# wanna

/ˈwɑnə/ (US) · /wˈɒnɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. want to

verb · CEFR A2 · Informal · American English

a casual way to say 'want to' when followed by another verb.

For teachers: A colloquial contraction of 'want to' used before a verb; it is restricted to contexts where 'to' is not a preposition.

- I really wanna go to the cinema tonight if you are free.
- Most people wanna believe that their hard work will eventually be recognised by the management, even without constant self-promotion.

Usage: Used only in informal speech and writing; never appropriate for formal essays or business correspondence.

### 2. want a

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal · Slang

a casual way to say 'want a' when followed by a noun.

For teachers: A colloquial contraction of 'want a' used before a noun phrase.

- Do you wanna drink or are you not thirsty yet?
- If you wanna sandwich, you should probably grab one now before the café closes for the afternoon break.

Usage: Less common in writing than the 'want to' sense, but frequent in rapid, casual speech.

## Examples

- I wanna go to the beach today.
- If you wanna join us for dinner, we are meeting at the restaurant around seven.
- While you might use 'wanna' in a text message to a close friend, you should avoid it in professional emails where standard spelling is expected.

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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.