How to Pronounce thought vs taught
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Thought’ begins with dental fricative ⁄θ⁄ (⁄θɔːt⁄); ‘taught’ begins with alveolar plosive /t/ (⁄tɔːt⁄).
Contrast: Fricative ⁄θ⁄ vs plosive /t/
thought
⁄θɔːt⁄
THOUGHT
A representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.
Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training
80 total video examplesFrequently Asked Questions: thought vs taught
What is the difference in pronunciation between "thought" and "taught"?
‘Thought’ begins with dental fricative ⁄θ⁄ (⁄θɔːt⁄); ‘taught’ begins with alveolar plosive /t/ (⁄tɔːt⁄).
Where does the syllable stress fall in "thought" vs "taught"?
"thought" has 1 syllable(s) (thought) with stress on "THOUGHT". "taught" has 1 syllable(s) (taught) with stress on "TAUGHT".
Why do English learners often confuse "thought" and "taught"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Fricative ⁄θ⁄ vs plosive /t/. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "thought" and "taught"?
Example for "thought": "The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." Example for "taught": "Can you teach me to sew? Can you teach sewing to me?"