# What is the correct pronounciation of "Argh?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 12, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654 "2007-06-12T02:09:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654/1 "2007-06-12T02:09:55Z")

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And where did it originate?

I’ve heard this term used for over years and have no idea how it sounds. I’ve heard people say “arg,” but that sounds really lame.

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654/2 "2007-06-12T02:16:16Z")

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[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett]  
I’ve heard people say “arg,” but that sounds really lame.  
[/QUOTE]  
That’s because you have to close one eye while saying it to get the full effect. And the G is silent.

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**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654/3 "2007-06-12T02:21:48Z")

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It has to be halfway between a grunt and a word. Okay, actually more like 3/4ths grunt and 1/4 word. You have to strain your windpipe and the muscles at the back of your throat, and breathe out very forcefully as you say it. The G isn’t _quite_ silent, but it’s almost silent. You need to say it with just the slightest hint of the G, and the G sound needs to be somewhat slurred (not a hard attack on it) - your tongue has to be sort of touching the roof of your mouth towards the back. It’s hard to explain. Either you get it or you don’t, I guess.

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**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654/4 "2007-06-12T02:30:12Z")

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To me, it’s simply pronounced “aaaaah”, but in a panicked screaming fashion. It’s not spelt that way because “aaaaah” is what you say while the doctor has a tongue depressor shoved in your mouth.

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**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654/5 "2007-06-12T02:31:43Z")

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Think of Charlie Brown missing the football(it’s at about 4:30 of [this clip](http://youtube.com/watch?v=h38srxvt6qE).)

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**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-pronounciation-of-argh/407654/6 "2007-06-12T04:19:39Z")

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[Castle Argh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOo1D50cpFk)