In everyday speech, language takes on simplifications and the tendency for words to run together. This natural process often manifests itself as combination and contraction of words, causing a phrase such as "Would you like to go and get something to eat?" to sound a lot more like "'Don't'cha wanna get somthin' tweet?". This
tendency is often a major frustration for English language learners, as many of these apparent words (for example, wanna, gotta, or squeat) are often not listed in dictionaries and are almost never used in
formal written form, but are nonetheless essential for native comprehension. In addition, differences in dialects' pronunciation, not to mention vocabulary, often magnify this problem significantly.
This page is designed to be a reference database of relaxed pronunciations and
contractions, from the mundane and common to the esoteric (or just for fun).
Please enjoy!
Notes:
The complete list:
| A-Z | Phonetic Spelling | Definition / Origin / Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | a / uh | of / a | I'll have uh bag uh chips. |
| acoupla | a couple of | I have acoupla socks 'round here somewhere. | |
| ain't | am not / is not / are not / have not / has not | I ain't hungry. | |
| ain'tcha | are you not | Ain'tcha done yet? | |
| algo | I will go | Algo next. | |
| alotta | a lot of | I have alotta radishes, and nothin' to make with 'em. | |
| an' | and | Get me some bread an' milk. | |
| ...'an | ... than | n/a | |
| 'ardly | hardly | I can 'ardly understand what he's sayin'. | |
| ayatta | I ought to | Ayatta show him a thing or two. | |
| atom | at him / at them | Up and atom! | |
| awayzaway | a ways away | The last day of school is quite awayzaway, sadly. | |
| B | betcha | bet you | I betcha five bucks that paper airplane isn't gonna fly. |
| better'an | better than | Chocolate is better'an vanilla. | |
| bleev | believe | I bleev he'll be arrivin' soon. | |
| 'bout | about | 'Tis 'bout 3 o'clock. | |
| brudda | brother | He's m' brudda. | |
| C | can't | can not | I can't let you do that, Dave. |
| can'tcha | can you not | Can'tcha get me a glass of coffee? | |
| canna | can not | I canna take that class, I'm takin' underwater basket weaving at the same time! | |
| cara | care of | I take cara yo' car, you take cara my cat. | |
| certainly'd | certainly had | He certainly'd done that yesterday. | |
| cha | you | Cha can't do that! | |
| chillun | children | I'ma takin' the chillun to the zoo tomorrow. | |
| 'chother | each other | Y'all should help 'chother out. | |
| chu | [are] you | Wha' chu doin'? | |
| c'mere | come here | C'mere! | |
| c'mon | come on | C'mon over here! | |
| coulda | could have | I coulda done that backflip. | |
| couldna / couldn't've | could not have | You couldna possibly done it. | |
| couldn'ever | could not ever | You couldn'ever make it. | |
| couldn'it | could it not? | Couldn'it be done? | |
| couldn't | could not | I couldn't see it with all this fog. | |
| could've | could have | I could've won that race if I hadn'a hit that penny on the road. | |
| could'ja | could you | Could'ja 'splain it for me? | |
| crect | correct | I've gotta go crect some papers. | |
| 'cuz | because | 'Cuz it'd be cool, duh. | |
| D | d' | the | I'm in d' house. |
| ...'d | ... would / ... had | They'd better pick up the pace if they want to win the game! | |
| ...'da | ... would have | She'da come tonight if she wasn't so busy. | |
| da | the | They have da best of da best in hot dogs here. | |
| dat | that | Dat is fine. | |
| d'eck | ...the heck | What d'eck? | |
| dem | them | Dem dragonflies are huge! | |
| dent | did not | I dent crash the car. | |
| did'ja / didja | did you | Did'ja catch anythin'? | |
| didn't | did not | It didn't hurt. | |
| diff'rn't | different | That's diff'rn't than the other one. | |
| dis | this | Is dis all ya got? | |
| d'jeat | did you eat | D'jeat yet? | |
| d'jyava / jyhava | did you have a | D'jyava burger or a sandwich? | |
