2 syllables: gon, na. Stress on gon.
GAH-nuh
/ˈɡɑnə/
gonna is pronounced GAH-nuh (/ˈɡɑnə/). It has two syllables (gon-na), with the stress on "gon". Gonna is an informal contraction of 'going to' used to express future intent. It is common in spoken American English and casual writing, functioning as a clausal marker and a conversational shortcut. It carries less formal register and often sounds laid-back or colloquial in tone.
Gonna is an informal contraction of 'going to' used to express future intent. It is common in spoken American English and casual writing, functioning as a clausal marker and a conversational shortcut. It carries less formal register and often sounds laid-back or colloquial in tone.
"I’m gonna head out now, see you later."
"She’s gonna study law after finishing her degree."
"They’re gonna try the new restaurant tonight."
Gonna is pronounced /ˈɡɒnə/ in US/UK/AU. The stress is on the first syllable: 'GON-nə'. Start with a hard /ɡ/ stop, then the open back vowel /ɒ/ as in 'lot', followed by a reduced, unstressed /ə/. The second syllable is a quick, schwa-like ending. In connected speech, the vowels can be even more centralized, sounding almost like /ˈɡɒnə/ with a very light, nearly inaudible second vowel. Mouth position: lips neutral, jaw slightly dropped for /ɒ/, tongue back, tip lightly contacting the lower teeth momentarily at /ɡ/ release.
Common mistakes: (1) Over-pronouncing the second syllable as a full syllable, making it sound like 'gon-uh' with a clear 'a' sound. Correction: reduce the second syllable to a schwa /ə/ in quick, relaxed timing. (2) Misplacing the stress by making it 'gon-na' with even stress; correction: ensure primary stress on first syllable /ˈɡɒnə/. (3) Using /ɡoʊ/ vowel in the first syllable as in 'go' instead of /ɒ/, correction: practice with /ɒ/ as in 'hot' or 'lot'.
Across accents, the initial /ɡ/ is consistent; the vowel /ɒ/ is relatively open in many dialects but can shift. In US non-rhotic or rhotic contexts, /ɒ/ remains similar, while UK speakers in some accents may reduce to /ɒ/ or demonstrate shorter duration. Australian English often features a slightly tighter /ɒ/ or a centralized vowel in rapid speech, and the second syllable remains a reduced schwa /ə/. Overall, rhotic vs nonrhotic differences affect the surrounding vowels but not the core /ˈɡɒnə/ roll.
The difficulty lies in rapid reduction: the syllabic nucleus shifts from a clear /ɒ/ to a near-schwa /ə/ quickly, and the consonant closure must be crisp but brief. Speakers also must maintain the first syllable’s short, open vowel while producing a trailing, unstressed second vowel. Additionally, keeping the word within natural tempo without gliding into 'going to' requires precise timing and muscular coordination, especially for non-native or formal-languaged learners.
In natural speech, the second syllable is almost always reduced to a schwa /ə/ and is unstressed—often barely audible. It’s not typically pronounced like a full syllable; you hear a quick, light 'nə' or 'nuh' sound. The core is the first syllable /ˈɡɒn/ with a released /ɡ/ and a concise /ɒ/ followed by a faint /ə/. Fully pronouncing the second syllable is uncommon except in careful or emphatic enunciation or in teaching contexts to illustrate the contraction.
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Gonna originates as a reduction of the phrase 'going to' that developed in English-speaking communities as a rapid, casual pronunciation pattern. The contraction likely gained traction in 19th- to 20th-century American speech as a feature of informal register, aligning with the broader tendency toward elision in rapid speech. Historically, 'to' in 'going to' blurs with 'ta' or 'tuh' sounds and then coalesces with the following verb, producing 'gonna'. The first known written attestation of 'gonna' appears in 19th- or early 20th-century American newspapers or dialect studies, though the spoken usage predates formal transcription. In contemporary usage, gonna functions as a modal-like future marker in casual speech, often accompanied by reductions in surrounding function words. It is not typically appropriate in formal writing or careful diction contexts; instead, it signals immediacy and informality. The word reflects broader shifts in English toward phonetic reduction and economy of effort in everyday communication, especially in American varieties where rapid, conversational rhythms are prominent.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gonna" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gonna" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "gonna"
-nna sounds
-ona sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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