gotta

pronunciation spelling

got·​ta ˈgä-tə How to pronounce gotta (audio)
used for "got to" in informal speech and in representations of such speech
You've gotta be [=you must be] kidding me.
I gotta go. [=I have to go, I have got to go]
If you're going to invite me to a dance, you've gotta let me dance.Quentin Tarantino
Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta fly. And opera stars gotta do crossover songs.Steve Kort

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gotta was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near gotta

Cite this Entry

“Gotta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gotta. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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