aren't

American  

[ahrnt, ahr-uhnt] / ɑrnt, ˈɑr ənt /

1. contraction of are not.

2. contraction of am not (used interrogatively).

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aren't British  

/ ɑːnt /

contraction

1. are not

2. informal (used in interrogative sentences) am not

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Usage

The social unacceptability of ain't, the historical contraction of am not, has created a gap in the pattern of verbal contractions. I'm not, the alternative to I ain't, has no corresponding interrogative form except ain't I. In questions, ain't I is often avoided by the use of aren't I: I'm right, aren't I? Aren't I on the list? This aren't is simply a different outcome of the same historical development that yielded ain't, but the fact that it is spelled and pronounced like the contraction of are not (as in You are staying, aren't you? ) apparently gives it, for some, an acceptability that ain't lacks. The use of aren't I is objected to by others because a declarative counterpart, I aren't, does not exist. Many speakers, however, prefer aren't I to the uncontracted, rather formal am I not. See also ain't, contraction.

Etymology

Origin of aren't

As contraction of am not, a doublet of ain't (without raising of the vowel), spelling aren't by r-less speakers; ar was later substituted for the long a by speakers who regularly pronounce pre-consonantal r

Example Sentences

He added: "I'm not saying, of course, that there aren't very strong, legitimate views about the Middle East, about Gaza. We all have deep concerns about it."

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Detrick pointed out that prediction markets aren’t perfect.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

But the expected seductive pull of the film’s sleazy pulp is noticeably lacking, mostly because the writer-director’s bloody set pieces aren’t especially imaginative.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Longtime Nike executive Heidi O’Neill is set to take over in September, and investors aren’t happy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Perhaps they aren’t that bad, but they do smell awful when they’re cooked and it takes a lot of sugar to make high-bush cranberry jelly worth eating.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen