What does cough mean?
A cough is a sudden, forceful release of air from the lungs, usually triggered by irritation in the throat or airways. It is one of the body's most basic protective reflexes, clearing away mucus, dust, or foreign matter. The word functions as both noun and verb: you can have a cough or simply cough. It appears constantly in everyday speech and medical contexts alike, with common distinctions drawn between a dry cough and a productive or chesty one. The word also extends figuratively to engines or machines that sputter and jerk into action. Culturally, 'cough' is famous for its counterintuitive spelling, where the '-ough' is pronounced /ɒf/ rather than following any obvious pattern — a favourite example in discussions of English orthography. Its related forms include coughing, coughed, and compounds like cough syrup and cough drop, making it a thoroughly embedded part of everyday vocabulary.
An act or sound of expelling air abruptly from the lungs, often due to irritation or illness.
"Her cough kept her awake through the night."
Often modified by adjectives like 'dry', 'persistent', or 'hacking'.
To expel air from the lungs suddenly and audibly, typically to clear the throat; (of a machine) to make a series of abrupt sputtering sounds.
"Excuse me while I cough — something's caught in my throat."
Standard pluralisation applies when referring to multiple instances of coughing.
"The doctor noted several coughs during the examination."
Despite its simple spelling, 'cough' is famous as one of English's most notoriously irregular pronunciations — and it anchors the joke that 'ghoti' could theoretically spell 'fish'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cough
Cough comes from Old English 'cohhian', which is of Germanic origin and relates to Middle Dutch 'kochen' and German 'keuchen'. The word has been part of English since its earliest recorded stages, and its modern spelling with '-ough' reflects later standardisation of Middle English orthography. Its cognates remain within the Germanic family rather than deriving from Latin or Greek roots.
Related word forms
How cough is actually used
Both noun and verb are common in everyday register. The verb can be used figuratively for engines or machines making sputtering sounds. In medicine, coughs are classified as dry (unproductive) or chesty/productive.
Easily confused with cough
'Rough' rhymes with 'cough' in some accents but means uneven or coarse, whereas 'cough' refers to the respiratory action.