Language/English/Vocabulary/Slang-contractions
Although these slang contractions should never be used in written contexts, a lot of native speakers use them both in unformal or formal spoken situations.
For example, you will hear them in many movies and songs.
Therefore it's important to understand their use.
Here are the main ones. Feel free to complete this list by editing this wiki page.
gonna
Gonna = Going to
- I'm gonna go to the store to pick up some groceries = I'm going to go to the store to pick up some groceries.
wanna
Wanna = want to
- I wanna go out to eat tonight = I want to go out to eat tonight
gotta
Gotta = have got to
- I gotta go to bed soon, I'm tired. = I've got to go to bed soon, I'm tired.
shoulda
Shoulda is a slang contraction of "should have"
- I should have washed my car today = I shoulda washed my car today.
ain't
See: Language/English/Vocabulary/Meaning-of-ain't
kinda
Kinda is a slang contraction of "Kind of"
- I kind of like it = I kinda like it
lotta/alotta
Lotta is a slang contraction of "a lot of"
- There are a lot of things I need to do today = There's lotta things I need to today
sorta
Sorta is a slang contraction of "sort of"
- That's the sort of thing I don't like. = That's the sorta thing I don't like.
lemme
Lemme is a slang contraction of "let me"
- Let me put on my shoes first = Lemme put on my shoes first.
gimme
Gimme is a slang contraction of "give me"
- Give me another piece of cake! = Gimme another piece of cake!
whatcha
Whatcha is a slang contraction of "what are you"
- What are you doing today? = Whatcha doin' today?
dontcha
Dontcha is a slang contraction of "dontcha"
- Don't you have something better to do? = Dontcha have something better to do?
betcha
Betcha is a slang contraction of "bet you"
- I bet you can't beat me to the car! = I betcha can't beat me to the car!
cmon/c'mon
Cmon is a slang contraction of "come on"
- Come on! Stop teasing me! = C'mon! Stop teasing me!
dunno
Dunno is a slang contraction of "don't know"
- I don't know, sorry. = I dunno, sorry
s'pose
S'pose is a slang contraction of "suppose"
- I suppose so. = I s'pose so.
s'pect
S'pect is a slang contraction of "suspect"
- I suspect it is so. = I s'pect it is so.
innit
Innit is a slang contraction of "isn't it"
- Isn't it wonderful? = Innit wonderful?
y'all
Y'all is a slang contraction of "you all"
- Are you all comfortable? = Y'all comfortable?
fixin'
Fixin' is a slang contraction of "fixing"
- Are you fixing the door? = Are you fixin' the door?
- I'm fixing to die. = I'm fixin' to die.