cough

How to Split "cough" into Syllables

The word cough is divided into 1 syllables: cough. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.

📝 Syllable Breakdown

• cough — 1st syllable

🔊 Pronunciation Guide

The phonetic transcription of cough:

• IPA: /kɒf/

📖 Definitions

1. cough (third-person singular simple present coughs, present participle coughing, simple past and past participle coughed)
2. Sometimes followed by up: to force (something) out of the lungs or throat by pushing air from the lungs through the glottis (causing a short, explosive sound), and out through the mouth.

📚 Word Origin & History

From Middle English coughen, coghen (“to cough; to vomit”) [and other forms], from Old English *cohhian (compare Old English cohhetan (“to bluster; to riot; to cough (?)”)), from Proto-West Germanic *kuh- (“to cough”), ultimately of onomatopoeic origin. The noun is derived from Middle English cough (“a cough; illness causing coughing”) [and other forms], from coughen (verb): see etymology 1. The interjection is probably derived from the noun. From coughen.

✓ Why Learn Syllable Division?

Understanding how to break down cough into syllables helps with:

• Correct pronunciation — Knowing syllable structure ensures accurate speech
• Improved spelling — Breaking words into chunks makes them easier to remember and write
• Reading fluency — Recognizing syllable patterns speeds up reading comprehension
• Poetry and lyrics — Syllable counting is essential for meter and rhythm
• Language learning — Non-native speakers benefit from syllable awareness

📊 Similar Words Comparison

Compare cough with related words to understand syllable patterns:

Word	Syllables	Division
cough	1	cough
cuckoo	2	cu-ckoo
Che	1	che
Chou	1	chou
cagey	2	ca-gey

🔗 Related Words

Explore syllable divisions of words related to cough:

coup, couch, could, count, coupe, court, cougar, coulee.