Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell wouldn't

hear it/'wʊdʌnt/verbSilent and tricky

What it means: Contraction of would not.

In a sentence: I wouldn't forget to brush my teeth before bed.

The part people get wrong

Watch for a silent l and a silent n. Often misspelled as wouldnt or would'nt.

Same family: will, would not, would've, couldn't, shouldn't. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: “Wouldn’t” is a contraction formed from “would” and “not,” a pattern that became common in English from the 17th century onward to make speech and writing faster and more informal. The word “would” itself goes back to Old English “wolde,” related to wanting or wishing.

Patterns it uses: Silent letters

Try spelling it

You will hear the word and a sentence. Type it and press Enter. Then four more words from the same level, so you know where you stand.

Words like this

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