Commonly Used Vocabulary Shortcuts in Spoken English

English, like any living language, is dynamic and constantly evolving. One aspect of its evolution involves the emergence of informal or colloquial expressions that provide convenient shortcuts in both vocabulary and grammar.

This article explores a range of such shortcuts commonly used in spoken English.

Vocabulary Shortcuts:

1. Gonna -> Going to
Example: “I’m gonna talk to him.” – Meaning: “I’m going to talk to him.”
Example: “We’re gonna win this game.” – Meaning: “We are going to win this game.”

2. Gotta -> Got to -> Have to
Example: “I gotta go now.” – Meaning: “I have to go now.”
Example: “You gotta be careful.” – Meaning: “You have to be careful.”

3. Wanna -> Want to
Example: “I wanna hold your hand.” – Meaning: “I want to hold your hand.”

4. Lemme -> Let me
Example: “Lemme ask you something.” – Meaning: “Let me ask you something.”
Example: “Lemme call you back.” – Meaning: “Let me call you back.”

5. Gimme -> Give me
Example: “Gimme a break.” – Meaning: “Give me a break.”
Example: “Gimme some money!” – Meaning: “Give me some money!”

6. Outta -> Out of
Example: “We’d better get outta here!” – Meaning: “We’d better get out of here.”
Example: “Get outta my way!” – Meaning: “Get out of my way!”

7. Kinda -> Kind of
Example: “I think it’s kinda funny.” – Meaning: “I think it’s kind of funny.”
Example: “What kinda music do you like?” – Meaning: “What kind of music do you like?”

8. Imma -> I am going to
Example: “Imma talk to him.” – Meaning: “I am going to talk to him.”

9. Hafta -> Have to, must
Example: “I hafta go now. I’ll talk to you later.” – Meaning: “I have to go now. I’ll talk to you later.”

10. Oughta -> Ought to
Example: “It’s too late. I oughta back home right now.” – Meaning: “It’s too late. I ought to go back home right now.”

11. Shoulda -> Should have
Example: “You shoulda done it.” – Meaning: “You should have done it.”

12. Dunno -> Don’t know/Doesn’t know
Example: “I dunno what to say.” – Meaning: “I don’t know what to say.”

13. Nope/Nah/Naa -> No
Example: “Nope, I’m not going. I’ll be here more.” – Meaning: “No, I’m not going. I’ll be here more.”

14. Betcha -> Bet you
Example: “I betcha this movie is a good one, lemme buy a ticket.” – Meaning: “I bet you this movie is a good one, let me buy a ticket.”

15. Lotsa -> Lots of
Example: “There are lotsa chicks right there.” – Meaning: “There are lots of chicks right there.”

16. Lotta -> Lot of
Example: “I saw a lotta courage out there, and a lotta hard work.” – Meaning: “I saw a lot of courage out there, and a lot of hard work.”

Understanding these shortcuts can be beneficial for comprehending informal spoken English and can even be used in casual writing or dialogue, depending on the context.

However, it’s essential to be aware of the appropriate situations for their usage and to maintain standard grammar and vocabulary in formal or academic settings.

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