Didn't Meaning in English

word · lemma: do not

US

/ˈdɪdən/, /ˈdɪdənt/, /ˈdɪdnt/, /ˈdɪnt/

DID-nt, DID-uhnt, DID-nt, DINT

UK

/ˈdɪdnt/

DID-nt

Definition

'Didn't' is the contraction of 'did not' and is used to make negative sentences in the past tense.

Usage & Nuances

Used in informal and formal English. Always follows the auxiliary 'did' for past negative. Commonly confused with 'doesn't' (present tense). It's a contraction, so it's more common in speech and casual writing.

• Spanish: no (pasado de 'hacer' en negación)
• Portuguese (BR): não (pasado de 'fazer' en negación)
• Portuguese (PT): não (pretérito negativo de 'fazer')
• Chinese (Simplified): 没 (do 的否定过去式)
• Chinese (Traditional): 沒 (do 的否定過去式)
• Hindi: नहीं किया (do का नकारात्मक भूतकाल)
• Arabic: لم (النفي الماضي للفعل 'do')
• Bengali: করিনি - হয়নি
• Russian: не
• Japanese: しなかった
• Vietnamese: không - đã không
• Korean: 않았다
• Turkish: yapmadı
• Urdu: نہیں کیا
• Indonesian: tidak - tidaklah

Example Sentences

I didn't go to school yesterday.

basic

She didn't like the movie.

basic

We didn't finish our homework.

basic

I didn't think you'd come!

natural

She said she didn't know about the party.

natural

They didn't expect such a big crowd.

natural