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Brogue" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Brogue"
-gue sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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