English pronunciation · Words Starting with N
Naughty Pronunciation
Naughty is pronounced NAW-tee, IPA /ˈnɔti/.
NAW-tee
US /ˈnɔti/ · UK /ˈnɔːti/
Syllables: NAW · tee (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective: Badly behaved, said mostly of children, or mildly rude in a playful way.
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Naughty in a Sentence
- The puppy has been naughty all morning.
- She sent them a naughty birthday card.
- It was naughty of him not to tell anyone.
Common Mispronunciations of Naughty
Not NOW-tee
The augh spelling gives the aw of saw here, not the ow of now. Naught, taught, and caught follow the same pattern.
Not NAWG-tee
The gh makes no sound at all. It survives only as a reminder of an older consonant that English stopped saying centuries ago.
Tip: American speakers tap the double t into a quick d, giving something like NAW-dee. British speakers usually keep a clear t.
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