Language/English/Vocabulary/Slang-contractions

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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

While, i fact, "wanna" usually means "I want to", it can (and does) on many occasions represent the phrase "I want a ___".

Also worth noting that "wanna" can apply to any type pronoun, i.e., "I wanna", "you wanna", "s/he wanna" - never mind that there is an "s" @ "s/he wants" --, "we wanna", and "they wanna". The "he/she wanna" is obviously even more "slangy" than the others, but then this should not come as a surprise to persons who "know" about English (American for sure and some other, e.g., London/UK) Black slang, in which the verb "to be" is utterly corrupted for lack of conjugation: I be, you be, he be, she be, we be, they be -- all of these are heard "on the streets" of America's urban (and not-so-urban) communities. Thus, the collapse of "He/she wants to/a" into "He/she wanna ...." should not be surprising.

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 "Don't you"

  • 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.

wood'nit

Wood'nit is a slang contraction of "wouldn't it"

  • Wouldn't it be nice to live forever? = Wood'nit be nice to live forever?

who'dja

Who'dja is a slang contraction of "who did you"

  • Who did you expect? = Who'dja expect?

whu'dja

Whu'dja is a slang contraction of "what did you"

  • What did you expect? = Whu'dja expect?

wher'dja

Wher'dja is a slang contraction of "where did you"

  • Where did you think we were going? = Wher'dja think we were going?

sintcha

Sintcha is a slang contraction of "Since you"

  • I've been sad since you left. = I've been sad sintcha left.

sentcha

Sentcha is a slang contraction of "Sent you"

  • I sent you the letter. = I sentcha the letter.

whu'mi

Whu'mi is a slang contraction of "What am I"

  • What am I going to do about him? = Whu'mi going to do about him?

bad'n

Bad'n is a slang contraction of "Bad one"

  • He's a bad one. = He's a bad'n.

f'sho

F'soh is a slang contraction of "For sure"

  • I ain't comin' and that's for sure. = I ain't comin' and that's f'sho.

wussup

Wussup is slang for "What's up."

  • What's up with you, Jerry? = Wussup with you, Jerry?

dint'cha

Dint'cha is a slang contraction of "Didn't you"

  • Didn't you have something better to do? = Dint'cha have something better to do?

wernt'cha

Wernt'cha is a slang contraction of "Weren't you"

  • Weren't you here yesterday? = Wernt'cha here yesterday?

'sawrite

'Sawrite is a slang contraction of "It's alright"

  • Tell her it's alright if she stays home. = Tell her 'sawrite if she stays home.

did'ja

Did'ja is a slang contraction of "did you"

  • Who did you expect? = Who did'ja expect?

whad'ja

Whad'ja is a slang contraction of "what did you"

  • What did you expect? = Whad'ja expect?

gotcha

(spelled the way it is often spoken) "got you"

  • "Gotcha (= caught you), you little thief!" she cried, as I tried to snatch a cookie from the table.

I'ma

I'm going to = I'm gonna

  • I'ma set you free

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