How to pronounce naw
Say it like NAH. Naw 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 naw. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NAH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Naw pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of naw
American and British speakers say naw in essentially the same way: /nɑ/ in the US and /nɔː/ in the UK.
British respelling: NAW.
What does naw mean?
- No.
- Pronunciation spelling of not.
Where does naw come from?
In Scottish use, from Scots naw, naa, na, from Middle English na, from Old English nā (“no, never”).
Words that rhyme with naw
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of naw.
Questions about saying naw
How do you pronounce naw?
Say NAH. The American pronunciation is /nɑ/. In British English it is /nɔː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in naw?
Naw is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NAH.
Do Americans and Brits say naw the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nɑ/ and the British form is /nɔː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.