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
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