# How do you pronounce "aunt"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574 "2015-07-19T02:56:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/61 "2015-07-20T15:12:14Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Wait…haunt and want rhyme when I say them! > [@HowSoonIsThen](#): > > I assumed “Ahnt” rhymed with “can’t” and “aren’t”, not “want”. But it wouldn’t surprise me f someone said “want” rhymes with either of those words. > > This thread is the first time I’ve hear of the “Awwnt” pronunciation. Hehehe. This is what always happens in these types of threads. With all our different accents, words which rhyme in one location don’t in another. In my dialect Ahnt, want and haunt all rhyme. I suppose you could include aren’t, except I pronounce the R. Can’t rhymes with ant. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/62 "2015-07-20T16:54:47Z")
When I was small I would get “car-mulls” from my “Ant.” I guess others would get “car-a-mels” from their"Ahnt." And if the ants were lucky they would find one of those caramels in the grass. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/63 "2015-07-20T18:03:13Z")
I put “something else” Basically, I say “ant” most of the time. However, I’m bothered by the hypothetical chance of confusion. In that case, I’ll go with “ahnt” to help clarify. I suppose the chances of confusion are slim, but you never know when “My ant is in the kitchen” might be misunderstood. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/64 "2015-07-20T18:09:58Z")
I’m a member of the ahnt crowd. If someone told me my ants were in the kitchen, I’d be grabbing the Raid. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/65 "2015-07-22T01:17:21Z")
> [@HowSoonIsThen](#): > > I assumed “Ahnt” rhymed with “can’t” and “aren’t”, not “want”. Can’t and aren’t don’t rhyme, and I can’t even imagine saying them to force them to. \*But \*aunt and aren’t sound somewhat similar. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/66 "2015-07-22T01:29:08Z")
Sigh. Learn the I.P.A., people! If a British person is rhyming _aunt_, _aren’t_, and _can’t_, then the likely pronunciations are — [cɑːnt] [ɑːnt]. And if _want_ doesn’t rhyme with them, then it’s probably [wɔnt] — American _want_ is usually [wɑnt], and it would rhyme (roughly) with British _can’t_. The contrasting American pronunciations are _ant_ [ænt], “ahnt” [ɑnt], and “awnt” [ɒnt]. If it rhymes with _ain’t_, then it’s [eɪnt], but in that accent, [eɪ] is probably an allophone of [æ] and would probably also rhyme with _can’t_ [keɪnt]. ---
**Author:** ![HowSoonIsThen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@HowSoonIsThen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HowSoonIsThen)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/67 "2015-07-22T04:53:31Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Sigh. > > Learn the I.P.A., people! > > If a British person is rhyming _aunt_, _aren’t_, and _can’t_, then the likely pronunciations are — [cɑːnt] [ɑːnt]. And if _want_ doesn’t rhyme with them, then it’s probably [wɔnt] — American _want_ is usually [wɑnt], and it would rhyme (roughly) with British _can’t_. > > The contrasting American pronunciations are _ant_ [ænt], “ahnt” [ɑnt], and “awnt” [ɒnt]. If it rhymes with _ain’t_, then it’s [eɪnt], but in that accent, [eɪ] is probably an allophone of [æ] and would probably also rhyme with _can’t_ [keɪnt]. Sure, that makes it more logical and less confusing. But where’s the fun in that? ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/68 "2015-07-22T05:17:53Z")
I say the word both ways. I grew up in Chicago and then have moved to many other places. I’m currently on the East Coast, so … 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/69 "2015-07-22T05:38:36Z")
Awnt sounds too precious, like someone trying a phony upper crust accent. I’ve never heard anyone over the age of three say auntee. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/70 "2015-07-22T13:42:30Z")
> [@svd678](#): > > Awnt sounds too precious, like someone trying a phony upper crust accent. I’ve never heard anyone over the age of three say auntee. I agree with the first part, yet I can’t disagree when it is pointed out that “awnt” is a reflection of how it’s spelled, which is generally how I pronounce most words. So when I’m around my Brit friends I’ll use “awnt” lest I have to hear how poorly Americans speak, but otherwise “ant” comes naturally. I used to call my favorite aunt “Auntie”, but only to her face, not in conversation with others. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/71 "2015-07-22T15:02:57Z")