| 'drother | I'd rather | 'Drother be watchin' a movie. | |
| 'drothers / druthers | [What] I'd rather | If I had my 'drothers, I wouldn't be doin' chores. | |
| dodad | do, dad | What will you dodad? | |
| doin' | doing | How are ya doin'? | |
| don't'cha / don'tcha | do you not | Pretty cool, don't'cha think? | |
| dunnit | [has] done it / done it | That shoulda dunnit. | |
| dunno | do not know | I dunno. | |
| ...'d've | ... would have | n/a | |
| d'yava | do you have a | D'yava good time? | |
| E | 'er | her | Let 'er drift. |
| 'em | them | Get 'em! | |
| F | fi | if I | Fi was gonna choose, I'd go for the apple pie. |
| figrout | figure out | I'll figrout this puzzle soon. | |
| fulla | full of | You're fulla beans! | |
| fo' | for | Is dis fo' me? | |
| for'em | for them | I was just lookin' for'em. | |
| f'yno | if you know / if I know | F'yno how to do that problem, then just do it. | |
| G | g'bye / g'by | good bye | G'bye! |
| g'day | good day | G'day! | |
| gimme | give me | Gimme five! | |
| getcha / gitchu | get you | I'm gunna gitchu fo' dat! | |
| g'night | good night | G'night everybody! | |
| gotcha / gotchu / gotcher | got you / got your | I gotcha now! | |
| gotta | [have] got to / got a | Gotta go! | |
| gunna / gonna | going to | I'm gonna head over to the store, ya want anything? | |
| H | had'n'edn'edn'yet | had not even eaten yet | You had'n'edn'edn'yet? |
| hafta | have to | I hafta go soon. | |
| has'n'edn'edn'yet | has not even eaten yet | He has'n'edn'edn'yet? | |
| hava | have a | We hava few snacks inna trunk. | |
| havit | have it | D'ya havit here yet? | |
| hav'n'edn'edn'yet | have not even eaten yet | You hav'n'edn'edn'yet? | |
| hecka | heck of a | That's one hecka good painting! | |
| heckalota | heck of a lot of | That's a heckalota pizza! | |
| he'd | he would | He'd like that. | |
| he'd'a / he'd've | he would have | He'd've gone if they didn't sell outta tickets. | |
| here's | here is | Here's something that might work. | |
| he's | he is | He's fine. | |
| he'sn't | he is not | He'sn't in this class? | |
| hold'em | hold them | Hold'em for a bit while I unload the rest. | |
| how'ya / howaya | how are you | Howaya doin'? | |
| how're | how are | How're they all gonna fit in that truck? | |
| howzat | how is that | Howzat gonna work? | |
| I | I'd | I would | I'd order a parfait if it wasn't so expensive. |
| I'd've | I would have | I'd've gone if it was closer. | |
| I'laftabe | I will have to be | I'laftabe quicker'an you! | |
| I'll | I will | I'll do better'an you! | |
| 'im | him | Ain't gunna do any good for 'im. | |
| I'm | I am | I'm fine. | |
| Ima / Imana | I am [going to] | Ima see the dentist tomorrow. | |
| ...in' | ...ing | n/a | |
| inna | in a / in the | Look inna shop for it. | |
| initiate | and then she ate | First, she ate the corn, initiate the peas. | |
| isn't | is not | That isn't funny. | |
| it'll | it will | It'll be a sunny day. | |
| izzy | is he | Izzy good? | |
| J | jamaican | what'cha makin' | Jamaican? |
| jask | did you ask | Why jask? | |
| jin | [are] you in | Jin the bathroom? | |
| jlike | [did] you like | Jlike the movie? | |
| ju | do you / did you | Wha' ju want? | |
| K | 'k | o.k. | 'k |
| kinda | kind of | I'm feelin' kinda hungry. | |
| L | lemme | let me | Lemme use that! |
| letcha | let you | Why should I letcha borrow my car? | |
| let'er | let her | Let'er drift. | |
| ...'ll | ... will | n/a | |
| lotta | lot of | I have a lotta fish. | |
| M | m' | my | Yeah, this is m' car. |
| ma | mom | I'm home ma! | |
| m'boy | my boy | C'mere, m'boy. | |
| mighta | might have | I mighta been able to make that jump. | |
| mustn't | must not | You mustn't do that. | |
| N | 'n' | and | We need eggs 'n' milk. |
| 'net | internet | This is some cheap 'net access. | |
| 'neverything | and everything | We'll do, y'know, stuff 'neverything. | |
| 'night | good night | 'Night. | |
| 'nother | Another | There's 'nother rock. | |
| ...n't | ... not | n/a | |
