Formality Scales
Native speakers change their pronunciation depending on WHO they are talking to.
The Big Reductions record_voice_over
When speaking casually (informally), native speakers blend words together to speak faster.
Greetings handshake
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Never WRITE these reductions in formal exams!
(Sounds natural and fluent)
(Too informal! Write "going to")
Listen & Match bolt
Mission my_location
Mission my_location
Mission my_location
Video Lesson
Ask a Question person_raised_hand
Recent Questions
Good question! Not exactly. "Informal" is just casual, everyday speech (like saying "gonna" instead of "going to"). Everyone uses it. "Slang" is very specific vocabulary used by certain groups or ages (like teenagers saying something is "lit" or "fire"). local_fire_department
Can I use "gonna" and "wanna" in my IELTS Speaking test?
YES! In fact, the examiners want to hear it. Using reductions like "gonna" shows that you have natural, fluent connected speech. But remember the trap: NEVER use them in the IELTS Writing test! edit_documentclose
What happens if I speak too formally to my friends?
If you speak like a textbook to your close friends (e.g., "Greetings, how do you do? I am going to depart now."), you might sound robotic, unnatural, or like you are keeping your distance from them. Tone matching is important! smart_toy
Is "informal" the same thing as "slang"?