can't

See also cant

English

Etymology

can +‎ -n't, since 1706 or earlier.

Pronunciation

• (Australia) enPR: känt, IPA: /kaːnt/, [kʰäːnt], X-SAMPA: /ka:nt/, [k_ha_":nt]

  • Audio (AUS)

    (file)

• (UK, some US speakers) enPR: känt, IPA: /kɑːnt/, [kʰɑːnt], X-SAMPA: /kA:nt/, [k_hA:nt]

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -ɑːnt
• (many US speakers) enPR: kănt, IPA: /kænt/, [kʰænt], [kʰeənt], X-SAMPA: /k{nt/, [k_h{nt], [k_he@nt]

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -ænt
• (Southern US) IPA: [kʰeɪnt], X-SAMPA: [k_heInt]
  • Rhymes: -eɪnt
• Homophones: cant, Kant (in some dialects)

Contraction

can't

1. cannot; is unable to; does not have the ability to

   I can't quite get it to work.

2. is forbidden to; is not permitted to

   You can't enter the hall without a ticket.

Usage notes

• Some US dialects that glottalize the final /t/ in can't (/kæn(ʔ)/), in order to differentiate can't from can, pronounce can as /kɛn/ even when stressed.

Antonyms

• be able to, can,
• Sense 2 only must

See also

• Appendix:English tag questions

Translations

For other translations, see can and not.

cannot — see cannot

Statistics

• Most common English words before 1923: ye · common · subject · #440: can't · ready · ought · written

Anagrams

• NCTA