Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

you know

/ju noʊ/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 6.05 in modern English

Syllables: you -know
IPA: /ju noʊ/

17

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

intj

Expression signifying a pause or hesitation.

Informal

intj

Expression used to imply meaning, rather than say it, such as when a person is embarrassed.

Informal

intj

Used as a rhetorical question to confirm agreement, knowing or understanding at the end of a statement.

Informal

intj

Used to introduce information.

Informal

intj

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see you, know.

Example Sentences

"I don’t usually get nervous in games and, you know, taking free kicks and penalties but that’s the first time I’ve been that nervous in, in a game, where I have to, I’m in a situation where I’m, you know […]"
"Once, I remember, I was watching the twins on a trampoline, you know, and they looked so beautiful, and I was happy because they were happy, you know."
"A: I can’t go to the party because... you know... B: Your mom is still mad at you, huh? A: Yeah..."
"But I guess that's life, you know?"
"I just wasn't into it, you know?"
"This was already a fresh departure for me. I was not used to get things that way, you know."

Etymology

First attested as a filled pause in the early 18th century, as a euphemism in the mid-19th century.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ju noʊ/
British English: /juː nəʊ/

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

y'know (alternative, pronunciation spelling) yunno (alternative, pronunciation spelling)

Phrases

if you know what I mean if you know, you know what do you know wouldn't you know it you know it you-know-what you know what you know what I mean

Frequently Paired Words

if you know what I mean if you know, you know what do you know wouldn't you know it you know it you-know-what you know what you know what I mean

Synonyms

right like er erm um you see do you know what I'm saying you know what I'm saying eh don't you know

Questions

How do you pronounce you know?: The recorded pronunciation is /ju noʊ/.
What does you know mean?: Expression signifying a pause or hesitation.
Where does you know come from?: First attested as a filled pause in the early 18th century, as a euphemism in the mid-19th century.

How to pronounce you know

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “you know”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ju noʊ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “you know”.
Repeat and practice — Say “you know” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.