2 syllables: Dough, ty. Stress on Dough.
DAW-tee
/ˈdɔti/
Doughty is pronounced DAW-tee (/ˈdɔti/). It has two syllables (Dough-ty), with the stress on "Dough". Doughty is an adjective meaning brave, bold, or steadfast, often with a hint of physical or moral courage. It can also be used as a noun in some contexts to refer to a valiant person. The term carries a slightly archaic or literary flavor and can describe determined, resourceful action or character.
nounDoughty is an adjective meaning brave, bold, or steadfast, often with a hint of physical or moral courage. It can also be used as a noun in some contexts to refer to a valiant person. The term carries a slightly archaic or literary flavor and can describe determined, resourceful action or character.
- You may over-articulate the /t/ here, turning it into a punchy alveolar stop. Keep it light and quick so the second syllable lands cleanly on /i/. - The /aʊ/ diphthong must close toward the front; avoid turning it into a longer, more rounded vowel. - Stress drift can occur; hold primary stress on the first syllable and reduce the second syllable to a quick, unstressed cue. Practice with deliberate pacing and tap the rhythm: DAU-tee.
How to Pronounce Doughty
"Her doughty defense of the land earned her neighbors’ respect."
"The knight’s doughty deeds were celebrated in the chronicles."
"He made a doughty attempt to climb the icy ridge, despite the wind."
Pronounce as DAW-tee with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈdaʊt.i/. The first syllable uses /daʊ/ (like ‘dau’ in ‘doubt’ without the /b/). The second syllable is a light /t/ followed by /i/ (like ‘tee’). Keep the /t/ soft and avoid a heavy, aspirated stop—let the tongue release cleanly into the /i/.
Common mistakes include turning /daʊ/ into a drawn-out diphthong or misplacing the stress (placing it on the second syllable). Another error is rendering the /t/ as a strong, explosive stop or adding an unnecessary fricative after /t/ (like /tɪ/ becoming /tɒɪ/). Correction: keep the first syllable crisp with /daʊ/ and light, unaspirated /t/ leading into a short /i/.
In US, UK, and AU, the initial /ˈdaʊt.i/ remains similar, but rhotic shading differs. In non-rhotic UK, you'll hear a slightly cooler rhotic absence before the vowel, while US and AU speakers maintain a more pronounced rhotic release in connected speech. The /i/ in the second syllable is often shorter in fast speech in all accents, with some Australians tilting the final vowel toward a near-close front vowel.
The difficulty lies in the rare /aʊ/ vowel sequence followed by a soft /t/ before /i/. The transition from the back-high /aʊ/ glide to the front high /i/ requires careful tongue movement. It’s easy to substitute with /daʊ.dʒi/ or elongate the /t/; focus on a light, brief /t/ and a quick /i/ onset, with primary stress on the first syllable.
In 'Doughty', the 'gh' is not a separate phoneme; the word’s historical spelling reflects earlier pronunciations. In modern English pronunciation, it is the /aʊ/ vowel sound in the first syllable and a /t/ consonant followed by /i/ in the second. There is no separate /ɡh/ sound; the /gh/ chain doesn’t contribute a distinct sound beyond influencing the spelling.
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- US: rhotic, more pronounced /ɹ/ in linked speech; vowels are somewhat tense, with a clear /aʊ/. - UK: non-rhotic; the /r/ isn’t pronounced; the /aʊ/ may be slightly more centralized, and the final /i/ approaches a close front unrounded vowel. - AU: similar to US but with a flatter vowel space; slight vowel raising in some contexts; maintain crisp /t/ and a shorter /i/ in connected speech. IPA references to check: /ˈdaʊt.i/ across accents.
Doughty originates from the Old English word doh– related to accompanying terms for courage and fortitude. It derives from the noun ‘dought,’ linked to strong will or resolute effort, which becomes doughty meaning “full of dought” or “courageous.” The Middle English period shows the shift from a general sense of fortitude to a more specific label for people who act with boldness. Over time, doughty preserved its literary and slightly archaic connotation, often appearing in poetry, chronicles, and ballads. It has remained a descriptor of strong, determined behavior rather than sheer physical strength alone, and in modern usage is commonly found in historical or formal contexts. First known uses appear in medieval texts where valor and steadfastness were prized and recorded in epic narratives and religious poems.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Doughty" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Doughty" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Doughty"
-hty sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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