canst: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowArchaic, poetic, liturgical
Quick answer
What does “canst” mean?
Second person singular present form of 'can' (archaic).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Second person singular present form of 'can' (archaic).
Used in Early Modern English and poetic/religious contexts to mean 'you are able to' or 'you have permission to'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary regional differences; both treat it as equally archaic.
Connotations
Evokes Shakespearean English, King James Bible, or historical drama.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern usage; occasionally found in religious texts, historical reenactments, or poetic archaism.
Grammar
How to Use “canst” in a Sentence
thou canst + bare infinitivecanst thou + bare infinitive + ?Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canst” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Thou canst not serve God and mammon.
- How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me?
American English
- If thou canst believe, all things are possible.
- What canst thou do that I cannot?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literature studies.
Everyday
Not used except in deliberate archaism or humor.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canst”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “canst”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canst”
- Using with modern 'you' (e.g., 'you canst' is wrong).
- Using in modern contexts unironically.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is entirely archaic and only appears in historical, religious, or poetic contexts.
The modern equivalent is 'you can'.
No, unless you are deliberately writing in an archaic style (e.g., historical fiction, religious pastiche).
In Early Modern English, the second person singular verb form often took the suffix '-st' or '-est' (e.g., thou hast, thou dost, thou canst).
Second person singular present form of 'can' (archaic).
Canst: in British English it is pronounced /kænst/, and in American English it is pronounced /kænst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “What canst thou? (archaic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CAN + ST = 'Can' for ability, 'ST' for 'thou' (like 'thou art', 'thou hast').
Conceptual Metaphor
ABILITY IS POSSESSION (thou canst = thou hast ability).
Practice
Quiz
Which subject pronoun always accompanies 'canst'?