2 syllables: Tough, er. Stress on Tough.
TUHF-ur
/ˈtʌfɚ/
Tougher is pronounced TUHF-ur (/ˈtʌfɚ/). It has two syllables (Tough-er), with the stress on "Tough". Tougher is the comparative form of tough, meaning more difficult or resilient. It describes something requiring greater effort or resistance, or a person with greater grit or toughness. As an adjective, it often modifies nouns to indicate increased hardness, difficulty, or strength compared to another item or situation.
adjectiveTougher is the comparative form of tough, meaning more difficult or resilient. It describes something requiring greater effort or resistance, or a person with greater grit or toughness. As an adjective, it often modifies nouns to indicate increased hardness, difficulty, or strength compared to another item or situation.
"The test was tougher than I expected."
"We face tougher challenges this year."
"That lock is tougher to pick than the last one."
Pronounce as /ˈtʌfər/. The first syllable carries primary stress. The sequence 'ough' makes a short /ʌ/ vowel like 'struck,' followed by a light /f/ consonant. The final -er sounds as /ər/ in non-rhotic accents; in rhotic accents you may hear a schwa-like /ər/. Tip: keep your tongue low-mid, lips relaxed, and avoid forming a long vowel. Audio guidance: listen to native speakers saying 'tougher' and mimic the quick, clipped second syllable.
Two common errors: (1) Overpronouncing the /ʌ/ as /ɑ/ in some accents, which makes it sound 'tough-er' wrong; (2) Turning the final /ər/ into a clear 'er' like 'teacher' in non-rhotic broadcast styles, instead of a reduced /ə/ or /ər/. Correction: keep the /ʌ/ centralized and short, and reduce the final syllable to a quick schwa-like /ər/ or /ə/ depending on your accent. Practice with minimal pairs /ˈtʌf/ vs /ˈtɔːf/ to tune the vowel, then rehearse /ər/ in connected speech.
US tends to keep /ˈtʌfər/ with rhotic /ɹ/ presence in connected speech like 'tougher, r-colored’? UK typically /ˈtʌfə/ with a shorter, reduced final syllable and less vocalization of r in non-rhotic contexts. Australian often mirrors US but with slightly broader vowels and a softer final /ə/; some speakers may reduce to /ˈtʌfə/. Focus on the first syllable vowel and the reduced second syllable; most variation is in the rhoticity and final schwa quality.
The difficulty lies in producing a short, tense /ʌ/ vowel followed by an unvoiced /f/ and a reduced final syllable /ər/ or /ə/. Many learners elongate the /ʌ/ or insert extra phonemes between /f/ and the schwa, creating sounds like /ˈtɔːfər/. To master it, practice the sequence /ʌ/ - /f/ - /ər/ in rapid succession, maintain air flow for the /f/, and reduce the second syllable to a quick, relaxed vowel.
One unique feature is the combination of a short, lax vowel in stressed position with a voiceless consonant immediately after, followed by a reduced vowel in the second syllable. This creates a brisk, two-syllable rhythm that can blur the boundary between /f/ and the final /ər/. Listening for the subtle shift from a crisp /f/ to a nearly silent or light /ər/ in fast speech helps you nail natural pronunciation.
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Tougher comes from the adjective tough, which derives from Middle English toug, likely from the Old English tæog or similar forms related to tenacity and durability. The core sense relates to physical hardness or resistance. The suffix -er is a productive comparative, used to form the comparative degree of adjectives. The word has long carried metaphorical senses (mental toughness, stubbornness) alongside literal physical toughness. First records of tough date back to Old English and Middle English texts, with the comparative form attested in various dialects as communities discussed stronger or more resistant objects and people. Over time, tough evolved to describe more abstract resistance (tough choices, tough times) while maintaining the literal sense of robustness. In modern English, tougher is widely used in both spoken and written language to compare levels of difficulty, endurance, or resilience, and remains a staple in educational, professional, and colloquial contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tougher" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Tougher" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Tougher"
-fer sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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