How to pronounce knotty
Say it like NOT-ee. Knotty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce knotty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NOT
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Knotty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of knotty
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: NOT-ee.
What does knotty mean?
- Of string or something stringlike: full of, or tied up, in knots.
- Of a part of the body, a tree, etc.: full of knots (knobs or swellings); gnarled, knobbly.“a knotty pine”
- Complicated or tricky; complex, difficult.“a knotty problem”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with knotty
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of knotty.
Questions about saying knotty
How do you pronounce knotty?
Say NOT-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɑti/. In British English it is /ˈnɒti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in knotty?
Knotty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NOT). Broken into parts: NOT · ee.
Is knotty pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈnɒti/ (NOT-ee).