Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

can't

/kˈænt/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.80 in modern English

Syllables: can't
IPA: /kˈænt/

6

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Cannot (negative modal auxiliary); be unable to; not have the ability to (whether due to lacking relevant strength or skill or knowledge or supplies, or due to logical impossibility, etc).

verb

To be forbidden to; to be not permitted to.

verb

To be unwilling to; to not have the desire of; to don’t want to.

Slang

Example Sentences

"I can’t quite get it to work."
"Shut up, can’t you?"
"The butler can’t be the murderer — he can't have killed her — because he was in London that evening."
"To make Capons […] [S]ome for this Purpoſe make it their Buſineſs after Harveſt-time to go to Markets for buying up Chickens, and between Michaelmas and All-hollantide caponize the Cocks, when they have got large enough to have Stones [i.e., testes] of ſuch a Bigneſs that they may be pulled out; for if they are too little, it can't be done; […]"
"Shepard: Mordin, walk away. Mordin: Can't do that, Shepard. Shepard: I don't have a choice here. Walk away, or I will fire."
"You can’t enter the hall without a ticket."

Etymology

From can + -n't, since 1706 or earlier.

Usage

Slang

Inflected Forms

ca'n't (alternative, obsolete) cain't (alternative, Southern US)

Derived Forms

African't Republicant

Phrases

you can't say fairer than that

Frequently Paired Words

couldn't mayn't mightn't oughtn't shan't shouldn't won't wouldn't

Homonyms

cant Kant (Received Pronunciation) kant

Antonyms

be able to can have to must

Rhymes With

plant grant cant aunt ant transplant rant chant implant levant brandt pant

Questions

How do you pronounce can't?: The recorded pronunciation is /kˈænt/.
What does can't mean?: Cannot (negative modal auxiliary); be unable to; not have the ability to (whether due to lacking relevant strength or skill or knowledge or supplies, or due to logical impossibility, etc).
Where does can't come from?: From can + -n't, since 1706 or earlier.

How to pronounce can't

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “can't”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kˈænt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “can't”.
Repeat and practice — Say “can't” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.