tryna

alternative trynna · alternative tryinna · alternative try'na · alternative try'n'a

1. alsoauxiliarydialectalslangchiefly African-American VernacularFuture modal indicating intent.

   You get caught in the middle, tryna dribble on my court

   2001, Adam F featuring MOP, “Stand Clear”

   5 more examples

   Every time I hear a brother call a girl a bitch or a ho / Tryna make a sister feel low / You know all of that gots to go

   1993, “U.N.I.T.Y.”, in Black Reign, performed by Queen Latifah

   […] Mr. Kelly’s verse outshines all the others (“I’m tryna keep it R&B/But these streets is a part of me,” he sings, ascending into falsetto); he gives the chorus a tuneful makeover too.

   2007 February 4, Kelefa Sanneh, “Friends, Feuds, Yelps, Sobs and a Swedish Nightingale”, in New York Times

   Catch me up in snowin, in my sliders and my shorts / Chicks tryna get my brotha Flips to share his thoughts

   2019, Stormzy, “Vossi Bop”

   You're beautiful, but misunderstood / So why you tryna be just like the neighborhood?

   2019, Amanda Koci, Henry Walter, Charlie Puth, Maria Smith, Victor Thellm Gigi Grombacher, Roland Spreckle, “So Am I”, performed by Ava Max

   Kissy face, kissy face / Sent to your phone, but / I'm tryna kiss your lips for real (uh-huh, uh-huh)

   2023 November 7 (date recorded), Chae Young Park [i.e., Rosé]; Bruno Mars [pseudonym; Peter Gene Hernandez] [et al.], “Apt.”, in Rosie, performed by Rosé and Bruno Mars, New York, N.Y.: Atlantic Records; Seoul, South Korea: The Black Label, published 18 October 2024