slangs

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralrare

   Different kinds of very informal vocabulary used by particular groups or regions, considered as separate sets.

   Grammar: Slang is usually uncountable; slangs is used only when comparing varieties.

   Patterns

   • the slangs of somewhere
   • different slangs

   Researchers compared the slangs of several cities.

   The two slangs differ in their words for money.

   Teenage slangs change quickly from school to school.

2. 2verbtransitiveBritishold-fashioned

   Third person singular of the rare verb slang, meaning to shout abusive words at someone.

   Grammar: Mostly British or Australian and old-fashioned: he slangs the referee.

   Patterns

   • slang someone

   The coach slangs the referee after every bad call.

   Fans slang the visiting team from the stands.

   He slangs anyone who disagrees with him.

Word forms

Common combinations

regional slangs

Regional slangs make maps of vocabulary interesting.

youth slangs

Youth slangs spread quickly online.

compare slangs

Linguists compare slangs to see how language changes.

street slangs

The glossary covers street slangs from several countries.

Synonyms and how they differ

dialects

Dialects are regional varieties of a whole language, while slangs are informal word sets that cut across regions.

jargons

Jargons are specialist vocabularies of a profession, whereas slangs are casual group language.

argots

Argots are secret vocabularies of groups such as thieves, so they are narrower than slangs.

vernaculars

Vernaculars are everyday spoken languages of a community in general.

Opposites

Word family

slang noun

very informal words and phrases

slangy adjective

full of slang

slangily adverb

in a slangy way

slanging match noun

a noisy exchange of insults

Commonly confused: slangs or slang? slangs or slings?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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