ain't

USAGE NOTE

Although very common in everyday speech, "ain't" is considered nonstandard in most English dialects and should be avoided in formal or written contexts. This word is often used with a double negative.

ain't(

eynt

)

A contraction is a shortened form of a word or group of words made by omitting a sound or letter (e.g., don't).

contraction

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(first person singular of "to be")

a. no soy

I ain't no fool.No soy ningún tonto.

b. no estoy

I ain't ready to have children yet.No estoy lista para tener hijos todavía.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(first person plural of "to be")

a. no somos

You're asking me if I'm jealous? No, because we ain't nothing.¿Me estás preguntando si estoy celosa? No, porque no somos nada.

b. no estamos

We ain't safe here. There's a tidal wave coming!No estamos a salvo aquí. ¡Viene un tsunami!

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(second person singular of "to be")

a. no eres

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

Don't say you ain't pretty, because you sure are.No digas que no eres linda, porque de veras lo eres.

b. no estás

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

Learn to shut up when you ain't obliged to speak.Aprende a callarte cuando no estás obligado a hablar.

c. no es

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

I don't know who you think you are, but you ain't the president.No sé quién se cree, pero usted no es el presidente.

d. no está

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

You can use this camera to keep an eye on your baby when you ain't home.Puede usar esta cámara para echarle un ojo a su bebé cuando usted no está en casa.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(second person plural of "to be")

a. no son

Ain't you Marco's cousins?¿No son los primos de Marco?

b. no están

If ya'll ain't ready, you're going to miss the bus.Si todavía no están listos, van a perder el autobús.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(third person singular of "to be")

a. no es

That ain't normal! What is that?¡Eso no es normal! ¿Qué es?

b. no está

My computer ain't working.Mi computadora no está funcionando.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(third person plural of "to be")

a. no son

You got lice on your head! - They ain't lice!¡Tienes piojos en la cabeza! - ¡No son piojos!

b. no están

The folks round here ain't used to folks who talk out of turn.Las personas de por aquí no están acostumbradas a la gente que habla cuando no le toca.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(first person singular of "to have")

a. no he

I ain't eaten yet today. Do you want to have dinner with me?Todavía no he comido hoy. ¿Quieres cenar conmigo?

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(first person plural of "to have")

a. no hemos

We ain't gotten no mail for a while, because our mailbox is frozen shut.No hemos recibido correo por un tiempo, porque nuestro buzón está congelado.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(second person singular of "to have")

a. no has

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person informal “tú” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., How are you?).

(informal)

If you ain't seen this, you don't know what you're missing.Si no has visto esto, no sabes lo que te estás perdiendo.

b. no ha

A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).

(formal)

If you ain't bought no truck yet, this one here is waiting for you to buy it.Si todavía no ha comprado ninguna camioneta, esta lo está esperando para que la compre.

10.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(second person plural of "to have")

a. no han

Ya'll ain't finished yet? Slowpokes!¿Todavía no han terminado? ¡Qué lentos!

11.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(third person singular of "to have")

a. no ha

Tom told me he ain't never tried coffee.Tom me dijo que no ha probado nunca el café.

12.

A very informal word or phrase used by a particular group or community as a substitute for standard language (e.g., joint, john).

(slang)

(third person plural of "to have")

a. no han

They're all complaining about the new law, and they ain't even read it. Fools!Están todos quejándose de la nueva ley, y no la han leído siquiera. ¡Tontos!

Examples