| 'nuff | enough | That's 'nuff. | |
| O | o' | of | That's a big bag o' chips. |
| o'er | over | O'er the hills. | |
| offa | off of | Get offa me! | |
| o'icy | Oh, I see | O'icy, that's how it works. | |
| omina | I'm going to | Omina tell you somethin'. | |
| or'd | or did | He went right, or'd he go left? | |
| oughta | ought to | I oughta leave. | |
| outta / outa | out of | Get 'im outta here! | |
| P | pa | pop (dad) | I'm home pa. |
| 'post | supposed | What am I 'post to do? | |
| praps | perhaps | Praps that might work. | |
| prolly | probably | It'll prolly happen. | |
| Q | quicker'an | quicker than | You'laftabe quicker'an that! |
| R | ...'re | ... are | n/a |
| robbin' | robbing | Are ya robbin' me? | |
| S | ...'s | ... is | n/a |
| 'safternoon | this afternoon | Let's go sometime 'safternoon. | |
| 'salmost | is almost | That 'salmost enough. | |
| 'scuse | excuse | 'Scuse me. | |
| she'd | she would | She'd like that. | |
| she'd've | she would have | She'd've done better if she had the chance. | |
| she's | she is | She's really good at cello. | |
| she'sn't | she is not | She'sn't very good, is she? | |
| shoulda | should have | I shoulda bought it. | |
| shouldna / shouldn't've | should not have | I shouldna bought it. | |
| shouldn'ever | should not ever | You shouldn'ever play with matches. | |
| shouldn'it | should it not | Shouldn'it be fun? | |
| shouldn't | should not | I shouldn't eat too much. | |
| should've | should have | I should've seen that movie. | |
| should'ja | should you | Should'ja go now? | |
| 'sko | let us go | 'Sko to the store! | |
| smail | some mail | Just sending off smail here. | |
| s'mlunch | some lunch | Let's have s'mlunch. | |
| 'smornin' | this morning | Let's go sometime 'smornin'. | |
| snot | it is not | Snot too bad. | |
| 'snothin' | it is nothing | 'Snothin'. | |
| snow | is no / [There] is no | Snow way! | |
| s'nuff | is enough | That s'nuff. | |
| soda | sort of | It's soda good. | |
| soyacan | so you can | Soyacan watch anythin' ya want. | |
| somthin' / sumthin' | something | Let's get somthin' tweet. | |
| sorta | sort of | It's sorta good. | |
| 'splain | explain | Could'ja 'splain it for me? | |
| 'spossible | it is possible | 'Spossible that I could make it. | |
| squeat | let us go eat | Squeat right now! | |
| stuff's | stuff has / stuff is | This stuff's been real useful. | |
| summa | some of | Can I have summa that? | |
| 'sup | what is up? | 'Sup! | |
| swear | so, where... | Swear we goin'? | |
| switch | so, which... | Switch place do ya wanna eat at? | |
| synoption | [it's / that's] an option | Sandwiches for lunch? Synoption. | |
| T | t' / ta | to | I'm goin' t' the mall. |
| taka | take a | I wanna taka shower. | |
| 'tar | what are | 'Tar you doin'? | |
| tater, taters | potato, potatoes | I'll have some baked taters. | |
| t'day | today | I'm goin' there t'day. | |
| telpu | to help you | That won't do much telpu. | |
| temp | temperature | What's the temp like? | |
| 'tever | whatever | 'Tever. | |
| there'd | there would | If there'd be something we want there, we might go. | |
| there's | there is | There's nothing there. | |
| they're | they are | They're here! | |
| this'll | this will | This'll do it. | |
| 'tis | it is | 'Tis good. | |
| 'tisn't | it is not | 'Tisn't good. | |
| told'ja / toleja / toldja | told you | I toldja hot sauce and oatmeal wouldn't work together. | |
| to've | to have | I'd like to've been there. | |
| tryna | [are] trying to | You tryna rip me off? | |
| tseasy | it is easy | Tseasy to find food here. | |
| tsnot | it is not | Tsnot very fun. | |
| 'twas | it was | 'Twas the night before Christmas. | |
| 'twasn't | it was not | 'Twasn't the right thing to do. | |
| tweet | to eat | Let's get somthin' tweet. | |
| t'yer | to your | The bathroom is t'yer left. | |
| U | uh / a | of / a | I'll have uh bag uh chips. |
| W | wait'll | wait, will | Wait'll that do it? |
| w'all | we all | W'all better go and help 'im. | |
