How to pronounce not
Say it like NOT. Not is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- NOT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Not 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.
American vs British pronunciation of not
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: NOT.
What does not mean?
- Negates the meaning of the modified verb.“Did you take out the trash?, No, I did not. I do not think it was my turn, was it?”
- To no degree.“That is not red; it's green.”
- Used to indicate the opposite or near opposite, often in a form of understatement.“After not a few threats, they got what they’d been after for so long.”
- And not.“I wanted a plate of shrimp, not a bucket of chicken.”
- Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.“I really like hanging out with my little brother watching Barney … not!”
Where does not come from?
Cognate with Scots nat, naucht (“not”), Saterland Frisian nit (“not”), West Frisian net (“not”), Dutch niet (“not”), German nicht (“not”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with not
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of not.
Words that sound like not
- knot
- knott
- nott
Questions about saying not
How do you pronounce not?
Say NOT. The American pronunciation is /nɑt/. In British English it is /nɒt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in not?
Not is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NOT.
Is not 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 /nɒt/ (NOT).
What words sound the same as not?
Not sounds the same as knot, knott, nott in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.