gonna

The word “gonna” means informal contraction of "going to," used to describe something planned for the near future. In plain terms, the everyday spoken shortcut for "going to.".

“Gonna” is pronounced guhn-uh (/ˈɡʌn.ə/ in IPA).

Here is “gonna” used in a sentence: “I'm gonna call you later tonight.”

“Gonna” is a verb.

The word “gonna” dates back to around 1900. A casual contraction of "going to," attested since the early 20th century, reflecting the common dropping of the "g" sound in relaxed speech.

“Gonna” is a very common word in modern English.

Yes, "gonna" is a recognized informal word, listed in major dictionaries as a spoken contraction of "going to." It reflects how the phrase actually sounds in relaxed speech. It is perfectly natural in conversation, texts, and casual writing, but it is not suitable for formal or professional documents.

Avoid "gonna" in formal writing — essays, business emails, reports, and anything professional — where "going to" is expected. It is fine in casual chat, messaging, song lyrics, and dialogue. As a rule, if the setting calls for careful, standard English, spell it out as "going to" instead.

Both are informal contractions, but they shorten different phrases. "Gonna" stands for "going to," describing something planned — "I'm gonna leave." "Wanna" stands for "want to," describing a desire — "I wanna leave." A related form is "gotta" for "got to." All belong to casual speech rather than formal writing.