More examples: Short /u/ spelled ou

In English, the short /u/ sound can be represented by the letters ou. This spelling occurs in various words, such as touch, double, and country. Recognising this pattern is essential for improving spelling skills and building vocabulary.

Explore our list of ou words that show this spelling pattern. Examples like courage and enough help you see how this combination appears in everyday language, making it easier to enhance your writing and communication.

Only 5 of these words will be used during the Learn the Words activities.

touch	Do not touch the objects on display.
young	The room was full of young men.
double	Double click to open the document.
trouble	Please take the trouble to get things done well.
couple	Jack and Jill make a lovely couple.
country	China is a country with many people.
cousin	My young cousin is coming to stay.
courage	I admire her courage.
encourage	You need to encourage people to work to their best. *
flourish	These plants will flourish in full sun.
nourish	Nourish the soil with compost.
rough	The path was rough and rocky.
tough	This meat is far too tough to eat.
enough	A dozen eggs will be enough.