Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

won't

/woʊnt/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.34 in modern English

Syllables: won't
IPA: /woʊnt/

7

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

will not (negative auxiliary); used to indicate a future non-occurring action.

verb

doesn't want to

Example Sentences

"Sam won't be doing any work this afternoon."
"He either can't or won't do anything about it."

Etymology

From earlier wonnot, from Middle English wynnot, wilnot, wolnot, wilnat, a contraction of Middle English will not, wil not, wyll not, will noght, wil noht, willi noȝt, wyl nat, wol not, woll not, wole not, wolle not, wol nat, woll nat, etc., equivalent to a will + not and/or woll + not. For the pronunciation with /oʊ/, /əʊ/, see poultry.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: wynnot

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /woʊnt/
British English: /wəʊnt/

Inflected Forms

wo'n't (alternative, archaic) wonnot (alternative, obsolete)

Frequently Paired Words

can't couldn't mayn't mightn't oughtn't shan't shouldn't wouldn't

Synonyms

willn't wolln't wo'n't wonnot

Homonyms

wont (one pronunciation)

Rhymes With

don't wont bonet wan't

Questions

How do you pronounce won't?: The recorded pronunciation is /woʊnt/.
What does won't mean?: will not (negative auxiliary); used to indicate a future non-occurring action.
Where does won't come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce won't

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