I’ve caught myself pronouncing it both ways as needed for clarity. If I’m going to say “aunt and uncle”, I’ll pronounce it ‘ant’. If I need to say “my aunt’s house has a terrible ant problem”, I’ll pronounce it ‘änt’. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/72 "2015-07-22T18:33:55Z")
Ant. Long Island, NY (all my life) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/73 "2015-07-22T21:27:53Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > i say it the correct way: ahnt. (New England) > [@John\_Mace](#): > > No true New Englander would pronounce it “ant”. Even my cousin, who moved to the south when he was in Jr High still says “ahnt”. > > However… the pancake mix was always “An-ja-My-muh”, so in that one instance it gets mangled. But it’s one of those compound words you learn before you know what the two components actually are. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > For Americans, I think it’s generally: New Englanders + Blacks = “aunt”; everyone else = “ant”. > [@Mithril](#): > > New Englander, born and bred. I say “aunt” to rhyme with “haunt”. I can’t quite figure out the difference between the “awwwnt” and “ahnt” people are talking about, though. > > (I am often complimented on my enunciation. This comes from an immigrant mother who was adamant that I not develop her accent. My way is almost assuredly my region’s default, since I was never made to practice another way). It’s aUnt. I’m a very old New Englander. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/74 "2015-07-22T21:28:56Z")
If there is a name after it (Aunt Sue), it’s ‘ant’ Unless the term, in context, is at all subject to misinterpretation, I’ll use the stilted ‘ahnt’. I think I’ve used it 7 time in the 60-some years I’ve been specking ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/75 "2015-07-22T22:26:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > For Americans, I think it’s generally: New Englanders + Blacks = “aunt”; everyone else = “ant”. Except for the New Englanders who say “arnt” (and gahrarge). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/76 "2015-07-22T22:28:51Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Awwwnt rhymes with haunt. > > Ahnt rhymes with want. For certain pronunciations of “want”. I say “want” to rhyme with “punt” – and aunt is nowhere in that vicinity! ---
**Author:** ![Shaggy\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Shaggy\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaggy_Z)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/77 "2015-07-22T23:30:43Z")
As a kid in Minnesota I pronounced it ahnt. I switched to ant after moving to Alberta and being made fun of. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/78 "2015-07-24T11:18:28Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > Aunt can’t > Aunt want > Aunt haunt > Aunt ant > Aunt ain’t > [Box](https://app.box.com/s/ctxm87smxjrmtki0yzi34cox9ip2yojc) First off, you have a pretty voice. Second, you are saying “ahnt.” Third, the way you say “ain’t” makes you sound like an American Southern. And here are transliterations of what you are saying. The first is IPA, the second is the usual English respelling: [ul] [li]/ɑnt/ /cɑnt/ ahnt cahnt[/li][li]/ɑnt/ /wɔnt/ ahnt wawnt[/li][li]/ɑnt/ /hɔnt/ ahnt hawnt[/li][li]/ɑnt/ /ænt/ ahnt ant[/li][li]/ɑnt/ [æɪnt] ahnt aynt[/li][/ul] And the four different versions of “aunt” we have now are [ol] [li]/ɑnt/ ahnt - The way Eliahna says “aunt”[/li][li]/ænt/ ant - The way she says “ant”[/li][li]/ɔnt/ awnt - Rhymes with her “haunt”[/li][li]/eɪnt/ aynt - [Not really](https://youtu.be/VMaKTGaKLBE?t=59s) the way she says “ain’t,” due to her accent.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Enocavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e480ec/32.png) [@Enocavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enocavy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/79 "2015-07-24T17:00:19Z")
Ahnt. Massachusetts. I’ve gotten away from most New England speak but it will always be ahnt. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574/80 "2015-07-24T23:05:29Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > First off, you have a pretty voice. Second, you are saying “ahnt.” Third, the way you say “ain’t” makes you sound like an American Southern. “Ain’t” ain’t in my everyday vocab, and it felt strange to say it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-aunt/725574.md?page=3)