See also Appendix:Variations of "can"

Contents

English

Most common English words: then « A « should « #81: can » made » did » such

Etymology 1

Middle English can (first and third person singular of cunnen, connen "to be able, know how") from Old English can(n), first and third person singular of cunnan (“to know how”). More at canny, cunning.

Pronunciation

Verb

- (third-person singular simple present can, present participle -, simple past could, past participle couth (obsolete except in adjective use))

  1. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to; to be able to.
    She can speak English, French, and German.
    I can play football.
    Can you remember your fifth birthday?
  2. (modal auxiliary verb, defective, informal) May; to be permitted or enabled to.
    You can go outside and play when you're finished with your homework.
    Can I use your pen?
  3. (obsolete, transitive) To know.
Usage notes

For missing forms, substitute inflected forms of be able to, as:

The word could also suffices in many tenses. "I would be able to go" is equivalent to "I could go", and "I was not able to go" can be rendered "I couldn't go". (Unless there is a clear indication otherwise, "could verb" means "would be able to verb", but "couldn't verb" means "was/were not able to verb".)

The present tense negative can not is often contracted to cannot or can't.

The use of can in asking permission is sometimes criticized as being impolite or incorrect by those who favour the more formal alternative "may I...?".

Can is sometimes used rhetorically to issue a command, placing the command in the form of a request. For instance, "Can you hand me that pen?" as a polite substitution for "Hand me that pen."

Synonyms
Antonyms
See also
Translations
to be able
  • Korean: ...할 수 있다 ko(ko) (...hal su itda)
  • Lao: ໄດ້ lo(lo) (dai)
  • Latin: posse la(la)
  • Malay: dapat ms(ms)
  • Maltese: sata mt(mt)
  • Nahuatl: huelīti nah(nah)
  • Norwegian: kunne no(no)
  • Old English: cunnan ang(ang)
  • Persian: قادر بودن fa(fa), توانستن fa(fa) (tavânestan)
  • Polish: móc pl(pl), umieć pl(pl), potrafić pl(pl)
  • Portuguese: poder, ser capaz, conseguir
  • Romanian: putea ro(ro)
  • Romansch: pudair
  • Russian: мочь ro(ro) (moč’), смочь ro(ro) (smoč’), уметь ro(ro) (umét’) (to be skilled enough), быть в состоянии ru(ru) (byt’ v sostojánii)
  • Scottish Gaelic: 's urrainn do gd(gd), faod gd(gd)
  • Slovak: moci sk(sk), môcť sk(sk), umět sk(sk)
  • Slovene: moči sl(sl)
  • Spanish: poder es(es)
  • Swedish: kunna sv(sv)
  • Thai: ได้ th(th) (dâai), ย่อม th(th) (yôm)
  • Turkish: -ebilmek tr(tr), -abilmek tr(tr)
  • Ukrainian: могти uk(uk) (mohtý), вміти uk(uk) (vmíty) / уміти uk(uk) (umíty)
  • Urdu: سکنا ur(ur) (saknā)
  • Vietnamese: có thể vi(vi), được vi(vi)
  • Welsh: gallu cy(cy), medru cy(cy)
may
  • Icelandic: mega is(is)
  • Italian: potere it(it)
  • Macedonian: може mk(mk) (móže)
  • Malay: boleh ms(ms)
  • Maltese: forsi mt(mt)
  • Norwegian: kunne no(no)
  • Persian: توانستن fa(fa) (tavânestan), امکان داشتن fa(fa)
  • Polish: móc pl(pl)
  • Portuguese: poder pt(pt)
  • Russian: мочь ro(ro) (moč’)
  • Scottish Gaelic: faod gd(gd)
  • Slovene: smeti sl(sl)
  • Swedish: kunna sv(sv)
  • Thai: ย่อม th(th) (yôm)
  • Turkish: -ebilmek tr(tr), -abilmek tr(tr)
  • Urdu: سکنا ur(ur) (saknā)
  • Vietnamese: có thể vi(vi), có lẽ vi(vi)
  • Welsh: cael cy(cy)
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
  • Kurdish: kanîn, karîn, şên, şiyan, tiwanîn
  • Occitan: poder
  • Persian: توانستن (tavânestan)
  • Romanian: putea
  • Romansch: pudair
  • Turkish: -bil- (verbal infix)
  • Ukrainian: могти (mókhti)

Etymology 2

Middle English < Old English canne (“glass, container, cup”).

