Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

couldn't

[ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ]

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.09 in modern English

Syllables
could-n't
IPA
[ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ]
10
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Could not (negative auxiliary).

Example Sentences

Etymology

From could + n’t.

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: [ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ]

Frequently Paired Words

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

Homonyms

cunt

Rhymes With

wouldn't shouldn't

Questions

How do you pronounce couldn't?
The recorded pronunciation is [ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ].
What does couldn't mean?
Could not (negative auxiliary).
Where does couldn't come from?
From could + n’t.

How to pronounce couldn't

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “couldn't”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling ([ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ]) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “couldn't”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “couldn't” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.