How to pronounce gnat
Say it like NAT. Gnat is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gnat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NAT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gnat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of gnat
American and British speakers say gnat in essentially the same way: /næt/ in the US and /næt/ in the UK.
British respelling: NAT.
What does gnat mean?
- A biting insect, especially a mosquito.
- An annoying person.
Where does gnat come from?
From Middle English gnat, from Old English gnætt (“gnat; midge; mosquito”), from Proto-West Germanic *gnatt, *gnattu, from Proto-Germanic *gnattaz, *gnattuz (“gnat”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰneHdʰn-, *gʰneHd- (“to gnaw; scratch”), from
Words that rhyme with gnat
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of gnat.
Questions about saying gnat
How do you pronounce gnat?
Say NAT. The American pronunciation is /næt/. In British English it is /næt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gnat?
Gnat is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NAT.
Do Americans and Brits say gnat the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /næt/ and the British form is /næt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.