Pronunciation

Noun

a can (3)

can (plural cans)

  1. A more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids, usually of steel or aluminium.
  2. A container used to carry and dispense water for plants (a watering can).
  3. A tin-plate canister, often cylindrical, for preserved foods such as fruit, meat, or fish.
  4. (US, slang) toilet, bathroom.
  5. (US, slang) buttocks.
  6. (slang) headphones
Synonyms
Derived terms
Terms derived from the noun "can"
Translations
a more or less cylindrical vessel for liquids
  • Bulgarian: гюм bg(bg) m.
  • Catalan: llauna ca(ca) f.
  • Chinese: 罐頭, 罐头 (guàn tóu)
  • Czech: plechovka cs(cs) f.
  • Danish: dåse da(da)
  • Dutch: kan nl(nl) f.
  • Esperanto: ladskatolo eo(eo)
  • Finnish: purkki fi(fi)
  • French: bidon fr(fr) m., canette fr(fr) f.
  • German: Dose de(de) f., Kanister de(de) m.
  • Icelandic: dós is(is) f.
  • Indonesian: kaleng id(id)
  • Italian: lattina it(it) f.
  • Japanese: 缶 (かん, kan)
  • Kurdish:
    Sorani: قوتو ku(ku) (qutu), ته‌نه‌که‌ ku(ku) (tanaka)
  • Macedonian: лименка mk(mk) (límenka) f.
  • Malay: tin ms(ms)
  • Norwegian: boks no(no) m., kanne no(no) c.
  • Polish: puszka pl(pl) f.
  • Portuguese: lata pt(pt) f.
  • Russian: бидон ru(ru) (bidón) m.
  • Scottish Gaelic: cana gd(gd) m.
  • Slovene: pločevinka sl(sl) f.
  • Spanish: lata es(es) f.
  • Swedish: burk sv(sv) c.
  • Thai: กระป๋อง (grà-bpŏng)
  • Turkish: kutu tr(tr), konserve tr(tr)
  • Welsh: can cy(cy) m.
a container used to carry and dispense water for plants
  • Japanese: 缶 (かん, kan)
  • Macedonian: канта mk(mk) (kánta) f., кофа mk(mk) (kófa) f.
  • Norwegian: kanne no(no) c.
  • Polish: wiadro pl(pl) n., kubeł pl(pl) m.
  • Portuguese: regador pt(pt) m.
  • Russian: лейка ru(ru) (l'éjka) f.
  • Slovene: škropilnica f.
  • Swedish: vattenkanna sv(sv) c., kanna sv(sv) c.
  • Thai: กระป๋องรดน้ำ (grà-bpŏng rót náam)
a tin-plate canister
  • Bulgarian: консервна кутия bg(bg)
  • Chinese: 金屬 容器, 金属 容器 (jīn shǔ róng qì)
  • Czech: konzerva cs(cs) f.
  • Danish: dåse da(da)
  • Dutch: conservenblik nl(nl) n.
  • Esperanto: ladskatolo eo(eo)
  • Finnish: säilyketölkki fi(fi)
  • French: boîte de conserve fr(fr) f.
  • German: Dose de(de) f., Konservendose de(de) f.
  • Greek: κονσέρβα el(el) (konsérva) f.
  • Hebrew: קופסת שימורים he(he) (qufsát shimurím) f.
  • Italian: scatoletta it(it) f.
  • Kurdish:
    Sorani: قوتو ku(ku) (qutu), ته‌نه‌که‌ ku(ku) (tanaka)
  • Macedonian: конзерва mk(mk) (konzérva) f.
  • Malay: tin ms(ms)
  • Norwegian: boks no(no) m., hermetikkboks no(no) m.
  • Polish: kanka f., kanister m.
  • Portuguese: lata pt(pt) f.
  • Russian: консервная банка ru(ru) (kons'érvnaja bánka) f.
  • Scottish Gaelic: cana gd(gd) m.
  • Slovene: pločevinka f., konzerva f. (informal)
  • Spanish: lata es(es) f.
  • Swedish: konservburk sv(sv) c., konserv sv(sv) c.
  • Thai: กระป๋อง (grà-bpŏng)
toilet
  • Bulgarian: тоалетна чиния bg(bg)
  • Chinese: 廁所, 厕所 (cè suǒ)
  • Danish: toilet da(da)
  • Dutch: toilet nl(nl) n.
  • Esperanto: necesejo eo(eo), pispoto eo(eo)
  • Finnish: vessa fi(fi)
  • French: WC fr(fr) m.
  • German: Toilette de(de) f., WC de(de) n., Klo de(de) n.
  • Hebrew: שירותים (shirutym) m. pl., בית שימוש (beit shimush) m.
  • Malay: tandas ms(ms)
  • Norwegian: toalett no(no) n., do(-skål) no(no) m.
  • Polish: ubikacja pl(pl) f.
  • Thai: ส้วม (sûam)
buttocks
  • Chinese: 屁股, 屁股 (pì gǔ)
  • Danish: balder da(da)
  • Esperanto: pugo eo(eo)
  • Finnish: takamus fi(fi) n.
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
  • Korean: 깡통 (kkangtong)

Verb

to can (third-person singular simple present cans, present participle canning, simple past and past participle canned)

