# gonna

/ˈɡɑnə/ (US) · /ɡˈənɐ/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Particle

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gonna
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

a short way of saying 'going to' when you talk about the future. You use it in casual speech or text messages with friends.

For teachers: a phonetic reduction of the phrase 'going to' when used as a semi-auxiliary to indicate future intent or inevitability. Restricted to informal registers and casual speech; generally avoided in formal writing except when transcribing dialogue.

## Examples

- I'm gonna see a movie tonight.
- If we don't leave the house right now, we're gonna miss the start of the show.
- While the speaker used formal vocabulary throughout the presentation, his frequent use of 'gonna' created a surprisingly casual atmosphere that put the audience at ease.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I'm gonna to go" but "I'm gonna go" — The word 'gonna' already includes the 'to' from 'going to', so adding another 'to' is redundant.

## Usage notes

- Used only before a base verb to indicate the future; it cannot replace 'going to' when 'to' is a preposition (e.g., 'I'm gonna the store' is incorrect).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.