| wanna / wannu | want to | I wanna work out at the gym today. | |
| wassamatta / whazzamatta | what is the matter? | Wassamatta wit'chu? | |
| wasson | what is on? | Wasson the TV? | |
| wassup | what is up? | Whassup, man? | |
| wat'chout | Watch out! | Wat'chout for that piano! | |
| weren't | were not / was not | And that weren't the biggest of 'em. | |
| whaddya / wuddaya | what do you | Whaddya think? | |
| whatchamacallit / wuddayacallit | what you may call it / what do you call it | Use the whatchamacallit. | |
| whataya | what are you | Whataya doin'? | |
| whatchu / whatcha | what do you / what are you | Whatchu think? | |
| what'd | what did | What'd that do? | |
| what'll | what will | What'll that do? | |
| what're | what are | What're those? | |
| what's | what is | What's that? | |
| what'sa | what is the / what is a | What'sa problem here? | |
| whatta | what do | Whatta ya think? | |
| whenaya | when are you | Whenaya gettin' home? | |
| whenja | when [did] you | Whenja get home? | |
| where'd | where did | Where'd ya go? | |
| where're | where are | Where're they? | |
| whodathunkit | who would have thought it | Whodathunkit that the butler did it? | |
| whodunit / whodunnit | who has done it / who did it | Whodunit? | |
| whosure | who is your | Whosure daddy? | |
| widjadidja / wijyadidja | with you, did you | You didn't bring your truck wijyadidja? | |
| willya | will you | Willya let me borrow yo' car? | |
| winta | went to | I winta get some food. | |
| wit'chu / witchu | with you | I'm wit'chu. | |
| wanna / wonna | want to | I wanna get some ice cream after the movie. | |
| won't | will not | I won't eat that burger. | |
| woulda | would have | I woulda done it. | |
| wouldna / wouldn't've | would not have | I wouldna noticed that! | |
| wouldn'ever | would not ever | I wouldn'ever think about it! | |
| wouldn'it | would it not? | Wouldn'it be a good idea? | |
| wouldn't | would not | I wouldn't mind. | |
| would've | would have | I would've eaten it. | |
| wud'ja / wudja | what did you | Wud'ja do this weekend? | |
| wuzzat / wuzat | what is that? | Wuzzat for? | |
| wuzzis / wuzis | what is this? | Wuzsis for? | |
| wuwuzat | what was that? | Wuwuzat??? | |
| wuwuzis | what was this? | Wuwuzis about? | |
| Y | ya | you | Ya doin' good? |
| y'ald've | you all would have | Y'ald've done better if y'all practiced more. | |
| y'all | you all | Y'all coming? | |
| y'almost | you almost | Y'almost hit that car! | |
| y'also | you also | Y'also think we need some duct tape? | |
| yar | you are | You think y'ar done, but y'arn't. | |
| yarn't | you are not | Y'arn't layin' a hand on that pirate booty. | |
| y'awake | [are] you awake | Y'awake yet? | |
| y'end | you end | Y'end this now. | |
| yer | your | Is dat yer truck? | |
| yino / yieno | yeah, I know | Yieno. | |
| yin | you in | Yin there? | |
| yit | you it | I'll give yit. | |
| y'know | you know | It's like, basically, y'know. | |
| yo' | your | Is dat yo' bike? | |
| y'off | you off | Y'off the phone yet? | |
| y'ont | you want | Y'ont some juice? | |
| yotta | you ought to | Yotta call your friend. | |
| you'laftabe | you will have to be | You'laftabe quicker'an that! | |
| you'll | you will | You'll want all of these geese? | |
| young'ns | young ones | Get those young'ns over there. | |
| you'ns | you [all] | You'ns better get over here! | |
| you're | you are | You're in the house. | |
| yoosta / yousta / usta | used to | I yoosta be good at golf. | |
| yout | you out | That'ill help yout. | |
| y'see | you see | Y'see anythin'? | |
| y'go | you go | Y'go over there. | |
| y'understand | you understand | Y'understand? | |
| y'up | you up | Y'up there? | |
| Z | zit | is it | Zit good? |
Have you heard another contraction that isn't
listed here? Have you seen one used? Did you or your friends just make one up?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you can Submit a Contraction by e-mailing me at and write "I have a new contraction!" as the subject!