# can

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkæn/ · frequency rank #39

## Definitions
1. To know how to.
2. To be able to.
3. May; to be permitted or enabled to.
4. To have the potential to; to be possible for (someone or something) to.
5. Used to form requests, typically polite.
6. To know.
7. To be (followed by a word like able, possible, allowed). third-person singular simple present indicative of can
8. To be able to or know how to (do something); an accompanying verb is not required if it is already inferable from context.
9. To be fine or acceptable; to be possible; (with liao or already) to be enough. Often used in conjunction with a variety of clause-final particles, e.g., lah, meh or one, to express different attitudes towards the subject matter.

## Etymology
From Middle English can, first and third person singular of connen, cunnen (“to be able, know how”), from Old English can(n), first and third person singular of cunnan (“to know how”), from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan, from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (whence also know). Doublet of con. See also: canny, cunning.

## Easily confused with
- **co** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-co)
- **CD** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cd)
- **CM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cm)
- **CC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cc)
- **CT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-ct)
- **CR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cr)
- **ch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-ch)
- **cs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cs)
- **Cl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cl)
- **CE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-ce)
- **cp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cp)
- **CB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cb)
- **CV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cv)
- **CU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cu)
- **CW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cw)
- **ci** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-ci)
- **CJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cj)
- **CG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cg)
- **CX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cx)
- **cz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-vs-cz)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/can