General
nowt
What does nowt mean?
Paired with 'summat' to contrast nothing and something.
"It's either summat or nowt, make your mind up."
Origin
Northern English contraction of 'naught' / 'nought'. Its partner is 'owt' (anything) and 'summat' (something). Common across Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'nowt' mean?
It means nothing. 'There's nowt left' means 'there's nothing left'.
What's the difference between 'nowt' and 'owt'?
'Nowt' is nothing and 'owt' is anything — 'I've not got owt' means 'I haven't got anything'.
Is 'nowt' Yorkshire slang?
It's used across the north of England, but Yorkshire is most associated with it, as in 'there's nowt so queer as folk'.
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