If ain't ain't a word cause it ain't in the dictionary...?

Question

What is it?

Answer 1

Main Entry: ain't
Pronunciation: 'Ant
Etymology: contraction of are not
1 : am not : are not : is not
2 : have not : has not
3 : do not : does not : did not -- used in some varieties of Black English
usage Although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ain't in senses 1 and 2 is flourishing in American English. It is used in both speech and writing to catch attention and to gain emphasis . It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style . This informal ain't is commonly distinguished from habitual ain't by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases . In fiction ain't is used for purposes of characterization; in familiar correspondence it tends to be the mark of a warm personal friendship. It is also used for metrical reasons in popular songs

Answer 2

Let's pile on to the answers you already have....ain't is a word...the term usually used to describe it is "colloquialism" which means that while it is used in conversation (more widely in some settings than others), it's not considered proper to use in Standard English. It is a contraction of "am not," and up until the latter portions of the 19th Century, was considered a perfectly good word to use.

This is all probably redundant, but it's a deuce for my point total.

Answer 3

It is a word, but it is not standard English. However, when used as ain't=am not, it is judged to be illiterate in Britain, although some educated Americans use it in speech, particularly in the question form "ain't I?" For this, the British have preferred the illogical but well-established "aren't I?"

Answer 4

I found it in the dictionary online.

Ain't is a contraction originally just for "am not" and "are not", but now includes "is not", "has not", or "have not". In some dialects it is also used as a contraction of "do not", "does not", and "did not", as in I ain't know that. The word is a perennial issue in English usage.

Answer 5

It IS in the dictionary. Has been for years. But it "ain't" a word; it's a contraction.

Answer 6

Ah but it is in the dictionary it's just an improper word. LOL however I now a little riddle. If aint aint a word then I aint gonna say aint five times now aint that something?

Answer 7

"ain't" is slang for did/does not. It's not a word you should use in a report for your teacher, unless you want to get a D.

Answer 8

I ain't got no response. It just ain't no need to use.

Answer 9

i think ain't is a word cause everybody uses it on the regular basis nah mean...i dont know it whateva tho i guess!!!

Answer 10

Look it up; it is in the dictionary now. So, that excuse is no longer valid.