---
title: slang — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «slang» in the school dictionary: Very informal words and phrases used in casual talk, often by a group such as young people, and not used in formal writing. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# slang

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Cool, you, your, arvo, Cockney, grandad · **What happens:** use, not use, slang, be, essay, mean · **To what, where:** informal words, casual talk, formal writing, slang, essay, apples

<!-- .vabout -->
«slang» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [slang in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slang.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Very informal words and phrases used in casual talk, often by a group such as young people, and not used in formal writing.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:m1:1
# text = Very informal words and phrases used in casual talk, often by a group such as young people, and not used in formal writing.
1	Very	very	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	informal	informal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	22	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	phrases	phrase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	conj	_	_
6	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	casual	casual	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	talk	talk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
15	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	18	case	_	_
16	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
20	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
21	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	22	advmod	_	_
22	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
23	in	in	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	25	amod	_	_
25	writing	writing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	22	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | informal words and phrases *not said here* |  | casual talk |  | by a group such young people | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **use** | participle · passive |  | informal words and phrases |  | formal writing |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb, UK, informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
slanging match: an angry argument with insults.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:m2:1
# text = slanging match: an angry argument with insults.
1	slanging	slang	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	angry	angry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	appos	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	insults	insult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **slang** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Cool" is slang for "very good".

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x1:1
# text = "Cool" is slang for "very good".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	very	very	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Cool | slang |  |  |  | for good | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't use slang in your essay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x2:1
# text = Don't use slang in your essay.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	essay	essay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **use** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | slang |  | your essay |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slang=Patient |
| 2 | **essay** |  | your |  |  |  |  |  | nom essay «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In Australian slang, "arvo" means afternoon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x3:1
# text = In Australian slang, "arvo" means afternoon.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	Australian	Australian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	arvo	arvo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	afternoon	afternoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | arvo |  |  |  | afternoon | in Australian slang | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot in slang=Attribute |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cockney rhyming slang uses "apples and pears" for stairs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x4:1
# text = Cockney rhyming slang uses "apples and pears" for stairs.
1	Cockney	cockney	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	rhyming	rhyme	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	1	acl	_	_
3	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	pears	pear	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	stairs	stair	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rhyme** | gerund | Cockney *not said here* | slang |  |  |  |  | vn amalgamate-22.2-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slang=Patient |
| 2 | **use** | present | Cockney | apples and pears |  |  |  | for stairs | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP PP.predicate»: agent=Agent apple=Theme for stair=Eventuality |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My grandad doesn't understand our slang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x5:1
# text = My grandad doesn't understand our slang.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	grandad	grandad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **understand** | present · do-support | My grandad | our slang |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer slang=Stimulus |
| 2 | **slang** |  | our |  |  |  |  |  | nom slang «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Quid" is British slang for a pound.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x6:1
# text = "Quid" is British slang for a pound.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Quid	Quid	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	British	British	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	pound	pound	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Quid | British slang |  |  |  | for a pound | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The neighbours had a slanging match over the fence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x7:1
# text = The neighbours had a slanging match over the fence.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	neighbours	neighbour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	slanging	slang	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	over	over	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	fence	fence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | the neighbours | a slanging match |  | the fence |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent match=Patient |
| 2 | **slang** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn judgment-33.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Real fairies never preach or talk slang.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:slang:x8:1
# text = Real fairies never preach or talk slang.
1	Real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	fairies	fairy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	preach	preach	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	talk	talk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	slang	slang	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **preach** *speech: other* | present | Real fairies |  |  |  |  |  | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **talk** | present | Real fairies *not said here* | slang |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent slang=Patient |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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