# canny

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈkæni/ · frequency rank #33,162

## Definitions
1. Careful, prudent, cautious.
2. Knowing, shrewd, astute.
3. Frugal, thrifty.
4. Friendly, pleasant, fair, agreeable; (sometimes) funny.
5. Gentle, quiet, steady.

## Etymology
Northern English dialect, from can (“to know”) ( + -y), from Middle English can, first and third person singular of cunnen, connen (“to be able, know how to”), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). Compare Scots canny, English cunny, Old English cann (“knowledge, assertion”). More at can, cunning.

## Easily confused with
- **CNN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cnn)
- **cay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cay)
- **cant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cant)
- **cans** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cans)
- **Cary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cary)
- **conn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-conn)
- **cuny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cuny)
- **carry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-carry)
- **canon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-canon)
- **Casey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-casey)
- **Carey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-carey)
- **Cindy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cindy)
- **Cathy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-cathy)
- **canoe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-canoe)
- **Carly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-carly)
- **corny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-corny)
- **Coney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-coney)
- **canto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-canto)
- **Carne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-carne)
- **crony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canny-vs-crony)

## Common misspellings (6)
`acnny`, `cannyy`, `cany`, `canyn`, `ccanny`, `cnany`

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