vernacular
Other forms: vernaculars; vernacularly
Vernacular describes everyday language, including slang, that's used by the people. The vernacular is different from literary or official language: it's the way people really talk with each other, like how families talk at home.
You know how some language is fancy and formal? Vernacular is different: think of it as how friends talk when no one is listening. Vernacular language includes slang and obscenities. One of the hardest things about writing for school is getting away from the vernacular and learning to write in more formal ways that don't come as naturally. You can also say specific groups have a vernacular, meaning the unique way people in a certain region or profession speak.
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the everyday speech of the people (as distinguished from literary language)type of:non-standard speechspeech that differs from the usual accepted, easily recognizable speech of native adult members of a speech community
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a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)types:street nameslang for something (especially for an illegal drug)rhyming slangslang that replaces words with rhyming words or expressions and then typically omits the rhyming componenttype of:non-standard speechspeech that differs from the usual accepted, easily recognizable speech of native adult members of a speech community
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being or characteristic of or appropriate to everyday language
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Vocabulary lists containing vernacular
The origins of slang are unknown, but it was first used to describe the specialized words used by members of a specific group or trade. Learn this list of terms related to the informal language that groups use casually among themselves.
Considered a seminal work of African-American literature, Their Eyes Were Watching God is notable for its strong and independent female protagonist.