IMA

What Does IMA Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

The abbreviation IMA has a number of meanings, including "I Am (Going To)," "I Must Admit," and "Institute of Management Accountants."

I Am (Going To)

The abbreviation IMA is most often used online and in text speak to indicate that the sender is about to do something. IMA is actually a contraction of the slang phrase "I'm gonna," which means "I am going to." IMA is often used just to represent "I Am" (as in, "IMA out of here"), but is also used to represent the complete phrase "I Am Going To, (as in, "IMA get out of here").

IMA is often typed as IMMA and sometimes as I'MA.

I Must Admit

IMA is also used with the meaning "I Must Admit." In this context, IMA is typically used as a preamble to the expression of an opinion.

Institute of Management Accountants

In business circles, IMA is typically used with the meaning "Institute of Management Accountants."

Image for IMA

When I write IMA, I mean this:

IMA also means "I Must Admit" and "Institute of Management Accountants."

Summary of Key Points

First Definition for IMA

"I Am (Going To)" is, by far, the most common meaning for IMA when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

IMA
Definition:	I Am Going To
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition for IMA

"I Must Admit" is another definition for IMA.

IMA
Definition:	I Must Admit
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Third Definition for IMA

IMA also means "Institute of Management Accountants."

IMA
Definition:	Institute of Management Accountants
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Specialists

Examples of IMA in Sentences

Here are examples of IMA in conversations:

• Ian: IMA get out here, right now! I've had enough of this place.
• Jo: IMA I know exactly what you mean. Damn it! IMA right behind you!

(Here, IMA means "I Am Going To," "I Must Admit," and "I Am.")

• Karly: IMA totally sick of his lame excuses.
• Misha: IMA have a word in his ear.

(Here, IMA means both "I Am" and "I Am Going To.")

An Academic Look at IMA

When used with the meanings "I Am" or "I Am Going To," IMA is a contraction. Some contractions use letters of the fully expanded word in sequence. Other contractions, like Dr, use letters from the start and end of the fully expanded version. Contractions can also be formed by replacing a letter or letters with an apostrophe (e.g., can't). When used with the meaning "I Must Admit," IMA is classified as an initialism abbreviation, because it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Eye Emm Ay"). Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are spoken like words.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we might have just said "I'm gonna" or "I must admit" instead of using the abbreviation IMA.

Example of IMA Used in a Text

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