  1. To preserve, by heating and sealing in a can or jar.
    They spent August canning fruit and vegetables.
  2. to discard, scrap or terminate (an idea, project, etc.).
    He canned the whole project because he thought it would fail.
  3. To shut up.
    Can your gob.
  4. (US, euphemism) To fire or dismiss an employee.
    The boss canned him for speaking out.
Translations
to preserve
  • German: einmachen de(de)
  • Greek: κονσερβοποιώ el(el) (konservopoió)
  • Macedonian: конзервира mk(mk) (konzervíra)
  • Malay: mengetinkan ms(ms)
  • Russian: консервировать (konservírovat’)
  • Slovene: konzervirati
  • Spanish: enlatar es(es)
  • Swedish: konservera sv(sv), lägga in sv(sv)
to discard
  • Bulgarian: захвърлям bg(bg)
  • Chinese: 丟棄, 丢弃 (diū qì)
  • Danish: smide ud
  • Dutch: afvoeren nl(nl)
  • French: jeter fr(fr)
  • German: abbrechen de(de)
  • Slovene: odvreči, zavreči
  • Spanish: descartar es(es)
  • Thai: ทิ้ง th(th) (tíng)
to shut up
  • Hebrew: סתם he(he) (satám)
  • Italian: tacere it(it)
  • Slovene: utihniti
  • Spanish: cerrar es(es)
  • Swedish: stänga igen sv(sv), knipa igen sv(sv)
  • Thai: เย็บปาก (yép-bpàak)
to fire or dismiss an employee
  • Bulgarian: уволнявам bg(bg)
  • Chinese: 解雇, 解雇 (jiě gù)
  • Danish: afskedige, fyre
  • Esperanto: maldungi eo(eo)
  • German: kündigen de(de), feuern de(de), rausschmeißen de(de)
  • Hebrew: פיטר he(he) (pitér)
  • Italian: licenziare it(it)
  • Malay: pecat ms(ms)
  • Slovene: odpustiti
  • Spanish: echar es(es)
  • Swedish: sparka sv(sv), kicka sv(sv)
  • Thai: ปลด (bplòt)

Anagrams

Afar

Noun

can

  1. milk

Azeri

Etymology

From Persian جان (jân, “soul, vital spirit, life”), whence also Turkish can and Armenian ջան (ǰan).

Noun

can (Cyrillic spelling ҹан)

  1. soul, spirit
  2. being, creature, life
  3. body
  4. force, vigour

Classical Nahuatl

Pronunciation

Adverb

cān

  1. Where.

Derived terms

Galician

Etymology

From Latin canis.

Noun

can m. (plural cans)

  1. dog

Related terms

Interlingua

Noun

can (plural canes)

  1. dog
  2. cock, hammer (of a firearm)

Irish

Pronunciation

Verb

can

  1. To sing.

Inflection

First Conjugation (A)
singular plural autonomous
first second third first second third
indicative present canaim canann tú; canair† canann sé, sí canaimid canann sibh canann siad; canaid† cantar
past chan mé; chanas† chan tú; chanais† chan sé, sí chanamar chan sibh; chanabhair† chan siad; chanadar† canadh
future canfaidh mé; canfad† canfaidh tú; canfair† canfaidh sé, sí canfaimid; canfam† canfaidh sibh canfaidh siad; canfaid† canfar
past habitual chanainn chantá chanadh sé, sí chanaimis chanadh sibh chanaidís chantaí
imperative canaim can canadh sé, sí canaimis canaigí canaidís cantar
conditional chanfainn chanfá chanfadh sé, sí chanfaimis chanfadh sibh chanfaidís chanfaí
subjunctive present cana mé; canad† cana tú; canair† cana sé, sí canaimid cana sibh cana siad; canaid† cantar
past canainn cantá canadh sé, sí canaimis canadh sibh canaidís cantaí
verbal noun canadh
past participle canta

† Dialect form

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
can chan gcan
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Italian

Noun

can m. (plural cani)

  1. (poetic and literary form of cane) dog

Mandarin

Pinyin syllable

can

  1. Nonstandard spelling of cān.
  2. Nonstandard spelling of cán.
  3. Nonstandard spelling of cǎn.
  4. Nonstandard spelling of càn.

Usage notes

English transcriptions of Chinese speech often fail to distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Chinese language, using words such as this one without the appropriate indication of tone.

Occitan

Noun

can m. (plural cans)

  1. dog, hound

Scots

Verb

can

  1. can
  2. be able to
    He shuid can dae that- He should be able to do that

Scottish Gaelic

Verb

can (present participle form cantainn)

  1. say

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin canis. Compare Aromanian cãne, Portuguese cão.

Noun

can m. (plural canes)

  1. dog, hound

See also

Turkish

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Persian جان (jân, “soul, vital spirit, life”).

Noun

can (definite accusative canı, plural canlar)

  1. soul, life, being
  2. sweetheart

Declension

declension of can
singular (tekil) plural (çoğul)
nominative (yalın) can canlar
definite accusative (belirtme) canı canları
dative (yönelme) cana canlara
locative (bulunma) canda canlarda
ablative (çıkma) candan canlardan
genitive (tamlayan) canın canların

See also

Welsh

Adjective

can

  1. bleached, white
  2. hundred

Noun

can m. (plural caniau)

  1. a can
  2. flour

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal aspirate
can gan nghan chan

See also

References

 

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