Dictionary

shouldn't en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˈʃʊdn̩t] (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• [ˈʃɵdn̩t] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ˈʃɵdənt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ˈʃʉdənt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• [ˈʃʊnʔ] (Yorkshire)
• [ˈʃʊdn̩t] ~ [ˈʃɵdn̩t] ~ [ˈʃɨ̞dn̩t] (New-Zealand)
• /ˈʃʊdənt/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˈʃʉdn̩t] (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /ˈʃʊdənt/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From should + -n't.

Meanings

1. (informal) Something that should not be done.
   • Being a list-o-maniac, I suggested we make a list of the "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts." So in the darkness of hazy sleep, I began to mentally prepare mine. The first item on the "should" side was easy: a sibling for our 3-year-old daughter. 2008, Working Mother, volume 31, number 8, page 20:

Forms

Relateds

couldn't · oughtn't · wouldn't

shouldn't en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˈʃʊdn̩t] (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio
• [ˈʃɵdn̩t] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ˈʃɵdənt/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /ˈʃʉdənt/ (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• [ˈʃʊnʔ] (Yorkshire)
• [ˈʃʊdn̩t] ~ [ˈʃɵdn̩t] ~ [ˈʃɨ̞dn̩t] (New-Zealand)
• /ˈʃʊdənt/ (Australia, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• [ˈʃʉdn̩t] (Northern-Ireland, Scotland)
• /ˈʃʊdənt/ (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From should + -n't.

Meanings

1. Should not (negative auxiliary)
   • I shouldn't be telling you all this. It'll make you angry. 1989 February 5, Colin Robinson, “You Dared Us To Dream That We Are Worth Wanting Each Other”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 29, page 8:

Coordinates

mayn't · couldn't · oughtn't · won't · mightn't · wouldn't · can't · shan't

Deriveds

shouldn't've

Translations (2)

mi kia kaua ... e (Should not) · pl nie powinien (Should not)