wanna

wanna — verb

1. a shortened form of 'want to' used in casual speech and writing to express a des

1.動詞B1
釋義

a shortened form of 'want to' used in casual speech and writing to express a desire, wish, or intention to do something — for example, saying you wanna go home, or asking if someone wanna join you for lunch.

例句

Defne and Anjali wanna start a food blog together.

wanna + bare infinitive for intention

Do you wanna grab a coffee after the meeting?

question form — no auxiliary inversion

同義詞
  • want to

    the standard form — use in any register, while 'wanna' is restricted to informal contexts

  • feel like

    similar meaning but emphasises mood or inclination rather than fixed intention; slightly more casual

  • would like to

    more polite and formal; 'wanna' is direct and casual by comparison

文法句型

wanna + bare infinitive

wanna + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in place of 'want to' in informal speech and casual writing (text messages, social media, dialogue in fiction). Avoid in formal essays, business letters, or academic writing. In questions, the auxiliary 'do' is still required in standard usage ('Do you wanna…?'), though the contraction itself already shortens 'want to.' The form 'wanna' is never used with a second 'to' — you cannot write 'wanna to go.'

常見錯誤

❌I wanna to go home.
✅I wanna go home.
💡'wanna' already includes 'to,' so adding another 'to' is redundant.
❌I'm gonna wanna leave early.
✅I'm going to want to leave early.
💡double contractions are avoided in careful writing.
❌Wanna you come with me?
✅Do you wanna come with me?
💡the auxiliary 'do' is still needed for questions.

2. a shortened pronunciation of 'want a' in casual speech, used when expressing a d

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

a shortened pronunciation of 'want a' in casual speech, used when expressing a desire for a specific thing that could be counted or named — for example, saying you wanna slice of pizza, or asking if someone wanna drink.

例句

Talia, do you wanna slice of this chocolate cake?

wanna + noun phrase for wanting an object

Joon said they wanna new pair of running shoes for his birthday.

同義詞
  • want a

    the standard written form; use 'wanna' only when deliberately mimicking casual speech

  • would like a

    more polite and formal

文法句型

wanna + noun phrase

用法筆記

This reading ('want a') is less standardised than 'wanna' standing for 'want to.' In writing, if the intended meaning is 'want a,' it is better to spell it out for clarity. The contraction arises naturally in rapid speech and is common in dialogue representation, but purists may consider it non-standard.

常見錯誤

❌I wanna an apple.
✅I want an apple.' or 'I wanna apple.
💡'wanna' already contains the idea of 'a,' so 'wanna an' is repetitive.
❌She wanna the red one.
✅She wants the red one.
💡'wanna' cannot replace 'wants'; it is only a contraction of 'want to' or 'want a' (first-person / second-person / plural).