got

Got is the past tense of the English verb get. It is also used as the past participle in constructions with have, forming some present-perfect-like meanings. In British English, "have got" is a common way to express possession (I have got a car) and can also serve as a quasi-present-perfect (I've got to go, meaning I must go). The simple past sense is I got a letter yesterday, meaning the speaker received it.

Usage and varieties:

As a main verb, got marks completed actions of obtaining or receiving (I got a new book). In the present-perfect-like construction with have, got can indicate possession or obligation, depending on context (I have got a meeting; I have got to leave). American English often uses gotten as the past participle in many contexts (I have gotten several messages) and may prefer I have a car or I got a car for simple possession, though I’ve got a car is widely understood in informal American speech as well.

Etymology and morphology:

Got derives from Old English getan/ġietan, meaning to obtain. The simple past form became got in Middle English and has remained standard. The past participle has varied by variety, with British English leaning toward got, and American English commonly using gotten in non-auxiliary perfect constructions; in formal writing, some speakers heed the traditional distinction and reserve gotten for certain senses.

Notes:

Common phrases associated with got include got to, got to go, got it, and gotcha (slang for “I understand”). The informal contraction gotta is derived from got to and is widely used in spoken language.