How do you pronounce "aunt"?

[Liberal Veteran]

In my mind I really want to say "awnt", but when I use it verbally, I always say "ant" to avoid sounding like I am putting on airs.

[HereSince1628]

1. tant-ah

[Iggo]

2. "Awnt" when I read it. "Ant" when I say it.

That's weird, huh.

[onehandle]

4. Same here. nt

[Scuba]

3. Depends on whether I'm addressing my east coast or midwest aunts.

"Awnt" is preferred for the Mainers.

"Ant" for the Cheeseheads.

[bigwillq]

5. Awnt (nt)

[LynneSin]

6. I am not a fricking six legged insect thank you very much

Just saying

[Liberal Veteran]

8. I would never think that of you, Arachnid LynneSin.

[pipi_k]

7. I've always

pronounced it "awnt".

Or "awntie"

I'm in Western Mass

[HopeHoops]

9. "ant"

[Denninmi]

10. Here in Michigan, it's pronounced the same as the insect.

Aunt is pronounced like ant.

People that say " A w n t" are usually originally from the East Coast.

We have that whole northern dipthong shift going on, maybe it will change.

[IcyPeas]

11. ant

[frogmarch]

12. ant

Lots of people I know in western So Dak, Wyoming and Nebraska say "awnt," but my dad, who was from St. Louis, MO, and my mom, who was from upstate NY, both said "ant," so that is how I've always pronounced aunt too.

I live in western Nebraska and have lived here for most of my life.

[dawg]

13. Lot's of people here pronounce it "aint".

But I say "ant"

[Populist_Prole]

14. ANT

I know it is technically wrong but the only time I've ever actually heard it pronounced "ahhnnt" is in the media ( TV or movies ) and we thought it sounded pretentious.

[Odin2005]

15. "ahnt". It bugs me when people say "ant".

I'm Minnesotan.

[MrMickeysMom]

16. I had an old co-worker who used to say...

that most black persons say, "awnt"... I'm sure he believed this.

[Liberal Veteran]

23. Probably from watching Sanford and Son (Awnt Esther).

[Graybeard]

17. Say ah not aw.

Ahnt with a soft, quick ah usually won't sound pretentious.

[ManiacJoe]

19. +1

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. "ant"

[TreasonousBastard]

20. I pronounce it "veeblefetzer"

[Liberal Veteran]

22. Yeah, but you were always a bit formal.

[raccoon]

21. Ant. nt

[shanti]

24. was raised with "ant"

but now prefer "awnt(ie)". dunno....it just sounds better to me!