Vocabulary: Slang, Informal & Colloquial English (B2) - Lesson 3: Understanding Common Spoken Reductions

ESL Cambodia 🇰🇭

Spoken Reductions

ការនិយាយកាត់ (ភាសានិយាយ)

🗣️

FAST

លឿន

⚡

SHORT

ខ្លី

Sound Native 🇺🇸

In movies and songs, people rarely say "Going to". They say "Gonna". These are called reductions.

🎯 Intentions (បំណង)

Going to → GONNA

Gonna

/ˈɡənə/

នឹង (ទៅធ្វើអ្វីមួយ)

"I'm gonna sleep now."

Want to → WANNA

Wanna

/ˈwɒnə/

ចង់

"Do you wanna eat?"

Got to → GOTTA

Gotta

/ˈɡɒtə/

ត្រូវតែ (Have to)

"I gotta go home."

❓ Commands & Questions

Let me → LEMME

Lemme

/ˈlɛmi/

អនុញ្ញាតឱ្យខ្ញុំ / ទុកឱ្យខ្ញុំ

"Lemme see that."

Give me → GIMME

Gimme

/ˈɡɪmi/

ឱ្យខ្ញុំ (សុំ)

"Gimme a minute."

Don't know → DUNNO

Dunno

/dəˈnoʊ/

មិនដឹង

"I dunno where he is."

📝 Other Common Ones

Kind of → KINDA

Kinda

/ˈkaɪndə/

រាង...បន្តិច

"It is kinda hot today."

Because → 'CAUSE / CUZ

Cuz / 'Cause

/kəz/

ពីព្រោះ

"I smile cuz I'm happy."

Listening Quiz 🎧

Listen & Select the Meaning

What is the formal version of "Gonna"?

Translate: "Lemme help you."

Listen & Guess

Mission 📝

Text Message Challenge

Send a Text!

Send a message to a friend (or write it down) using informal English:

1. Ask for a plan
"What you gonna do today?"

2. Express a want
"I wanna eat pizza."

3. Give a reason
"I'm tired cuz I worked hard."