Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

slag

/ˈslæɡ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.19 in modern English

Syllables
slag
IPA
/ˈslæɡ/
5
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Waste material from a mine.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Scum that forms on the surface of molten metal.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Impurities formed and separated out when a metal is smelted from ore; vitrified cinders.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Hard aggregate remaining as a residue from blast furnaces, sometimes used as a surfacing material.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Scoria associated with a volcano.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A prostitute or promiscuous woman; a slut.

Australian usage; British usage; Countable; Derogatory; Slang; Uncountable

noun

A coward.

British usage; Countable; Dated; Derogatory; Uncountable

noun

A contemptible person, a scumbag.

British usage; Countable; Derogatory; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German slagge, slaggen (“slag, dross”), from Old Saxon *slaggo, from Proto-West Germanic *slaggō, from Proto-Germanic *slaggô, from Proto-Germanic *slagōną (“to strike”) + *-gô (diminutive suffix). Compare Middle Low German slāgen (“to strike”), since originally the splinters struck off from the metal by hammering, from *slagōn, from Proto-West Germanic *slagōn. Compare also Old Saxon slegi, from Proto-West Germanic *slagi. See also Dutch slak, German Schlacke, Swedish slagg; also compare English slay.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: slagge, *slaggo, *slaggō, *slaggô, *slagōną

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈslæɡ/
  • British English: /ˈslæɡ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

slag heap slag tag slag about slagging rag slag off

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce slag?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈslæɡ/.
What does slag mean?
Waste material from a mine.
Where does slag come from?
It is traced to Proto-West Germanic.

How to pronounce slag

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “slag”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈslæɡ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “slag”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “slag” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.