# slang

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈslæŋ/ · frequency rank #14,023

## Definitions
1. Language outside of conventional usage and in the informal register.
2. Language that is unique to a particular profession or subject; jargon.
3. The specialized language of a social group, sometimes used to conceal one's meaning from outsiders; cant.
4. A particular variety of slang; the slang used by a particular group.
5. An item of slang; a slang word or expression.
6. A curse word.

## Etymology
First use appears c. 1756, meaning "special vocabulary of tramps or thieves", origin unknown. Not believed to be connected with language or lingo.
Possibly derived from a North Germanic source, then possibly related to Nordic language: Danish slænge, Icelandic and Norwegian Nynorsk slengja, Norwegian slenge, Swedish slänga (“to (carelessly) sling, throw, hurl; throw away, to dispose of; to flail”), with derivational nouns such as slæng, sleng, släng etc. Compare the compound: Danish slængenavn, Norwegian slengenavn, Norwegian Nynorsk slengenamn, Swedish slängnamn (“nickname, byname, informal name”, literally “sling-name”), and the phrases: Norwegian Nynorsk slengja kjeften, Swedish slänga käften (“to abuse verbally”, literally “to sling one's jowl”), Swedish slänga ur sig (“to say something hastily, carelessly, thoughtlessly”, literally “to throw out of oneself”), also Swedish (regional) slänga (“careless, nonchalant girl”, literally “sling + feminine suffix -a”).

## Easily confused with
- **song** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-song)
- **span** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-span)
- **stan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-stan)
- **slap** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slap)
- **sung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-sung)
- **swan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-swan)
- **slay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slay)
- **slug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slug)
- **snag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-snag)
- **stag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-stag)
- **swag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-swag)
- **slog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slog)
- **Slav** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slav)
- **slaw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slaw)
- **stand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-stand)
- **swing** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-swing)
- **slave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slave)
- **slate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slate)
- **sting** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-sting)
- **slash** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/slang-vs-slash)

## Common misspellings (8)
`lsang`, `salng`, `slagn`, `slangg`, `slanng`, `sllang`, `slnag`, `sslang`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/slang