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Why "yoghurt" sounds different in British English
The standard British pronunciation is /ˈjɒɡət/, with the short, rounded /ɒ/ of "hot" and "dog" in the stressed syllable, followed by a weak schwa and no R. /ˈjəʊɡət/, with the "oh" vowel, is also heard in the UK, but the short vowel is the classic British form.
American English says /ˈjoʊɡərt/, with "yo" at the start and an R-coloured second syllable. The spelling differs too: "yoghurt" is the traditional British spelling, while "yogurt" is standard in the US and also common on British packaging. The pronunciation stays "YOG-uht" whichever spelling is on the pot.
How to say "yoghurt" like a Brit, step by step
- Start with a light y glide.
- Stress a short, rounded yog, rhyming with "dog".
- Reduce the second syllable to uht, with no R.
- Together: YOG-uht.
Practise "yoghurt" in a sentence
- I have yoghurt and granola for breakfast.
- Serve the curry with a spoonful of natural yoghurt.
- There's a strawberry yoghurt in the fridge if you want it.
Saying it once correctly is easy. Saying it right in the middle of a fast sentence is the hard part, which is why the sentences above matter more than the single word.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce yoghurt in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, yoghurt is pronounced /ˈjɒɡət/, roughly "YOG-uht". It starts with the short "o" of "hot": "YOG-uht".
Is the American pronunciation of yoghurt wrong?
No. /ˈjoʊɡərt/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /ˈjɒɡət/.