bbrandonsmom Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Ha. I have a question. What is the correct pronunciation of this word? McGough? I looked it up-it has 14 different ways to pronounce it! So which way is it? There is a park near me with that name and today I said it was McGough (long O), and then he said, no "f", because of the suffixes in America, blah, blah, blah. So I just had to look it up when I got home. What "rule" do you use for a word like that? In PP, it's under long O, F, and short O, but no explanation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 I would think, "McGuff" and it would rhyme with enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamamaloca Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 "Ough" has 6 different pronunciations in English words. Through, thought, enough, cough, though, and drought each use a different sound. I think it would have to depend on how it was pronounced in your area. I'd probably guess "McGuff" though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0mmaBuck Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 We have a neighbor who spells his last name that way and says it McGow (rhymes with cow). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 There is no rule for it. :-) You just have to know how to pronounce that particular word. As lamamaloca said, "ough" has 6 different pronunciations, for no apparent reason whatsoever (although I would guess it has to do with the original language the word came from). I worked with a man whose name was spelled that way; he pronounced it "McGoy" (rhymes with "soy"). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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