got a
godda
/ˈɡɑɾə/T soundsReduction
In real speech
What happens to the sounds
The t between vowels becomes a soft “d” and a weakens to /ə/: got a → “GOD-da”. It sounds almost like gotta, but means “have”, not “must”.
When to use it
I got a car = I have a car. I gotta go = I have to go. Tell them apart by the next word: gotta is followed by a verb, got a by a noun.
Casual → formal
Slang
I got a
Neutral
I've got a / I have a
Formal
I have a
Sound notes
T sounds: t rarely sounds like a clean t. Between vowels it becomes a quick, soft “d” (flap T); before a consonant it can be “swallowed” in the throat (glottal stop).