gotta
gotta (got"tu) , phrase
[phonetic transcription of colloquial speech, from got to.]
Got to; have to; must; as, I gotta leave now. [colloquial, phonetic spelling]
Phonetic transcriptions of rapid colloquial speech are sometimes used in place of the grammatically proper spelling in order to provide a flavor of the original spirit of a spoken dialogue. See also the related entries for gonna, wanna, and wannabe.