Going to vs Gonna do this case

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Going to

Top 1,000 (very common)

Gonna do this case

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

Most formal: Going to Most common: Going to

	Going to	Gonna do this case
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈɡəʊɪŋ tə// 🇺🇸 //ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə//	🇬🇧 //ˈgʌnə// 🇺🇸 //ˈɡʌnə//
Meaning	Plans to do something in the future.	Going to do this situation or task
Example	I am going to visit my grandparents this weekend.	I'm gonna do this case when I finish my lunch.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	going to the store, going to the beach, going to work	gonna take action, gonna start working, gonna tackle challenges
Common mistakes	Using 'going to' with present continuous instead of simple form., Confusing 'going to' with 'going for' when discussing trips., Neglecting to use 'to' after 'going'.	Confusing 'gonna' with 'going to' in formal contexts., Using 'gonna' in written essays or professional emails., 'Gonna' used incorrectly with a subject: 'I gonna do this'.
Usage notes	Use 'going to' for future plans. Avoid in formal writing; use 'will' instead in such cases.	Used in casual conversation; less appropriate in formal writing. It conveys intention or planning in a relaxed manner.

See it in real clips

She's gettin' the shot. I'm going to go get my little black medical book.

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

Oh, I can't. I'm going to Orlando for a week on Friday.

These are going to make me...

She's gettin' the shot. I'm going to go get my little black medical book.

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

Oh, I can't. I'm going to Orlando for a week on Friday.

Going to

The Wire › S1 E1

I'm gonna do this case.

Gonna do this case

Frequently asked questions: Going to vs Gonna do this case

What's the difference between Going to and Gonna do this case?

Going to: Plans to do something in the future. Gonna do this case: Going to do this situation or task

Which is more formal: Going to and Gonna do this case?

Going to is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Going to and Gonna do this case?

Going to is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Going to: I am going to visit my grandparents this weekend. Gonna do this case: I'm gonna do this case when I finish my lunch.

Can I use Going to and Gonna do this case interchangeably?

Not always. Going to and Gonna do this case are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.