gnow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely RareArchaic, Dialectal, Poetic
Quick answer
What does “gnow” mean?
A non-standard, obsolete, or dialectal variant of 'know', primarily found in some regional dialects or historical texts. It is not part of modern standard English vocabulary.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A non-standard, obsolete, or dialectal variant of 'know', primarily found in some regional dialects or historical texts. It is not part of modern standard English vocabulary.
May occasionally appear in poetic or dialectal writing to evoke a rustic, archaic, or regional flavor. It carries no distinct meaning separate from 'know'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Neither British nor American English uses 'gnow' in standard communication. Any historical or dialectal usage is equally obsolete in both varieties.
Connotations
If encountered, it would connote archaism, regional dialect (e.g., older West Country English), or deliberate poetic license.
Frequency
Virtually non-existent in contemporary corpora for both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “gnow” in a Sentence
Subject + gnow + object (archaic/dialectal)Subject + gnow + that-clause (archaic/dialectal)Examples
Examples of “gnow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He doth gnow the truth of the matter (archaic).
- I gnow not what to do (dialectal/archaic).
American English
- I gnow him from way back (dialectal, e.g., in historical Appalachian contexts).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only possibly encountered in historical linguistics or dialectology studies discussing the phonological history of English.
Everyday
Not used. Learners should use 'know'.
Technical
Irrelevant outside historical linguistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gnow”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gnow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gnow”
- Attempting to use 'gnow' in modern writing or speech.
- Misspelling 'know' as 'gnow' based on pronunciation confusion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a historical or dialectal spelling variant of 'know', but it is not part of modern standard English vocabulary.
No. Always use the standard spelling 'know' in all forms of modern communication.
It reflects an older pronunciation where the initial /ɡ/ or /k/ sound (from Old English 'cnāwan') had not yet been lost. The 'k' in 'know' is a remnant of this history.
Recognize it as an archaic or dialectal form of 'know' and understand it in that context. For your own use, always default to 'know'.
A non-standard, obsolete, or dialectal variant of 'know', primarily found in some regional dialects or historical texts. It is not part of modern standard English vocabulary.
Gnow is usually archaic, dialectal, poetic in register.
Gnow: in British English it is pronounced /nəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /noʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The G is silent in 'gnat' and 'gnome', and it's historically 'lost' in 'know' too. 'Gnow' shows the old sound before it was lost.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING (e.g., 'I see what you mean') applies to the standard 'know', which 'gnow' would represent archaically.
Practice
Quiz
What is the status of the word 'gnow' in contemporary English?