lingo

¹

[ ling-goh ]

noun

, plural lin·goes.

1. the language and speech, especially the jargon, slang, or argot, of a particular field, group, or individual:

   gamblers' lingo.

2. language or speech, especially if strange or foreign.

lingo

²

[ ling-goh ]

noun

, plural lin·goes.

1. lingoe.

lingo

/ ˈlɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. informal.
   any foreign or unfamiliar language, jargon, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of lingo¹

1650–60; apparently alteration of lingua (franca); compare Polari lingo “language”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lingo¹

C17: perhaps from lingua franca ; compare Portuguese lingoa tongue

Example Sentences

I thought he was Czech because he has that kind of surfer lingo, which I couldn’t really grasp.

From Los Angeles Times

In his veto message, Newsom injected a dose of realism cloaked in bureaucratic lingo: “Given the finite funding available … expanding program eligibility must be considered within the broader context of the annual state budget.”

From Los Angeles Times

As brat warns us, internet lingo and fun trends never stay on the internet — they become marketing buzzwords, a cycle demure is both reacting against and born from.

From Salon

But after progressing to the next stage - the exploration era in the game's lingo - players might become the Normans and build over what came before.

From BBC

Some surfer lingo — like stoked — has even seeped into Southern California non-surf-related parlance, but that depends on how close you are to the coast.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• argot
• jargon
• patois
• slang
• vernacular
• vocabulary