How to Pronounce not vs nut
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Not’ (⁄nɑːt⁄ or ⁄nɒt⁄) has open back ⁄ɑː⁄ or ⁄ɒ⁄; ‘nut’ (⁄nʌt⁄) has central ⁄ʌ⁄.
Contrast: Open back ⁄ɑː⁄ vs central ⁄ʌ⁄
nut
⁄nʌt⁄
NUT
Any of various hard-shelled seeds or hard, dry fruits from various families of plants.
Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training
80 total video examplesFrequently Asked Questions: not vs nut
What is the difference in pronunciation between "not" and "nut"?
‘Not’ (⁄nɑːt⁄ or ⁄nɒt⁄) has open back ⁄ɑː⁄ or ⁄ɒ⁄; ‘nut’ (⁄nʌt⁄) has central ⁄ʌ⁄.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "not" vs "nut"?
"not" has 1 syllable(s) (not) with stress on "NOT". "nut" has 1 syllable(s) (nut) with stress on "NUT".
Why do English learners often confuse "not" and "nut"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Open back ⁄ɑː⁄ vs central ⁄ʌ⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "not" and "nut"?
Example for "not": "Did you take out the trash? — No, I did not. I do not think it was my turn, was it?" Example for "nut": "There are many sorts of nuts: peanuts, cashews, pistachios, Brazil nuts and more."