"couldn't" meaning in All languages combined

See couldn't on Wiktionary

Verb [English]

IPA: /ˈkʊd.n̩t/, [ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ] [General-American], [ˈkʊ̃ʔ] (note: African-American Vernacular), [ˈkʊnʔ] [Yorkshire] Audio: en-us-couldn't.ogg [US]
Etymology: Etymology tree English could Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Proto-West Germanic *ne Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiw univ. Proto-West Germanic *naiw Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.? Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.? Proto-Germanic *wihtą Proto-West Germanic *wiht Proto-West Germanic *naiwwiht Old English nāwiht Old English *nōht Middle English nought Middle English not English not English n’t English couldn't From could + n’t. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|could|n't<alt:n’t>|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree English could Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Proto-West Germanic *ne Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiw univ. Proto-West Germanic *naiw Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.? Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.? Proto-Germanic *wihtą Proto-West Germanic *wiht Proto-West Germanic *naiwwiht Old English nāwiht Old English *nōht Middle English nought Middle English not English not English n’t English couldn't [Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*ne", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*ne", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "gmw-pro" }, { "id" : "time", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "life", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*h₂ey-", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "alt" : "*-u", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "status" : "ok", "children" : [ ], "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*h₂óyu", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" }, { "keyword_abbrev" : "influ.", "keyword_label" : "Influenced by", "terms" : [ { "id" : "thematic", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-os", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "influence" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*aiwaz", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*aiw", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Univerbation of", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "univerbation" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*naiw", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "gmw-pro" }, { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "is_uncertain" : true, "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*wekʷ-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-tis", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*wékʷtis", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*weǵʰ-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "is_duplicate" : true, "children" : [ ], "status" : { "1" : "ine-pro", "id" : "action nouns", "pos" : "suffix" }, "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-tis", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*wéǵʰtis", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*wihtą", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*wiht", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-West Germanic", "term" : "*naiwwiht", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "gmw-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" }, { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "is_duplicate" : true, "gloss" : "not", "children" : [ ], "status" : [ "gem-pro", ":inh", "ine-pro:*né" ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Germanic", "term" : "*ne", "lang" : "gem-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "ne", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ang" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "āwiht", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "ang" } ], "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "afeq", "is_invisible" : "all" } ], "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "nāwiht", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ang" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Old English", "term" : "*nōht", "status" : "inline", "lang" : "ang" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" }, { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "ne", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "enm" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "ought", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "enm" } ], "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "afeq", "is_invisible" : "all" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "nought", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "enm" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "not", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "enm" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "not", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "keyword" : "from" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "n't", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "couldn't", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="couldn't"> From could + n’t., {{ety|en|:af|could|n't<alt:n’t>|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree English could Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Proto-West Germanic *ne Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiw univ. Proto-West Germanic *naiw Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.? Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.? Proto-Germanic *wihtą Proto-West Germanic *wiht Proto-West Germanic *naiwwiht Old English nāwiht Old English *nōht Middle English nought Middle English not English not English n’t English couldn't From could + n’t. Head templates: {{head|en|verb form}} couldn't
  1. Could not (negative auxiliary). Coordinate_terms: can't, mayn't, mightn't, oughtn't, shan't, shouldn't, won't, wouldn't

Alternative forms

{
  "etymology_links": [
    [
      "could",
      "could#English"
    ],
    [
      "*né",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/né"
    ],
    [
      "*ne",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/ne"
    ],
    [
      "*ne",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/ne"
    ],
    [
      "*h₂ey-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂ey-#Proto-Indo-European:_life"
    ],
    [
      "*h₂óyu",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂óyu"
    ],
    [
      "*-os",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-os#Proto-Indo-European:_thematic"
    ],
    [
      "*aiwaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/aiwaz"
    ],
    [
      "*aiw",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/aiw#Proto-West_Germanic:_time"
    ],
    [
      "*naiw",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/naiw"
    ],
    [
      "*wekʷ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/wekʷ-"
    ],
    [
      "*-tis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-tis"
    ],
    [
