Slang vs. Accent — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 21, 2024
Slang involves informal language and expressions unique to a group, while an accent refers to the distinctive way speech sounds based on regional or social influences.
Difference Between Slang and Accent
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Slang consists of informal, often innovative language and expressions that are specific to a particular group, culture, or subculture. It includes words and phrases that might not be recognized or understood outside of its context, serving as a marker of identity or group membership. Slang evolves quickly, reflecting changes in culture, technology, and social attitudes. On the other hand, an accent is the distinct manner in which people pronounce words, influenced by their regional background or social group. Accents can reveal a speaker's geographical origins or social identity but do not involve the use of different words or phrases. Instead, accents are about pronunciation and the rhythm of speech.
While slang can be a deliberate choice to signal affiliation with a particular group or to exclude outsiders, accents are usually acquired naturally based on one's environment during language acquisition. People may adjust their use of slang depending on their audience, adopting a more standard language in formal contexts. However, accents are less easily altered and can persist even after a speaker has significantly changed their vocabulary or grammar.
The development of slang is often linked to specific social, professional, or age groups seeking to establish a distinct linguistic identity. In contrast, accents develop over time due to historical, geographical, and social factors affecting a community's speech patterns. Slang and accents both contribute to the rich diversity of language, reflecting the complexity of human communication and social interaction.
Slang words or phrases can become part of the standard language if they gain widespread usage beyond their original context. Accents, however, are a more stable aspect of speech, although they can evolve or diminish in prominence over generations. The distinction between slang and accents highlights the dynamic nature of language, encompassing both what we say and how we say it.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Informal language specific to a group.
Distinctive pronunciation based on regional or social influences.
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Purpose
Expresses identity, group membership.
Indicates geographical origins or social identity.
Characteristics
Evolves quickly, informal.
Stable, but can evolve over time.
Acquisition
Chosen based on group affiliation.
Acquired naturally from the surrounding environment.
Variability
Can change based on audience or context.
Persistent, but can be moderated with effort.
Compare with Definitions
Slang
Evolves with cultural and social trends.
The term lit is slang for something exciting or excellent.
Accent
The way words are pronounced by different people.
The British accent is distinct from the American accent.
Slang
Can be specific to certain communities.
Noob is slang in gaming for a beginner.
Accent
Remains relatively stable over time.
Despite living abroad, her accent remained distinctly Irish.
Slang
Often used among younger generations.
FOMO is slang for the fear of missing out.
Accent
Includes variations in tone and pronunciation.
The Scottish accent is known for rolling the r.
Slang
Reflects creativity in language use.
Hangry is slang for being angry because of hunger.
Accent
Often acquired from one's environment.
He picked up an Australian accent after living in Sydney for years.
Slang
Informal language that reflects group identity.
Ghosting is slang for abruptly ending communication without explanation.
Accent
Can reveal a speaker's origin.
Her Southern accent hinted at her Texas roots.
Slang
Slang is language (words, phrases, and usages) of an informal register. It also sometimes refers to the language generally exclusive to the members of particular in-groups prefer over the common vocabulary of a standard language in order to establish group identity, exclude outsiders, or both.
Accent
The relative prominence of a particular syllable of a word by greater intensity or by variation or modulation of pitch or tone.
Slang
A kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech, made up typically of coinages and figures of speech that are deliberately used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humor, irreverence, or other effect.
Accent
Vocal prominence or emphasis given to a particular syllable, word, or phrase.
Slang
Language peculiar to a group; argot or jargon
Thieves' slang.
Accent
One determined by the regional or social background of the speaker.
Slang
To use slang.
Accent
One determined by the phonetic characteristics of the speaker's native language carried over to that speaker's use of another language.
Slang
To use angry and abusive language
Persuaded the parties to quit slanging and come to the bargaining table.
Accent
A mark or symbol used in the printing and writing of certain languages to indicate the vocal quality to be given to a particular letter
An acute accent.
Slang
To attack with abusive language; vituperate
"They slanged each other with every foul name they had learned from the age of three" (Virginia Henley).
Accent
A mark or symbol used in printing and writing to indicate the stressed syllables of a spoken word.
Slang
Language outside of conventional usage and in the informal register.
Accent
Rhythmically significant stress in a line of verse.
Slang
Language that is unique to a particular profession or subject; jargon.
Accent
Emphasis or prominence given to a note or chord, as by an increase in volume or extended duration.
Slang
The specialized language of a social group, sometimes used to conceal one's meaning from outsiders; cant.
Accent
A mark representing this.
Slang
(countable) A particular variety of slang; the slang used by a particular group.
Accent
A mark used as a superscript to distinguish among variables represented by the same symbol.
Slang
(countable) An item of slang; a slang word or expression.
Accent
A mark used as a superscript to indicate the first derivative of a variable.
Slang
(India) A curse word.
Accent
A mark or one of several marks used as a superscript to indicate a unit, such as feet (′) and inches (") in linear measurement.
Slang
Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory.
Accent
A distinctive feature or quality, such as a feature that accentuates, contrasts with, or complements a decorative style.
Slang
A fetter worn on the leg by a convict.
Accent
Something that accentuates or contrasts something else, as a touch of color that makes the features of an image stand out.
