lingo

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The special words and phrases used by a particular group or profession, which outsiders may not understand.

   Grammar: Rarely takes a plural; usually used with the: the lingo.

   Patterns

   • the lingo of something
   • pick up the lingo

   It took me a month to learn the lingo in my new job.

   Sailors have their own lingo for ropes and sails.

   Gamers use a lingo that confuses their parents.

2. 2noununcountablehumorous

   A foreign language or a speech style that sounds strange to you.

   Grammar: Humorous and informal: speak the local lingo.

   Patterns

   • speak the lingo

   We tried to speak the lingo when we arrived in Rome.

   He picked up enough of the local lingo to order dinner.

   Nobody understood the strange lingo of the sailors.

Word forms

Common combinations

learn the lingo

New staff must learn the lingo quickly.

legal lingo

The contract was full of legal lingo.

tech lingo

Please explain it without tech lingo.

local lingo

He mastered the local lingo in a few weeks.

speak the lingo

I can't speak the lingo, but I can point at the menu.

Synonyms and how they differ

jargon

Jargon often sounds negative, as it implies confusing words, while lingo is lighter and friendlier.

slang

Slang means very informal words used by many people, whereas lingo is tied to a specific group or trade.

terminology

Terminology is the neutral, formal term for the vocabulary of a subject, while lingo is casual.

vernacular

Vernacular is the everyday speech of a region or people, while lingo belongs to a particular activity.

Word family

lingua franca noun

a shared language between groups

linguist noun

a person who studies languages

linguistic adjective

relating to language

bilingual adjective

able to speak two languages

Commonly confused: lingo or lingua franca?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “lingo”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words