How to pronounce naughty
Say it like NAW-tee. Naughty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce naughty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NAW
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Naughty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of naughty
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: NAW-tee.
What does naughty mean?
- suggestive of sexual impropriety“a blue movie”“blue jokes”
- badly behaved“a naughty boy”
Where does naughty come from?
From late Middle English noughti, naughty (“evil, immoral, wicked”), from nought (“evil, immoral”) + -ī̆ (suffix forming adjectives).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with naughty
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of naughty.
Questions about saying naughty
How do you pronounce naughty?
Say NAW-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɔti/. In British English it is /ˈnɔːti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in naughty?
Naughty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NAW). Broken into parts: NAW · tee.
Is naughty pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈnɔːti/ (NAW-tee).