shoulda
Ought to have, casually
Shoulda is an informal spelling of "should have" or "should've," representing how the phrase sounds in casual speech: I shoulda known better.
Like coulda and woulda, it appears in dialogue, song lyrics, and relaxed writing to capture natural pronunciation.
The phrase shoulda, woulda, coulda dismisses regretful speculation about what might have been.
woulda
Casual "would have"
- couldaInformal past potential
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- second-guessingReconsidering a decision made
self-reproach · remorse · guilt · wish · mistake · blunder · oversight · misstep · lament · rue
woulda
Casual "would have"
gotta · oughta · kinda · sorta · dunno · lemme · gimme · ain't · y'all · nah
- Informal Spellingsgonna, wanna, gotta, oughta, woulda
- guiltguilty, guilt trip, guilty conscience, remorseful, contrition
- slangslang, jargon, lingo, argot, cant
register/formality
shouldashould have
Past obligation unfulfilled
should've · proper grammar · written English · Standard English
- should beExpected or proper state
- should havePast obligation unfulfilled
- what should I doQuery seeking guidance
- you should talkIronic dismissal of criticism
- should have known
- woulda coulda shoulda