"Not" — just three little letters, but one of the most common words in English. And yet, many non-native speakers pronounce it in a way that sounds unnatural. In this episode, we break down why that happens, how native speakers actually use and pronounce "not" (hint: they almost always contract it), and how mastering this tiny word can make a huge difference in how natural your English sounds. We'll cover common mistakes, explain why contractions matter, and give you real practice so you can start sounding more fluent today. Let's check it out!