#  -ough words First Group 

 



 The first group shows two different developments from a long \[u\] sound:

Sort    Middle English sound 

  ME spelling 

  ModE spelling 

  MnE sound 

    \[u:x\]

 

  bough  
plough

 ynough  
tough 

  bough  
plow 

  \[aʊ\] 

    enough  
tough 

  \[ʌf\] 

 



 \[x\] is the voiceless velar fricative as in Scots dialect *loch.*

 The top examples show the loss of the final fricative, and the long vowel becomes a diphthong through the the Great Vowel Shift. When the fricative was retained and changed to \[f\], the vowel was shortened.