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Glite Dictionary
shoulda

shoulda

8.4
To say in casual speech that someone needed to do something or it would have been better in the past
  • auxiliary
  • /ˈʃʊdə/
  • Informal
translation icon : debí haber
  • I shoulda known better!

Examples

  • You shoulda called me before coming over so I could prepare.

  • I shoulda studied harder for the exam, but I got distracted.

  • They shoulda left earlier to avoid the heavy traffic downtown.

  • You shoulda called me.

  • You shoulda called me before coming over so I could prepare.

  • I shoulda studied harder for the exam, but I got distracted.

  • They shoulda left earlier to avoid the heavy traffic downtown.

Synonyms

should
vsshoulda
2.4

To say that someone did not do what was expected in the past

is an informal spoken contraction used in casual speech to show regret
ought
vsshoulda
3.4

To be expected or right to do something and likely to happen

focuses on past obligation or regret and is used informally in speech

Surface Forms

shoulda infinitive

Morphology

shoulda = should + have (transparent) = should + have

A colloquial orthographic representation of the spoken contraction 'should have' (should've); the meaning is directly derived from the two auxiliaries.

Etymology

Shoulda is a casual, spoken form of should and have, because in quick speech have often becomes something like 'a'. That's why shoulda is used to say someone 'ought to have' done something and to show regret about a past action.