Contents
Understanding common informal contractions can help you sound more fluent in English. This reference covers a list of 50 informal contractions with examples. You can access more information about these contractions, including how they look in everyday speech, through pictures and examples. This guide aims to make your speech more natural and native-like.
Informal Contractions
Informal contractions are shortened forms of words or phrases often used in casual spoken or written English. They simplify communication but are less appropriate for formal contexts.
Usage:
- Casual Conversations: Common in everyday speech, text messages, or informal emails.
- Not Suitable for Formal Writing: Avoid using these in academic, professional, or official settings.
Informal contractions are widely understood but can sound overly casual or even unprofessional in certain settings. They are commonly used in songs, dialogues, and informal writing to reflect natural speech patterns.
Common Informal Contractions
Ain’t = Am not/are not/is not
- Example: She ain’t hungry.
Ain’t = Has not/have not
- E.g. He ain’t done it yet.
Wanna = Want to
- E.g. I wanna go home.
Wanna = Want a
- E.g. I wanna coffee.
Whatcha = What have you
- E.g. Whatcha got there?
Kinda = Kind of
- E.g. Anna’s kinda cute.
Sorta = Sort of
- E.g. She’s sorta tired.
Outta = Out of
- E.g. I’m outta money.
Alotta = A lot of
- E.g. I eat alotta chocolate.
Lotsa = Lots of
- E.g. He has lotsa money.
Mucha = Much of
- E.g. It’s not mucha a surprise, is it?
Cuppa = Cup of
- E.g. Would you like a cuppa tea?
Dunno = Don’t know
- E.g. I dunno.
Lemme = Let me
- E.g. Lemme see!
Gimme = Give me
- E.g. Gimme the book!
Tell’em = Tell them
- E.g. We should tell’em the truth.
Cos = Because
- E.g. I cry cos I’m in pain.
Innit? = Isn’t it?
- E.g. It’s blue, innit?
I’mma = I’m going to
- E.g. I’mma talk to my mother.
Gonna = Going to
- E.g. I’m gonna tell you the truth.
Needa = Need to
- E.g. You needa know about Jame.
Oughta = Ought to
- E.g. You oughta phone your brother.
Hafta = Have to
- E.g. We hafta go.
Hasta = Has to
- E.g. John hasta work today.
Usta = Used to
- E.g. She usta live in France.
Supposta = Supposed to
- E.g. I’m supposta start a new job on Monday.
Gotta = Got to
- E.g. You’ve gotta go.
Cmon = Come on
- E.g. Cmon, let’s do it together!
Ya = You/ you are
- E.g. I miss ya.
Gotta = (have) got a
- E.g. Have you gotta phone?
Shoulda = Should have
- E.g. She shoulda called yesterday.
Shouldna = Shouldn’t have
- E.g. I’m sorry, I shouldna told you that.
Wouldna = Wouldn’t have
- E.g. I wouldna done that if I were you.
She’da = She would have
- E.g. She’da been prepared for class.
Coulda = Could have
- E.g. He coulda been here by 5:00.
Woulda = Would have
- E.g. He woulda arrived soon.
Mighta = Might have
- E.g. You mighta left the book at the airport.
Mightna = Mightn’t have
- E.g. She mightna caught her train.
Musta = Must have
- E.g. She musta been in a hurry.
Mussna = Must not have
- E.g. You mussna stolen the money.
Dontcha = Don’t you
- E.g. Dontcha see it?
Wontcha = Won’t you
- E.g. Wontcha watch this film?
Whatcha = What are you
- E.g. Whatcha doing?
Betcha = Bet you
- E.g. Betcha can’t guess who she is!
Gotcha = Got you
- E.g. We gotcha!
D’you = Do you
- E.g. D’you like him?
Didntcha = Didn’t you
- E.g. Didntcha like this book?
Dija = Did you
- E.g. Did you do it?
S’more = Some more
- E.g. I will need s’more time.
Layder = Later
- E.g. See ya layder.
- 10 Rare Words for Expanding Your English Vocabulary - June 5, 2024
- What Does the Term “Hypocritical” Mean? - January 27, 2024
- SWAG Meaning, Origin and Examples - January 25, 2024