slang

slang — noun

1. words and phrases that people use in casual conversation with friends, rather th

1.名詞B1
釋義

words and phrases that people use in casual conversation with friends, rather than in formal writing or polite public speech — for example, saying 'gonna' instead of 'going to' or calling a friend 'buddy'.

例句

Lakan picked up a lot of London street slang from his older cousins.

pick up + slang: acquiring informal language

The teacher told her class that slang is fine with friends but not in essays.

同義詞
  • informal language

    a broader, more neutral term for any casual speech

  • colloquialism

    refers specifically to conversational words or phrases, often regional

  • vernacular

    the everyday language of ordinary people, broader than slang

反義詞

用法筆記

Slang is an uncountable noun, so it has no plural form. Instead of saying 'slangs', use 'slang words' or 'slang terms' to refer to individual items.

常見錯誤

❌I learned many slangs from my classmates.
✅I learned a lot of slang from my classmates.
💡Slang is uncountable and does not take a plural -s.
❌Slangs are fun to learn.
✅Slang is fun to learn.
💡Use a singular verb because slang is uncountable.

2. the special vocabulary used by people who belong to the same profession, hobby,

2.名詞B2
釋義

the special vocabulary used by people who belong to the same profession, hobby, or social circle, which outsiders may find hard to follow — for example, the slang used by surfers, soldiers, or computer programmers.

例句

Medical slang among doctors can be confusing for a new nurse.

[domain] slang among [group]: specialized group vocabulary

The computer programmers used slang that only their team could understand.

同義詞
  • jargon

    more neutral and technical; the specialized terms of a profession

  • argot

    secret slang of a closed group, often with a criminal connection

  • cant

    older term for the hidden language of thieves or beggars

  • lingo

    informal word for any specialized or unfamiliar language

反義詞

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with 'jargon' but has a more informal feel. While 'jargon' is neutral for any specialized field, 'slang' in this meaning often suggests the vocabulary is unofficial or playful rather than technical.

常見錯誤

❌The doctor used many slangs that I did not know.
✅The doctor used a lot of medical slang that I did not know.
💡Slang is uncountable; specify the domain (medical, legal, etc.) for clarity.

slang — verb