Pronunciation: [ʃˈʊdə] (IPA) 
The word "shoulda" is a contraction of "should have," which is commonly used in informal speech and writing. Phonetically, "shoulda" is pronounced as /ˈʃʊdə/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "a" at the end is pronounced as the schwa sound, which is a neutral vowel sound. The spelling "shoulda" reflects the informal nature of the contraction and represents a colloquial way of pronouncing "should have" in spoken English.
"Shoulda" is an informal and colloquial contraction of the phrase "should have." It is primarily used in spoken language, informal writing, and various forms of digital communication, such as texting and social media.
The term "shoulda" is formed by combining the modal verb "should" with the auxiliary verb "have." "Should" expresses an obligation, recommendation, or expectation, while "have" functions as an auxiliary verb to form perfect tenses. When combined, they create the hypothetical situation of something that was expected or recommended to happen but did not.
The term is typically employed to express regret or criticism about past actions, choices, or events. It implies that something could or should have been done differently. For example, in the sentence "I shoulda studied harder for the exam," the speaker is acknowledging that they did not put enough effort into their preparations and regrets this now that the exam has taken place.
While "shoulda" is commonly used in casual conversations or informal writing, it is considered nonstandard and should be used cautiously in formal or academic contexts. It is advisable to opt for the full phrase "should have" in those situations to maintain a more professional tone.
