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LingakuLingaku[verb ます-stem] + 得ない（えない）
Note: Affirmative form 得る can be read える or うる, but 得ない is read えない (not ×うない).
得ない (えない) is a suffix attached to the verb stem (masu-stem) to express that something cannot happen or is not possible. It conveys a strong sense of impossibility – that something is unthinkable, inconceivable, or simply cannot occur. It is more literary and emphatic than simply saying 〜～できない.
The affirmative counterpart is 得る, which can be read as either える or うる. However, the negative form 得ない is almost always read as えない (not うない).
得ない attaches to the masu-stem (連用形) of a verb:
By far the most common usage of 得ない is the expression ありえないあり得ない (ありえない), meaning "impossible," "no way," or "unbelievable." It is used in both spoken and written Japanese, often as a standalone exclamation.
得ない emphasizes logical or inherent impossibility – something that simply cannot be the case given the circumstances. Compare this with 〜～できない, which focuses more on personal inability or lack of permission. 得ない is commonly found in written language, news, formal speech, and set expressions, though ありえない itself is very common in casual conversation as well.