lingo

/ˈlɪŋɡəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪŋɡəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈliŋ-(ˌ)gō/ (ame, mw)

lingo — noun

  • lingosingular
  • lingosplural

1. the language spoken in a different country, especially when you do not know it w

1.名詞B1
釋義

the language spoken in a different country, especially when you do not know it well or find it hard to understand

例句

When Haruto first moved to Buenos Aires, the local lingo seemed completely unfamiliar to him.

local lingo — for a foreign language in a new place

Aisha found the local lingo much harder to learn than expected when she arrived in Seoul.

find + the local lingo + hard — describing difficulty with a foreign language

同義詞
  • language

    neutral and standard; the formal term for any system of communication

  • tongue

    literary or old-fashioned; 'native tongue' is a common set phrase

文法句型

the + local/foreign + lingo

用法筆記

Unlike 'language', 'lingo' is never used in academic or formal writing. It always carries a friendly or amused tone, as if the speaker is an outsider looking in.

常見錯誤

❌I am studying a new lingo at university this year.
✅I am studying a new language at university this year.
💡'lingo' is too informal for formal academic contexts; use 'language' instead.

2. the special words and expressions used by people in a particular profession, spo

2.名詞B2
釋義

the special words and expressions used by people in a particular profession, sport, hobby, or social group

例句

Wei could not understand the medical lingo the doctor was using.

medical lingo — technical vocabulary of a field

The IT team's lingo was full of acronyms that confused the new manager.

同義詞
  • jargon

    more neutral and widely accepted in formal writing; can carry a slightly negative tone when used about needlessly complicated language

  • terminology

    formal and precise; the standard academic term for the set of technical words in a field

  • slang

    informal, but refers specifically to casual spoken words rather than technical terms

反義詞

文法句型

domain/field + lingo

the + domain + lingo

用法筆記

Often preceded by a domain word that specifies the area of expertise (medical lingo, legal lingo, computer lingo, internet lingo). Can also appear with a possessor (the team's lingo, the gamers' lingo).

常見錯誤

❌The professor's lecture was full of academic lingo.
✅The professor's lecture was full of academic jargon.
💡'jargon' is the standard word for formal or written technical vocabulary; 'lingo' sounds too casual for an academic setting.