Imma

See also: imma

Translingual

Wikispecies

Proper noun

Imma f

1. A taxonomic genus within the family Immidae – certain moths.

English

Alternative forms

• I'mma, imma, I'ma, i'ma, Ima, ima, Ima', I'm a, I'm a', i'm a', I'm'a, i'm'a, I'm-a

Etymology

Written form of a relaxed pronunciation of I'm gonna. Includes a reduction of /mn/ to /m/ (see reduction of /mb/ and /mn/ on Wikipedia). Common in and possibly originated in African-American Vernacular English, but is used more broadly today. Harvard professor Sunn m'Cheaux says the term originated in the Gullah English creole language, where "a-" replaces "-ing" and indicates immediate future tense.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈaɪmə/, [ˈaːmə]
• Rhymes: -aɪmə

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Contraction

Imma

1. (chiefly US, informal) contraction of I'm gonna or I'm 'onna, both being contractions of I'm going to

   so Imma say 16 or 17, cool

   • Winwardo (rapper)

     So listen 'cause Imma come out.

   • 2009, Kanye West, MTV Video Music Awards‎^[1], Kanye West (actor):

     Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you, Imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!

   • 2017, Frankie Pamplemousse, “The No-Kart Race”, in The ZhuZhus:

     I told you we should have gone with the mermaid costume. I'mma put this on -- 'cause I'm going to the race cause I feel better.

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:Imma.

Anagrams

• Imam, Mami, imam, maim, mami

Italian

Proper noun

Imma f

1. a diminutive of the female given name Immacolata

Anagrams

• imam, mima