Ghoti facts for kids

Ghoti is a special made-up word. It was created to show how tricky English spelling can be. The word Ghoti is supposed to sound like the word "fish."

It uses different parts of other words to make the "fish" sound:

• The "gh" part sounds like "f" as in the word "tough."
• The "o" part sounds like "i" as in the word "women."
• The "ti" part sounds like "sh" as in the word "nation."

Understanding Ghoti: A Spelling Puzzle

Ghoti helps us see that English letters don't always make the same sound. This is why learning to spell and read in English can sometimes be a puzzle. The way words are written often doesn't match how they sound.

Ghoti's Silent Sounds

It's also possible for the letters in "Ghoti" to be completely silent. This shows another challenge in English spelling.

• The "gh" can be silent, like in the word "though."
• The "o" can be silent, like in the word "people."
• The "t" can be silent, like in "ballet" or "mortgage."
• The "i" can be silent, like in the word "business."

The Real Pronunciation of Ghoti

Even though "Ghoti" was made to sound like "fish," most people would not say it that way. If you saw "Ghoti" for the first time, you would probably say it like "go-tie." This is because the "gh" sound is almost never "f" at the start of a word. Also, "ti" is almost never "sh" at the end of a word.

English spelling is full of these kinds of surprises. This is why it can be fun to explore how words are put together!

See also

• In Spanish: Ghoti para niños