gonna

IPA/ɡˌənə/
KK[ɡˈɑnə]IPA/ɡˈɑːnə/

gonna — verb

  • gonnapresent simple I / you / we / they
  • gonnas3rd person singular
  • gonnaing-ing form
  • gonnaedpast simple

1. An informal spoken form of 'going to' that people use when they have already dec

1.verbA2
Definition

An informal spoken form of 'going to' that people use when they have already decided to do something in the future, or when they are asking someone about their plans.

Example

I'm gonna call Eli tonight and ask him about the house party.

gonna + base verb (call)

Ada is gonna bake a chocolate cake for Feng's birthday next week.

Common collocations
  • gonna go
  • gonna do
  • gonna be
  • gonna get
  • gonna have
  • not gonna
  • gonna have to
Synonyms
  • going to

    the full, register-neutral form; correct in both speech and writing

  • will

    expresses a less pre-planned intention; 'gonna' suggests the decision was made before the moment of speaking

Grammar Patterns

gonna + base verb

gonna be + noun phrase

gonna be + adjective

not gonna + base verb

Usage Note

Never use 'gonna' in formal writing such as essays, business letters, or academic papers. It belongs to casual conversation, text messages, and informal online posts. The full form 'going to' is always correct in any register. In writing dialogue, 'gonna' helps show how a character speaks naturally.

Common Mistakes

I'm gonna to call you later.
I'm gonna call you later.
'gonna' already contains the 'to' from 'going to', so do not add another 'to' after it.
He gonna be late.
He's gonna be late.
'gonna' still needs a form of 'be' (am, is, are) before it in most statements.

2. An informal spoken form of 'going to' used when the speaker expects something to

2.verbA2
Definition

An informal spoken form of 'going to' used when the speaker expects something to happen in the future because of signs or evidence that already exist.

Example

It's gonna rain later — those clouds are getting really dark and heavy.

prediction based on visible evidence

Aarav is gonna be upset when he hears that the trip was cancelled.

gonna be + adjective (upset)

Common collocations
  • it's gonna
  • gonna be
  • gonna happen
  • gonna take
  • gonna rain
Synonyms
  • going to

    the full form; appropriate in any register

  • will

    sounds more neutral and less tied to present evidence; common in both speech and writing

  • bound to

    stronger and more certain than 'gonna', suggesting inevitability ('She's bound to find out')

Grammar Patterns

gonna + base verb

gonna be + adjective

gonna be + noun phrase

it's gonna + verb

Usage Note

With this prediction sense, the evidence for the prediction is usually visible in the present moment. For purely personal opinions about the future ('I think it will rain'), 'will' is more natural in both formal and informal English. 'Gonna' in this sense is strongest when you can point to a concrete reason for your expectation.

Common Mistakes

It's gonna to rain.
It's gonna rain.
never add 'to' after 'gonna'.
I gonna be late.
I'm gonna be late.
always include the correct form of 'be' before 'gonna' (am/is/are).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Gonna' is the informal spoken contraction of 'going to'. It marks a decision that was made before the moment of speaking. 'Going to' is the full form and works in every register — formal essays, business writing, and casual speech. 'Will' often signals a decision made right at the moment of speaking ('I'll help you') rather than a pre-arranged plan. 'Plan to' is more deliberate and suggests a thought-out arrangement ('I plan to visit next month'). In conversation, 'gonna' is far more common than 'going to', but in writing, 'going to' is always the safer choice. Example: 'I'm gonna tell her the truth' sounds natural between friends, while 'I am going to inform her of the facts' suits a formal email.

gonna ↗going towill ↗plan to

Common collocations

Phrases

  • I'm gonna
  • you're gonna
  • it's gonna
  • we're gonna
  • they're gonna
  • not gonna
  • gonna be
  • gonna go
  • gonna get
  • gonna have to
  • gonna happen
  • gonna do

Etymology

English

'Gonna' is a written representation of the casual pronunciation of 'going to' in fast, connected speech. This kind of reduction (where 'going to' becomes 'gonna') began appearing in informal writing in the early 1900s and became very widespread in American English dialogue by the mid-20th century. The spelling reflects how the words blend together: 'going' loses its final '-ing' sound and 'to' reduces to a quick '-na' sound.