# gotta

/ˈɡɑtə/ (US) · /ɡˈɒtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gotta
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. must or have to

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal · American English

you use this when you need to do something or when something is necessary.

For teachers: an informal contraction of 'have got to', used to express obligation, necessity, or a strong recommendation.

- I've had a great time, but I gotta go home now before it gets too late.
- If we want to catch the last train, we gotta finish this meeting in the next five minutes.

Usage: Used as a semi-modal verb followed by the base form of a verb; it does not change form for person or tense.

Teaching tip: While very common in speech and pop culture, students should avoid using this in any formal writing or professional emails.

## Examples

- I gotta go now or I'll be late for work.
- You gotta try the pizza at that new place downtown; it is the best in the city.
- While the written report requires formal language, in the meeting he just said we gotta find a way to cut costs before the end of the quarter.

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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.