      "*wékʷtis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/wékʷtis"
    ],
    [
      "*weǵʰ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/weǵʰ-"
    ],
    [
      "*-tis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-tis"
    ],
    [
      "*wéǵʰtis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/wéǵʰtis"
    ],
    [
      "*wihtą",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/wihtą"
    ],
    [
      "*wiht",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/wiht"
    ],
    [
      "*naiwwiht",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/naiwwiht"
    ],
    [
      "nāwiht",
      "nawiht#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*nōht",
      "Reconstruction:Old English/noht"
    ],
    [
      "nought",
      "nought#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "not",
      "not#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "not",
      "not#English"
    ],
    [
      "n’t",
      "n't#English"
    ],
    [
      "could",
      "could#English"
    ],
    [
      "n’t",
      "n't#English"
    ]
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "could",
        "4": "n't<alt:n’t>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish could\nProto-Indo-European *né\nProto-Germanic *ne\nProto-West Germanic *ne\nProto-Indo-European *h₂ey-\nProto-Indo-European *-u\nProto-Indo-European *h₂óyu\nProto-Indo-European *-osinflu.\nProto-Germanic *aiwaz\nProto-West Germanic *aiw\nuniv.\nProto-West Germanic *naiw\nProto-Indo-European *wekʷ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.?\nProto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.?\nProto-Germanic *wihtą\nProto-West Germanic *wiht\nProto-West Germanic *naiwwiht\nOld English nāwiht\nOld English *nōht\nMiddle English nought\nMiddle English not\nEnglish not\nEnglish n’t\nEnglish couldn't\n[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*ne\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*ne\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"time\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"life\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₂ey-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"alt\" : \"*-u\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₂óyu\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"influ.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Influenced by\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"thematic\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-os\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"influence\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*aiwaz\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*aiw\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Univerbation of\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"univerbation\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*naiw\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*wekʷ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*wékʷtis\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*weǵʰ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"ine-pro\", \"id\" : \"action nouns\", \"pos\" : \"suffix\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tis\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*wéǵʰtis\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*wihtą\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*wiht\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*naiwwiht\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"gloss\" : \"not\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : [ \"gem-pro\", \":inh\", \"ine-pro:*né\" ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*ne\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"ne\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"āwiht\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"afeq\", \"is_invisible\" : \"all\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"nāwiht\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"*nōht\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"ne\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"ought\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"afeq\", \"is_invisible\" : \"all\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"nought\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"not\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"not\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"n't\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"couldn't\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"couldn't\">\nFrom could + n’t.",
      "name": "ety"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "could",
        "4": "n't<alt:n’t>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish could\nProto-Indo-European *né\nProto-Germanic *ne\nProto-West Germanic *ne\nProto-Indo-European *h₂ey-\nProto-Indo-European *-u\nProto-Indo-European *h₂óyu\nProto-Indo-European *-osinflu.\nProto-Germanic *aiwaz\nProto-West Germanic *aiw\nuniv.\nProto-West Germanic *naiw\nProto-Indo-European *wekʷ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.?\nProto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.?\nProto-Germanic *wihtą\nProto-West Germanic *wiht\nProto-West Germanic *naiwwiht\nOld English nāwiht\nOld English *nōht\nMiddle English nought\nMiddle English not\nEnglish not\nEnglish n’t\nEnglish couldn't\nFrom could + n’t.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish could\nProto-Indo-European *né\nProto-Germanic *ne\nProto-West Germanic *ne\nProto-Indo-European *h₂ey-\nProto-Indo-European *-u\nProto-Indo-European *h₂óyu\nProto-Indo-European *-osinflu.\nProto-Germanic *aiwaz\nProto-West Germanic *aiw\nuniv.\nProto-West Germanic *naiw\nProto-Indo-European *wekʷ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.?\nProto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.?\nProto-Germanic *wihtą\nProto-West Germanic *wiht\nProto-West Germanic *naiwwiht\nOld English nāwiht\nOld English *nōht\nMiddle English nought\nMiddle English not\nEnglish not\nEnglish n’t\nEnglish couldn't\nFrom could + n’t.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "couldn't",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Old English links with redundant alt parameters",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "coordinate_terms": [
        {
          "word": "can't"
        },
        {
          "word": "mayn't"
        },
        {
          "word": "mightn't"
        },
        {
          "word": "oughtn't"
        },
        {
          "word": "shan't"
        },
        {
          "word": "shouldn't"
        },
        {
          "word": "won't"
        },
        {
          "word": "wouldn't"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              4,
              12
            ]
          ],
          "text": "You couldn’t lend me a lighter, could you?",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              46,
              54
            ]
          ],
          "text": "‘Would you like another drink?’ ‘No thanks, I couldn’t.’",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Could not (negative auxiliary)."