Slang
A counterfeit weight or measure.
Accent
Particular importance or interest; emphasis
The accent is on comfort.
Slang
A travelling show, or one of its performances.
Accent
To stress or emphasize the pronunciation of
Accented the first syllable in “debacle.”.
Slang
A hawker's license.
Accent
To mark with a printed accent.
Slang
A watchchain.
Accent
To focus attention on; accentuate
A program that accents leadership development.
Slang
To vocally abuse, or shout at.
Accent
(linguistics) A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.
In the word "careful", the accent is placed on the first syllable.
Slang
To sell especially illegal drugs.
Accent
(figuratively) Emphasis or importance in general.
At this hotel, the accent is on luxury.
Slang
Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory.
Accent
(orthography) A mark or character used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken accent, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked.
The name Cézanne is written with an acute accent.
Slang
A fetter worn on the leg by a convict.
Accent
Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone.
Slang
Low, vulgar, unauthorized language; a popular but unauthorized word, phrase, or mode of expression; also, the jargon of some particular calling or class in society; low popular cant; as, the slang of the theater, of college, of sailors, etc.
Accent
The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.
A foreign accent
A broad Irish accent
A hint of a German accent
Slang
To address with slang or ribaldry; to insult with vulgar language.
Every gentleman abused by a cabman or slanged by a bargee was bound there and then to take off his coat and challenge him to fisticuffs.
Accent
A manner of pronunciation suggesting that the speaker is from a different region; a foreign accent.
My professor's accent is so thick that it's difficult to understand her lectures.
She spoke with a strong accent that betrayed her southern roots.
I was surprised to learn that he was an immigrant, as he spoke without any accent.
Slang
Informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions; often vituperative or vulgar;
Their speech was full of slang expressions
Accent
(sign languages) A distinctive manner of producing a sign language, such as someone who does not normally use a certain sign language might have when using it.
Slang
A characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves);
They don't speak our lingo
Accent
A word; a significant tone or sound.
Slang
Use slang or vulgar language
Accent
Expressions in general; speech.
Slang
Fool or hoax;
The immigrant was duped because he trusted everyone
You can't fool me!
Accent
Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
Slang
Abuse with coarse language
Accent
(music) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
Accent
(music) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.
Accent
(music) A mark used to represent this special emphasis.The third and fourth symbols are accents (marks used to represent special emphasis in music).
Accent
(music) The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.
Accent
(mathematics) A prime symbol.
Accent
Emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition; an emphasized detail, in particular a detail in sharp contrast to its surroundings.
Accent color
Accent
A very small gemstone set into a piece of jewellery.
Accent
(archaic) Utterance.
Accent
(transitive) To express the accent of vocally; to utter with accent.
Accent
(transitive) To mark emphatically; to emphasize; to accentuate; to make prominent.
Accent
(transitive) To mark with written accents.
Accent
A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others.
Accent
A mark or character used in writing, and serving to regulate the pronunciation; esp.: (a) a mark to indicate the nature and place of the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the vowel marked; as, the French accents.
Accent
Modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or pronouncing; peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice; tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent.
The tender accent of a woman's cry.
Accent
A word; a significant tone
Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear,Such words as Heaven alone is fit to hear.
Accent
Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
Accent
A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
Accent
A mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same letter, but differing in value, as y´, y.
Accent
To express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to utter or to mark with accent.
Accent
To mark emphatically; to emphasize.
Accent
Distinctive manner of oral expression;
He couldn't suppress his contemptuous accent
She had a very clear speech pattern
Accent
Special importance or significance;
The red light gave the central figure increased emphasis
The room was decorated in shades of gray with distinctive red accents
Accent
The usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people;
The immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English
He has a strong German accent
Accent
The relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch);
He put the stress on the wrong syllable
Accent
A diacritical mark used to indicate stress or placed above a vowel to indicate a special pronunciation
Accent
To stress, single out as important;
Dr. Jones emphasizes exercise in addition to a change in diet
Accent
Put stress on; utter with an accent;
In Farsi, you accent the last syllable of each word
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between slang and accent?
Slang is about informal language use within specific groups, while an accent pertains to the pronunciation characteristics of speech.
Is slang considered improper language?
While informal, slang isn't necessarily improper but may be inappropriate in formal contexts.
Do accents affect communication?
Yes, strong accents can sometimes hinder understanding between speakers of the same language from different regions.
How do accents develop?
Accents develop over time within speech communities through interactions, influenced by historical, geographical, and social factors.
Can accents change over time?
Yes, accents can evolve due to exposure to different speech communities or conscious effort, but changes typically occur over longer periods.
Is it possible to lose an accent?
Accents can be moderated through speech training, but complete elimination is challenging and depends on individual ability and effort.
Why do people use slang?
People use slang for convenience, to express group identity, or to convey meanings in a more informal, creative way.
Can someone's accent influence their use of slang?
Indirectly, yes; someone's regional or social background (which influences their accent) can affect the slang terms they're exposed to and use.
Are new slang terms being created?
Yes, slang evolves constantly, reflecting new social, technological, and cultural developments.
Are there any universal slang terms?
Some slang terms gain wide recognition and use, but their understanding and acceptance can vary globally.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
