Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lough

/lɑk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.84 in modern English

Syllables: lough
IPA: /lɑk/

9

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A lake or long, narrow inlet, especially in Ireland.

noun

name

Example Sentences

"Outside, a freezing wind whips across Belfast lough […]."
"A study showing that the temperature of the lough’s water has risen 1C since 1995, however, suggests that climate change and clearer waters as a result of an invasive zebra mussel species may also be contributing factors."

Etymology

Borrowed from Irish loch (from Old Irish loch), from Proto-Celtic *loku (“lake, pool”), from Proto-Indo-European *lókus (“pond, pool”). Doublet of lay, loch, and Looe.

Origin

Source language: Proto-Indo-European

Word Breakdown

Root: loch, *loku, *lókus, lough, *luch, *lux

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /lɑk/
British English: /lɒk/

Inflected Forms

loughs (plural)

Derived Forms

Loughborough

Phrases

Lough Allen Lough Erne Lough Foyle Lough Gill Lough Neagh Lough Swilly Strangford Lough

Synonyms

loch

Homonyms

loch lock locke lakh

Rhymes With

how now allow wow bow thou cow dow mao vow brow howe

Questions

How do you pronounce lough?: The recorded pronunciation is /lɑk/.
What does lough mean?: A lake or long, narrow inlet, especially in Ireland.
Where does lough come from?: It is traced to Proto-Indo-European.

How to pronounce lough

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “lough”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/lɑk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “lough”.
Repeat and practice — Say “lough” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.