# Why is "ain't" a contraction? What's it a contraction of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911 "2013-01-31T14:13:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/1 "2013-01-31T14:13:27Z")
I’m not an “ain’t” hater. I often use the word myself. What I do have a problem with is the fact that it’s spelled as a contraction. I refuse to do it! I just aint gonna write “aint” as a contraction. Nope, aint gonna do it. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/2 "2013-01-31T14:20:36Z")
My understanding has always been that _ain’t_ stems from a lazy and/or dialectical pronunciation of\* isn’t\*, which of course\*\* is \*\*a proper contraction. Replace the\* is _with_ ai\*,\* n’t\* continues to stand in for\* not\*, and Bob’s your uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/3 "2013-01-31T14:21:49Z")
[Ain’t](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ain%27t&allowed_in_frame=0) [Ain’t](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ain't) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/4 "2013-01-31T14:26:35Z")
Earl’s first link proves me wrong on the etymology, but the\* n’t _is indeed properly contracted from_ not\*, so I guess I ain’t totally stupid. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/5 "2013-01-31T15:27:43Z")
I am’t surprised to see origin. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/6 "2013-01-31T15:41:10Z")
Are not nobody got time for that? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/7 "2013-01-31T15:42:04Z")
> [@](#): > > stems from a lazy argh ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/8 "2013-01-31T20:29:52Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > I am’t surprised to see origin. Youse a Brummie? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/9 "2013-01-31T20:34:52Z")
> [@FrankJBN](#): > > I am’t surprised to see origin. I’d been told that it was originally a mispronunciation of _aren’t_. But wouldn’t the contraction of \*am not \*be _amn’t_? ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/10 "2013-01-31T22:11:19Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > But wouldn’t the contraction of \*am not \*be _amn’t_? Not if you’re Cockney. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/11 "2013-01-31T22:32:15Z")
Can I add my own question: in the UK using “ain’t”, especially over-using it, is traditionally considered a sign of being very low class. However I remember reading a novel set around the early 19th century (though most of the details escape me). In it “ain’t” or “a’n’t” seemed to be used by young aristocrats as part of a fashionable speech. In the past was it more widely used (on a social scale that is) in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/12 "2013-01-31T22:45:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’d been told that it was originally a mispronunciation of _aren’t_. But wouldn’t the contraction of \*am not \*be _amn’t_? Only in Ireland. _If anyone says that I amn’t divine He’ll get no free drinks when I’m making the wine_ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/13 "2013-01-31T23:14:34Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’d been told that it was originally a mispronunciation of _aren’t_. But wouldn’t the contraction of \*am not \*be _amn’t_? “Am not” \> “a’ not” \> “ain’t.” I don’t see why it couldn’t be “am I not” \> “a’ I n’t”. OED has a few suggestions. One is that if “isn’t” loses the -s-, then the i- lengthens to the pronunciation as in “night”, and goes to “ain’t” from there. Another is that it’s from and R-less “aren’t,” in other words a variant of British / US Southern “ahn’t” (as you said above). In short, no one knows. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/14 "2013-01-31T23:20:54Z")
Brits say “et” for past tense of “eat,” although I don’t know often, or by what social class. Reason: they’re Brits. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/15 "2013-02-01T01:53:08Z")
One might as well ask how “won’t” comes to be the contraction for “will not”. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/16 "2013-02-01T02:51:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > One might as well ask how “won’t” comes to be the contraction for “will not”. One might be wont to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/17 "2013-02-01T03:07:44Z")
plus bain’t — but I am not and tain’t — it is not Bain’t doin’ tha, tain’t werf it. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/18 "2013-02-01T03:57:52Z")
* * * ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/19 "2013-02-01T03:58:50Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’d been told that it was originally a mispronunciation of _aren’t_. But wouldn’t the contraction of \*am not \*be _amn’t_? It is in parts of the West Midlands. It ain’t Down South. I’m not sure what Northern Hordes say… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911/20 "2013-02-01T04:41:42Z")
_Ain’t ain’t a word And I ain’t gonna say it._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-aint-a-contraction-whats-it-a-contraction-of/648911.md?page=2)