Etymology

nope

N1O1P3E1

Today it means: No. Full definition →

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nope · particle, noun1

Representing no pronounced with the mouth snapped closed at the end. Luick instead claims it represents a realisation of no with final [ʔ], with a purported reduction of /p/ to [ʔ] before syllabic liquids providing a model for the spelling of [ʔ] as -pe, but it is more parsimonious to assume that the -pe directly represents attested realisations with [p̚]. Therefore no + -p. Compare yep/yup.

nope · noun2

Probably a rebracketing of an ope (see 1823 quote), from alp (“bullfinch”).

nope · noun, verb3

Possibly influenced by nape and knap.

Nope · proper noun4

From a Wampanoag name for the island (or perhaps just for Gay Head, as 1841 cite).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.