      ],
      "id": "en-couldn't-en-verb-09DqiCf8",
      "links": [
        [
          "Could",
          "could#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈkʊd.n̩t/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈkʊ̃ʔ]",
      "note": "African-American Vernacular"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈkʊnʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "Yorkshire"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "cunt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-couldn't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/36/En-us-couldn%27t.ogg/En-us-couldn%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/En-us-couldn%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "couldn't"
}
{
  "coordinate_terms": [
    {
      "word": "can't"
    },
    {
      "word": "mayn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "mightn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "oughtn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "shan't"
    },
    {
      "word": "shouldn't"
    },
    {
      "word": "won't"
    },
    {
      "word": "wouldn't"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_links": [
    [
      "could",
      "could#English"
    ],
    [
      "*né",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/né"
    ],
    [
      "*ne",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/ne"
    ],
    [
      "*ne",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/ne"
    ],
    [
      "*h₂ey-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂ey-#Proto-Indo-European:_life"
    ],
    [
      "*h₂óyu",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂óyu"
    ],
    [
      "*-os",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-os#Proto-Indo-European:_thematic"
    ],
    [
      "*aiwaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/aiwaz"
    ],
    [
      "*aiw",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/aiw#Proto-West_Germanic:_time"
    ],
    [
      "*naiw",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/naiw"
    ],
    [
      "*wekʷ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/wekʷ-"
    ],
    [
      "*-tis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-tis"
    ],
    [
      "*wékʷtis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/wékʷtis"
    ],
    [
      "*weǵʰ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/weǵʰ-"
    ],
    [
      "*-tis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-tis"
    ],
    [
      "*wéǵʰtis",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/wéǵʰtis"
    ],
    [
      "*wihtą",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/wihtą"
    ],
    [
      "*wiht",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/wiht"
    ],
    [
      "*naiwwiht",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/naiwwiht"
    ],
    [
      "nāwiht",
      "nawiht#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*nōht",
      "Reconstruction:Old English/noht"
    ],
    [
      "nought",
      "nought#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "not",
      "not#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "not",
      "not#English"
    ],
    [
      "n’t",
      "n't#English"
    ],
    [
      "could",
      "could#English"
    ],
    [
      "n’t",
      "n't#English"
    ]
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "could",
        "4": "n't<alt:n’t>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish could\nProto-Indo-European *né\nProto-Germanic *ne\nProto-West Germanic *ne\nProto-Indo-European *h₂ey-\nProto-Indo-European *-u\nProto-Indo-European *h₂óyu\nProto-Indo-European *-osinflu.\nProto-Germanic *aiwaz\nProto-West Germanic *aiw\nuniv.\nProto-West Germanic *naiw\nProto-Indo-European *wekʷ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.?\nProto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.?\nProto-Germanic *wihtą\nProto-West Germanic *wiht\nProto-West Germanic *naiwwiht\nOld English nāwiht\nOld English *nōht\nMiddle English nought\nMiddle English not\nEnglish not\nEnglish n’t\nEnglish couldn't\n[Appendix:Glossary#inherited|Inherited]] from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*ne\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*ne\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"time\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"life\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₂ey-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"alt\" : \"*-u\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₂óyu\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"influ.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Influenced by\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"thematic\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-os\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"influence\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*aiwaz\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*aiw\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Univerbation of\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"univerbation\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*naiw\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*wekʷ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*wékʷtis\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*weǵʰ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"ine-pro\", \"id\" : \"action