How to Pronounce No

To pronounce "no", say NO — one syllable, IPA /nəʊ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

no

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

2

Letters

/nəʊ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “no”

"no" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with apropos and show, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: know, neault, nau, noe — easy to mix up when writing.

What does no mean?

noun

  1. A negating expression; an answer that shows disagreement or disapproval
  2. A vote not in favor, or opposing a proposition

    “The workers voted on whether to strike, and there were thirty "yeses" and two "nos".”

adverb

  1. (now only used with different, with comparatives more and less, and informally with certain other adjectives such as good and fun) Not, not at all.

    “I just want to find out whether she's coming or no. (Scotland)”

preposition

  1. Without
  2. Like

Synonyms

naynope

Antonyms

ayeyeayes

Hear “no” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with no

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

aproposshowflowfallowalthoughlowbestowglowafterglowthrowgrottobeau

Related words

zeronobeliumnaryrtecscobosnaynopenah

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "no"?▾

"No" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "no"?▾

The IPA transcription of "no" is /nəʊ/.

What does "no" mean?▾

No: A negating expression; an answer that shows disagreement or disapproval

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