“Pho” is pronounced fuh — rhyming with “duh” or the start of “further,” not “foh” (like “dough”). It’s written phở in Vietnamese, and the accent marks show a rising-then-falling tone that most English speakers skip entirely — and that’s okay.
Key takeaways
- Say “fuh” — rhymes with “duh,” “uh,” or the start of “further” (without the R).
- It’s not “foh” — that’s the most common mispronunciation in the US.
- In Vietnamese, phở carries a rising-falling tone — nice to know, not required to order.
- Restaurant staff are used to hearing it said many different ways — don’t let this stop you from ordering.
The short answer: “fuh,” not “foh”
If you take away one thing from this page: pho rhymes with “duh,” not “dough.” The word is one syllable, close to the “uh” sound in “butter” or the start of “further” — just drop the “f” in front. It is not pronounced like the French “faux” or the English word “foe,” even though the spelling might suggest that.
Common mispronunciation vs. the real one
| What people often say | Sounds like | Closer to correct |
|---|---|---|
| “Foh” | Rhymes with “dough,” “go,” “toe” | ❌ Common but incorrect |
| “Fo” | Rhymes with “no,” “so” | ❌ Also common, still off |
| “Fuh” | Rhymes with “duh,” “uh” | ✅ Much closer |
Why everyone gets it wrong
The spelling “pho” looks like it should rhyme with English words like “toe” or “dough” — so most people default to “foh.” But the word comes from Vietnamese phở, and Vietnamese vowels don’t follow English spelling rules. The “ơ” sound in phở is closer to the “uh” in “butter” than to any “oh” sound.
What about the tone?
Vietnamese is a tonal language, and phở carries a hỏi tone — a dip and rise in pitch. Nailing that tone takes practice most visitors won’t have time for, and it’s genuinely not necessary to be understood at a restaurant. Saying a flat “fuh” will get you a bowl of pho every time.
Quick way to remember it
Think of the word “duh” — as in, “duh, obviously.” Drop the “d,” add an “f,” and you’ve got it: fuh. That’s the fastest mental shortcut to saying it naturally.
FAQ
Is it pronounced “foh” or “fuh”?
“Fuh” is much closer to correct. “Foh” is the most common mispronunciation in the US, but it doesn’t match the Vietnamese vowel sound.
Does pho rhyme with “go”?
No. That’s the common mistake. Pho rhymes with “duh” or “uh,” not with “go,” “so,” or “dough.”
How do Vietnamese speakers actually say phở?
With a rising-falling tone on top of the “fuh” sound — a feature of Vietnamese that doesn’t exist in English. The tone is a nice detail to know but isn’t necessary to order confidently.
Will I sound rude if I mispronounce it?
Not at all. Restaurant staff hear pho pronounced many different ways every day and are used to it — don’t let pronunciation stop you from ordering.
Learn more in our complete guide to what pho is, or see how to order at a Vietnamese restaurant.