Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

don't

/doʊnt/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 6.20 in modern English

Syllables: don't
IPA: /doʊnt/

5

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Do not (negative auxiliary).

verb

Does not.

verb

Used before an emphatic negative subject.

intj

noun

Chiefly in dos and don'ts: something that must or should not be done.

contraction

Contraction of done + it.

Archaic

Example Sentences

"Don't you think mom's awfully busy today?"
"Don't be such a nuisance!"
"Why don't I carry those bags for you?"
"Far be 't from lust; such wildfire ne'er / Shall dare to lurk or kindle here; / Diviner flames shall in our fancies roll, / Which do n't [sic] depress / To earthliness, / But elevate the soul."
"“I don't know how you and the ‘head,’ as you call him, will get on, but I do know that if you call my duds a ‘livery’ again there'll be trouble. […]”"
"Don't stand, Don't stand so, Don't stand so close to me."

Etymology

From do + -n't. Depending on dialect, its use in the third-person singular may be from elision (in these dialects does is used when not in the negative) or from not using -s to mark the third-person singular at all.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /doʊnt/
British English: /dəʊnt/

Usage

Archaic

Inflected Forms

do n't (alternative, obsolete) don'ts (plural) don't's (plural)

Derived Forms

dildon't hairdon't

Phrases

don't count your chickens before they're hatched don't drop the soap don't feed the troll don't hate the player, hate the game don't knock it till you've tried it don't let the bedbugs bite don't let the door hit you on the way out don't look a gift horse in the mouth

Frequently Paired Words

didn't doesn't

Antonyms

do

Rhymes With

won't wont bonet wan't

Questions

How do you pronounce don't?: The recorded pronunciation is /doʊnt/.
What does don't mean?: Do not (negative auxiliary).
Where does don't come from?: From do + -n't. Depending on dialect, its use in the third-person singular may be from elision (in these dialects does is used when not in the negative) or from not using -s to mark the third-person singular at all.

How to pronounce don't

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “don't”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/doʊnt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “don't”.
Repeat and practice — Say “don't” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.