# How do you pronounce Ugh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894 "2008-11-29T06:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/1 "2008-11-29T06:10:19Z")
I think of “ugh” as a written-language only word; a word that exists only on the printed page and has no real-world counterpart. But I guess that depends on how you pronounce it. Most people, when reading it out loud off a page, pronounce it “ugg.” But it occurred to me once, what if it was a clumsy attempt by some long-ago lexicoretard to spell the stinky-nose word “eww”? As in, rhymes with _Hugh_? So, that’s how I’ve decided to pronounce it. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/2 "2008-11-29T06:19:37Z")
I pronounce it “ug” and say it IRL outside of just reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/3 "2008-11-29T06:20:49Z")
I pronounce it “ugg” and assumed it was an attempt to capture a guttural or back-of-the-throat sound. When faced with a bad smell or taste or something, I’ve heard (and have made) sounds which have a throat-clearing sound, or even a kind of retching quality. It seems too far removed from “eww” to me. Edited to add-- I have a feeling this is going to end up in IMHO unless a linguist steps up to answer the question: is there a known etymology for “ugh?” ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/4 "2008-11-29T07:08:21Z")
Rhymes with “hug”. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/5 "2008-11-29T07:17:41Z")
Not to be a smartass, but I pronounce it just like “uh”, with a “g” in the middle. It’s not as sharp of a g as in most words, just enough to transfer the “uh” sound from the front of the mouth to the back of the throat. I disagree that it rhymes with hug or egg. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/6 "2008-11-29T07:41:28Z")
Ur-gh or uch. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/7 "2008-11-29T07:49:55Z")
I always thought it was pronounced uch, where ch is the guttural sound like in Channukah. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/8 "2008-11-29T08:03:29Z")
It’s gotta be with that thing in the back of the throat. The one that is in the middle of a good La Chaim. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/9 "2008-11-29T08:06:24Z")
> [@Yumblie](#): > > I always thought it was pronounced uch, where ch is the guttural sound like in Channukah. Sorry, you beat me to it. Well, La Chaim! And a nice Channukah to you! And I am noticing that whatever meshugana spell checker is running this place is very goy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/10 "2008-11-29T08:32:25Z")
I pronounce it “ugg,” both when reading and when using it as an expression. edit: [Merriam Webster](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ugh) has this entry, with audio samples. Both “ugg” and “uKH” are represented. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/11 "2008-11-29T12:51:17Z")
> [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > It’s gotta be with that thing in the back of the throat. The one that is in the middle of a good La Chaim. +1, like you’re gargling without a liquid in your throat. Almost like an appalled noise, usually followed by “How _dare_ you!” But lower. An audible sigh. This is a cool question. I have _never_ heard anyone IRL pronounce “ugh” as “ugg,” but it seems to be a toss up between the two. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/12 "2008-11-29T13:34:46Z")
Ugg with a little h/gargle at the end. The idea it rhymes with Hugh is nuts. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/13 "2008-12-01T00:00:04Z")
All of you who pronounce it _ugg_: do you only do this because you’ve come across it in print? Does the word have a real-world origin, or was it born on the printed page? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/14 "2008-12-01T00:07:46Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > All of you who pronounce it _ugg_: do you only do this because you’ve come across it in print? Does the word have a real-world origin, or was it born on the printed page? I say ick, ew, ugh, ish, and ow like I heard them. If I say “Pee-shaw!” you’ll know I read it first. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/15 "2008-12-01T00:16:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ugg with a little h/gargle at the end. The idea it rhymes with Hugh is nuts. This. I use it IRL often, not just on the printed page. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/16 "2008-12-01T00:32:36Z")
I pronounce it ‘ugg’. I have to admit that ‘lexicoretard’ is a great word and needs to be used elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![AllWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@AllWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllWalker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/17 "2008-12-01T00:55:33Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The idea it rhymes with Hugh is nuts. Yeah, that sounds like something Coach Z would say. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-ugh/474894/18 "2008-12-01T00:58:04Z")
I say it ugg-uh. It may be what others are saying though above with the “little h gargle” I say it mostly as Ugg-H. So you get the Ugg sound, and then this breathy H sound too, sort of like an exasperated sigh.