sough: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 - Very low frequency; literary/archaic.Literary, poetic, archaic; rarely used in modern everyday speech.
Quick answer
What does “sough” mean?
A soft murmuring, rustling, or sighing sound, typically made by wind in trees or by a gentle breeze.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft murmuring, rustling, or sighing sound, typically made by wind in trees or by a gentle breeze.
To make such a sound; also used figuratively to describe a background murmur, indistinct whispering, or a low, continuous noise.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both variants. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British literary contexts.
Connotations
Poetic, nostalgic, nature-oriented. May sound old-fashioned or deliberately stylistic.
Frequency
Extremely low in both. Considered a 'dictionary word' known but not actively used.
Grammar
How to Use “sough” in a Sentence
The wind soughed in the wires.A sough came from the forest.It soughed through the branches.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sough” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The only sound was the sough of the breeze in the orchard.
- He strained to hear the distant sough of the sea.
American English
- A constant sough from the highway provided background noise.
- The sough of the aspens was a familiar comfort.
verb
British English
- A melancholy wind soughed through the deserted valley.
- The reeds soughed softly at the water's edge.
American English
- The prairie wind soughed in the tall grass all night long.
- Pines soughed on the mountainside, a lonely sound.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, may appear in literary analysis or nature writing.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would stand out as poetic.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sough”
- Pronouncing it as /sɒf/ or /suː/.
- Using it in inappropriate, non-literary contexts.
- Misspelling as 'soff' or 'sowgh'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and mostly found in literary or poetic contexts.
It is most commonly pronounced /saʊ/, rhyming with 'plough' or 'now'. An older variant /sʌf/ (rhyming with 'rough') exists but is less frequent.
Yes. As a noun: 'the sough of the wind'. As a verb: 'the wind soughed'.
'Susurration' or 'susurrus' are close literary synonyms. More common synonyms include 'murmur', 'rustle', or 'sigh' (when applied to wind).
A soft murmuring, rustling, or sighing sound, typically made by wind in trees or by a gentle breeze.
Sough is usually literary, poetic, archaic; rarely used in modern everyday speech. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific; the word itself is poetic.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"The WIND went SOUGH through the bough." (Rhymes, connects sound to trees).
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE IS BREATHING (the wind sighs/murmurs).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most typical context for the word 'sough'?