nouns\", \"pos\" : \"suffix\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tis\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*wéǵʰtis\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*wihtą\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*wiht\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*naiwwiht\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"gloss\" : \"not\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : [ \"gem-pro\", \":inh\", \"ine-pro:*né\" ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*ne\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"ne\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"āwiht\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"afeq\", \"is_invisible\" : \"all\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"nāwiht\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"*nōht\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"ne\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"ought\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"afeq\", \"is_invisible\" : \"all\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"nought\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"not\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"not\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"n't\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"couldn't\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"couldn't\">\nFrom could + n’t.",
      "name": "ety"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "could",
        "4": "n't<alt:n’t>",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish could\nProto-Indo-European *né\nProto-Germanic *ne\nProto-West Germanic *ne\nProto-Indo-European *h₂ey-\nProto-Indo-European *-u\nProto-Indo-European *h₂óyu\nProto-Indo-European *-osinflu.\nProto-Germanic *aiwaz\nProto-West Germanic *aiw\nuniv.\nProto-West Germanic *naiw\nProto-Indo-European *wekʷ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.?\nProto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.?\nProto-Germanic *wihtą\nProto-West Germanic *wiht\nProto-West Germanic *naiwwiht\nOld English nāwiht\nOld English *nōht\nMiddle English nought\nMiddle English not\nEnglish not\nEnglish n’t\nEnglish couldn't\nFrom could + n’t.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish could\nProto-Indo-European *né\nProto-Germanic *ne\nProto-West Germanic *ne\nProto-Indo-European *h₂ey-\nProto-Indo-European *-u\nProto-Indo-European *h₂óyu\nProto-Indo-European *-osinflu.\nProto-Germanic *aiwaz\nProto-West Germanic *aiw\nuniv.\nProto-West Germanic *naiw\nProto-Indo-European *wekʷ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.?\nProto-Indo-European *weǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-tis\nProto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.?\nProto-Germanic *wihtą\nProto-West Germanic *wiht\nProto-West Germanic *naiwwiht\nOld English nāwiht\nOld English *nōht\nMiddle English nought\nMiddle English not\nEnglish not\nEnglish n’t\nEnglish couldn't\nFrom could + n’t.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "verb form"
      },
      "expansion": "couldn't",
      "name": "head"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English auxiliary verb forms",
        "English compound terms",
        "English contractions",
        "English defective verbs",
        "English entries referencing missing etymons",
        "English entries with etymology texts",
        "English entries with etymology trees",
        "English entries with etymon",
        "English entries with incorrect language header",
        "English non-lemma forms",
        "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ey- (life)",
        "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wekʷ-",
        "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *weǵʰ-",
        "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *h₂óyu",
        "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *né",
        "English terms with homophones",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "English verb forms",
        "Old English links with redundant alt parameters",
        "Pages using etymon with no ID",
        "Pages with 1 entry",
        "Pages with entries",
        "Pages with etymology trees",
        "Pages with etymon"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              4,
              12
            ]
          ],
          "text": "You couldn’t lend me a lighter, could you?",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              46,
              54
            ]
          ],
          "text": "‘Would you like another drink?’ ‘No thanks, I couldn’t.’",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Could not (negative auxiliary)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Could",
          "could#English"
        ],
        [
          "not",
          "not"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈkʊd.n̩t/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈkʊɾ.n̩ʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈkʊ̃ʔ]",
      "note": "African-American Vernacular"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈkʊnʔ]",
      "tags": [
        "Yorkshire"
      ]
    },
    {
      "homophone": "cunt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-couldn't.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/3/36/En-us-couldn%27t.ogg/En-us-couldn%27t.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/En-us-couldn%27t.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "couldn't"
}

Download raw JSONL data for couldn't meaning in All languages combined (11.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-10-30 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-10-01 using wiktextract (19f9a30 and 6f96ddf). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.