Is ain't a word?

Answer 1

First of all, this word is in many dictionaries. Second, a dictionary is not supposed to tell us how to speak but to record how we speak--or write. Third, ain't has a venerable pedigree, originally starting out apparently as the correct and respectable way of saying amn't, a form that otherwise has no pronunciation, then presumably getting conflated with aren't (which is incidentally why many people use aren't for amn't, as in Aren't I?), and finally starting to get used even for isn't, which is the real mistake if there is one. As often happens, those who think they know what is and what is not correct and pretend to teach others are simply uninformed about the facts and spread their ignorance. On the other hand, the fact that ain't has come to have negative associations for most educated speakers of English means that the word has to be used very carefully. A simple rule of thumb is this: if you are someone who is otherwise respected and in particularly respected for how you use the language (say, a college professor or famous writer), you can use the word as you like. More than that, in England, clearly it used to be (maybe still is) a sign of belonging to the upper strata to not worry about idiot language "mavens" and schoolmasters and to use the word freely. I seem to recall that Dorothy Sayers has Lord Peter Wimsey, the fictional aristocractic detective, use this word all the time. If you are not one of these, though, then you have to be cautious. I.e., use it at your own risk. It incidentally is complete nonsense to claim that the word has anything to do with race as such: it has a respectable and long history of use among white as well as nonwhite speakers of English. Anyway, here you have an intro to both the scientific and the practical aspects of the whole problem of "correctness" in language.

Answer 2

Yep.

Although not the formal "isn't" or "aren't", it's a word. Words are what evolve and we use in our language and no one would have any doubt as to what "ain't" means. It may not be a Sunday-go-to-meeting word, but it's a word.

Answer 3

As my 5th grade teacher once said many many years ago...and i do quote.."ain't ain't a word and we ain't gonna use it" So that said...I ain't really sure...

Answer 4

Yes, it's being used by many English speakers in America, Ireland, Great Britian, and Australia and probably elsewhere. It's just a word that evolved. Get used to it....

Answer 5

my teacher used to always say"ain't,ain't a word,cause it ain't in the dictionary!!!hehe!

Answer 6

i think is a word that people use on the streets not a word in a dictionary or formal ways. its like gonna or cuz. words that we use in our everyday life. abbreviations

Answer 7

It's slang, not a formal word

Answer 8

technically it's not supposed to be a word but yes people still say it.....so It's kind of half and half

Answer 9

in some southern places it may be like south carolina.
but where i live. no one is saying stuff like that so no i dont think it is.

Answer 10

no it's a sentence....