Since there seems to be some frustration about this and I got curious, I went and looked it up. Here's what I found.
According to Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (the 15-pound 2nd edition) 'nope' is an informal variation of the word 'no'. It's listed as American and dates back to 1885-90. (cf. [compare to] yup.) The online Merriam-Webster says that nope dates from 1888, that its etymology is by alteration from the word 'no,' and that it sometimes is pronounce with a gutteral stop rather than a 'p' sound.
I just asked my sisters a question I forwarded to them both; both replied at some point in their opening sentences, 'nope'.... I emailed back commenting on the weirdness, as I never use 'nope' and although we now live in different provinces we started out with the same language background, are University educated etc AND we sound similar, read similar books, though have very different lifestyles. I use "nah" though in writing. So I searched google and found this site. I use 'yep' /yup all the time, but never nope. So that analogy didn't work for me. What country started up/uses 'nope' the most? Help please, the very sight/site of 'nope' intrigues me
Morgan is correct except that the "p" sound results from the pressing together of the lips, and not the vocal cords, and is therefore a labial stop. The addition of this sound will have started as an accidental addition, but happens so frequently that it has become common usage, being said deliberately and also being used in writing.
I just asked my sisters a question I forwarded to them both; both replied at some point in their opening sentences, 'nope'.... I emailed back commenting on the weirdness, as I never use 'nope' and although we now live in different provinces we started out with the same language background, are University educated etc AND we sound similar, read similar books, though have very different lifestyles. I use "nah" though in writing. So I searched google and found this site. I use 'yep' /yup all the time, but never nope. So that analogy didn't work for me. What country started up/uses 'nope' the most? Help please, the very sight/site of 'nope' intrigues me
Mikahbot is correct in noting that nope is slang for no. The answer to your question about where the word comes from is slightly more complicated.
The "pe" in "nope" and the "p" in "yep" represent the sound made when the vocal cords are pressed together to stop the exiting airflow, which is called the glottal stop.
This glottal stop is so commonly used at the end of "no" and "yes" that they are now represented in informal writing as "nope" and "yep".
Think of 'nope' as slang. 'No' has so many versions, it's impossible to count. I can think of a few. No - nope, nooo, nuh-uh are some of it. It's slang, just like saying 'yes' - yep, yessirrie, yup, ya-huh, and such.
mitchellmarko
December 16, 2010, 8:01pm
I beleive that patricia is correct
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Patricia (unregistered)
April 4, 2008, 3:22pm
Since there seems to be some frustration about this and I got curious, I went and looked it up. Here's what I found.
According to Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (the 15-pound 2nd edition) 'nope' is an informal variation of the word 'no'. It's listed as American and dates back to 1885-90. (cf. [compare to] yup.) The online Merriam-Webster says that nope dates from 1888, that its etymology is by alteration from the word 'no,' and that it sometimes is pronounce with a gutteral stop rather than a 'p' sound.
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cstarshine14
April 2, 2008, 8:57pm
I just asked my sisters a question I forwarded to them both; both replied at some point in their opening sentences, 'nope'.... I emailed back commenting on the weirdness, as I never use 'nope' and although we now live in different provinces we started out with the same language background, are University educated etc AND we sound similar, read similar books, though have very different lifestyles. I use "nah" though in writing. So I searched google and found this site. I use 'yep' /yup all the time, but never nope. So that analogy didn't work for me. What country started up/uses 'nope' the most? Help please, the very sight/site of 'nope' intrigues me
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Helen (unregistered)
August 3, 2007, 11:00pm
Morgan is correct except that the "p" sound results from the pressing together of the lips, and not the vocal cords, and is therefore a labial stop.
The addition of this sound will have started as an accidental addition, but happens so frequently that it has become common usage, being said deliberately and also being used in writing.
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jaq (unregistered)
August 2, 2007, 10:34pm
I just asked my sisters a question I forwarded to them both; both replied at some point in their opening sentences, 'nope'.... I emailed back commenting on the weirdness, as I never use 'nope' and although we now live in different provinces we started out with the same language background, are University educated etc AND we sound similar, read similar books, though have very different lifestyles. I use "nah" though in writing. So I searched google and found this site. I use 'yep' /yup all the time, but never nope. So that analogy didn't work for me. What country started up/uses 'nope' the most? Help please, the very sight/site of 'nope' intrigues me
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Morgan (unregistered)
July 17, 2006, 9:48am
Mikahbot is correct in noting that nope is slang for no. The answer to your question about where the word comes from is slightly more complicated.
The "pe" in "nope" and the "p" in "yep" represent the sound made when the vocal cords are pressed together to stop the exiting airflow, which is called the glottal stop.
This glottal stop is so commonly used at the end of "no" and "yes" that they are now represented in informal writing as "nope" and "yep".
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pete (unregistered)
December 2, 2005, 5:53am
In French they have a similiar phenomenon, where they add a 'p' to the end of 'ouai' ('yeah') to make it 'ouaip'.
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banal_info
November 6, 2005, 3:38am
time farms out a bleak light. It is a humorous effect of dull and banal people encountered from everyday life. My post here affirms banality!
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NOPE IS NOTHINGNESS (unregistered)
October 24, 2005, 4:27am
STEVE... A PLACE FOR DRY WIT.
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banal_info
October 18, 2005, 5:57am
Nopester... My nestled noun.. Couched in a flock of crow feathers.
0
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kp1885
September 29, 2005, 12:32am
Think of 'nope' as slang. 'No' has so many versions, it's impossible to count. I can think of a few. No - nope, nooo, nuh-uh are some of it. It's slang, just like saying 'yes' - yep, yessirrie, yup, ya-huh, and such.
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tonyfro
September 28, 2005, 10:21am
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com/):
nope
1888, emphatic form of no.
Unfortunately, not a lot of information exists here, but it at least gives you a timeframe to look at.
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