Daily English speaking is different from the English you read in books. Daily English conversation requires you to speak naturally. Most native English speakers make use of contractions in their spoken English. As a beginner in English, it sometimes becomes difficult to understand these contractions in English. This English lesson will cover commonly use informal English contractions with their correct English pronunciation and example sentence to help you speak English fluently with a natural flow.
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Complete lesson transcript
Informal contractions, Informal contractions are short forms that people use when speaking casually. They make conversations sound more natural and fluent. English is a language of expressions. We don’t speak English, the way it’s written in books. Spoken English must have a natural flow. Now, informal contractions are not exactly slang words, but they are a little like slang. They are normally used when speaking fast and casually, for example with friends, family and colleagues.
In this English lesson we will look at 40 commonly used informal contractions to sound more natural in English conversations. I am Sara, Your English coach. If you are new to the channel, like, share, subscribe and click the bell to get notified for my new English lessons. Let’s get started.
Here’s the first one Ain’t, Ain’t is the contacted form of Am not, are not and is not
She ain’t hungry.
He ain’t coming to the party. Ain’t
Ain’t could also be used instead of Has not and have not
He ain’t done it yet.
Ain’t you ready, we’re getting late?
Wanna, wanna means Want to
I wanna go home.
Do you wanna come with me? Wanna.
Wanna can also be used instead of Want a
I wanna coffee.
I wanna buy a new phone.
Whatcha, Whatcha, is the contracted form of ‘What have you’
What have you got there changes to – Whatcha got there? Whatcha got there?
Next up is Kinda which means Kind of
Alice’s kinda cute.
It’s kinda complicated to explain. Kinda.
Sorta, sorta stands for Sort of
She’s sorta worried.
I didn’t know you liked that sorta thing. Sorta.
Here’s the next one Outta, Outta means Out of
I’m outta money.
I’m sorry we’re outta stock.
Up next is Alotta, Alotta which means – A lot of
I eat alotta chocolate.
I have alotta free time today. Let’s hangout.
Next contraction is quite similar to the previous one Lotsa, Lotsa stands for Lots of
He has lotsa money.
You have lotsa nerve to say that. Which mean you have lots of guts to say that.
Mucha, Mucha is the contracted form ‘Much of’
It’s not mucha a surprise, is it?
There’s so much noise in here. Mucha.
Cuppa, cuppa, It means a cup of tea. In fact you find this word in the modern dictionary, It’s an informal British way to say ‘a cup of tea’. I use it quite often. cuppa.
Where’s my cuppa.
Hmmm. I need a cuppa!
Would you like a cuppa? Cuppa.
I don’t know, can be contracted to dunno, dunno
I dunno where is it kept.
I dunno how to cook.
You dunno? Surprising!
Lemme, lemme- it’s the contracted form of Let me.
Lemme help you with that.
Lemme figure that out.
Lemme take a look at that. Lemme.
Here’s another one Gimme, gimme means Give me. Gimme, (laughs) sounds like someone’s name, isn’t it? Gimme.
Gimme the book!
Gimme some sauce.
Stop staring and Gimme a hand.
Tell’em, means Tell them, Tell’em
You should tell’em the truth.
Tell’em to be there at 8 in the morning.
Cos, some people even say Cuz , it’s the shortened form of Because
I’m late cos, I missed my bus.
We failed cuz we didn’t study.
Innit? Innit? It’s the contracted form of Isn’t it? It’s a question tag used to confirm something.
It’s blue, innit?
You are leaving tomorrow, innit?
I’mma , it’s commonly used instead of – I’m going to, I’mma
I’mma talk to the boss.
I’mma take a flight to London. I’mma
Another common contraction is Gonna, which means Going to
I’m gonna call you tonight.
I’m gonna meet Ava for lunch.
Needa, Needa stands for Need to, Needa
You needa learn this computer application.
I needa take a new job.
Hafta, Hafta means, Have to
We hafta go to the market.
I hafta learn English.
Similarly, Instead of ‘Has to’ you can say – Hasta, Hasta
John hasta work this weekend. Hasta
Next up is Usta means Used to, Usta.
She usta live in NewYork.
I usta ride a bike. Usta.
Gotta means Got to,
I gotta complete this presentation. Gotta.
Gotta could also mean ‘Got a’
Have you gotta phone?
You can replace You with Ya
I miss ya.
Why don’t ya come over for dinner?
Here’s the next contraction – , shoulda – Stands for – Should have
You shoulda called me before coming.
Shouldna , stands for – Shouldn’t have
Similarly, Wouldna Which stands for Wouldn’t have
I wouldna done that, if I were you.
Here’s the next one – She’da which means, She would have
She’da been prepared for test.
Coulda stands for Could have
He coulda taken that job.
I coulda studied well.
Similarly Woulda mean Would have, woulda.
He woulda arrived soon by car.
He woulda married her.
Mighta, mighta stands for, Might have
You mighta left your phone at the airport.
You mighta bought that car.
Next up is Musta which means Must have
She musta been in a hurry.
You musta been careful.
Dontcha stands for Don’t you, dontcha
Dontcha see it?
I warn, dontcha do it!
And Wontcha means Won’t you
Wontcha come to the party?
Wontcha eat a burger?
Whatcha , Whatcha means – What are you
Whatcha doing?
Watcha upto?
Gotcha, Gotcha means Got you
I gotcha!
D’you is the contraction for Do you
D’you like him?
D’you like cuppa?
Didntcha stands for Didn’t you
Didntcha like this movie?
Here’s the next one Dija, dija, which means Did you
Dija do it?
Dija pay the bills?
Layder, Layder it means Later
See ya layder.
Or you could simply say Layder, instead of saying Good bye.
Cmon C’mon, Instead of saying Come on as two separate words you can say C’mon
Cmon, let’s do it together!
That’s all for today, I hope you liked today’s lesson. Use these contractions to speak English naturally. I will see you soon with another English lesson, until then. Keep learning, Keep practicing English Bye.
