Grammar › N4 · 03 Obligation, advice & negatives
〜なきゃ: have to (casual)
N4 · 03 Obligation, advice & negatives
Casual spoken shortening of 〜なければ, meaning "have to".
ない-form: drop い, add きゃ. The いけない/ならない part is usually left unsaid. Variant: 〜なくちゃ. Avoid in formal writing and with superiors.
Examples
もう行かなきゃ。
I have to go now.
明日は早く起きなきゃいけない。
I have to get up early tomorrow.