Strange use of the word “even”.

I can't even

It’s an intensifier. It’s a very normal, common use, and it does not violate any rule of grammar. So, you know, maybe try to get past this aversion?

See adverb: [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/even](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/even)

It's along the lines of abso-blooming-lutely. Just added for emphasis.

It's an intensifier. *What even is that?* = a more polite version of *What the hell is that?* *What the hell even is that?* = very intense

He said "what the hell is even that", to be clear

This is English's Germanic root popping up. Look into the use of "even" in Dutch. It's used in a similar way.

Bro do you even lift dictionaries to look at neologisms? I can't even with this. Even a child knows that coining new usages is even easier than sneezing.

it sounds completely normal to me. good, even.

As an old person, I'll point out that it's pretty new. That sentence would have sounded strange to me when I was young, and I would be surprised if some one older than I am said it. But it's normal for me now. I do think it evolved from, or co-evolved with "I can't even" which others have mentioned. Not that I'm a linguist, that's just the way I experienced the change.

The meme guy said it wrong, but all other uses are correct.

Holy fucking shit what in the deepest pits of raging hellfire even is that? God damn!

“It sounds so wrong.” No. It sounds very normal and is a common way to talk.