The phrase "never mind" is a common expression used to dismiss or abandon a topic. Its spelling can be confusing as it combines two words into one. The first word "never" is pronounced /ˈnɛvər/ (NEV-uh) with the stressed "e" sound and the "v" sound. The second word "mind" is pronounced /maɪnd/ (mynd) with the long "i" sound and the "d" sound. When combined, "never mind" is pronounced /ˈnɛvər maɪnd/ (NEV-uh mynd).
The phrase "never mind" is an idiomatic expression used in English language, often to dismiss or disregard a matter or request previously mentioned. It is a concise way to communicate that something is not important or to indicate a change of intent.
In conversations, "never mind" is predominantly used as a response to a question or a request, implying that there is no need to proceed further as the matter is now considered inconsequential or irrelevant. It can also convey that the speaker has decided to withdraw their previous statement or no longer wants it to be taken into consideration. This phrase is commonly used to express a lack of concern or to politely decline assistance.
The term can also function as a standalone phrase, often accompanied by a dismissive wave or gesture, to suggest that the subject being discussed or queried should be disregarded or forgotten altogether. In this context, it signifies that the speaker no longer wishes to pursue the topic or does not believe it to be significant enough to warrant further attention or discussion.
Overall, "never mind" is employed to dismiss, disregard, or downplay something previously mentioned, serving as a concise way to communicate that it is no longer of importance or interest to the speaker.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word never mind is derived from Old English. The word never comes from the compound of ne (meaning not) and æfre (meaning ever). Mind stems from the Old English word gemynd which meant memory or thought. Over time, the expression never mind has evolved to mean do not worry about it or disregard it.