# Ima

CEFR C2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ima
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a very informal way to say 'I am going to'. It is mostly used in texting or when speaking very quickly with friends.

For teachers: a contracted form of 'I am going to', representing a phonetic reduction of 'I'm gonna'. Highly informal and restricted to specific dialects or casual digital communication.

## Examples

- Ima head out now, see you later.
- If you don't start getting ready soon, ima leave without you.
- While common in casual speech and song lyrics, using 'ima' in a professional email would likely be seen as a sign of extreme informality or a lack of attention to register.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Ima to go to the store." but "Ima go to the store." — Like 'gonna', 'ima' already includes the sense of 'to' and is followed directly by the base verb.

## Usage notes

- Always followed by the base form of a verb; functions as a future-tense marker in casual speech.

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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.