How do slang words get started?

Question

For instance puke. What's the word orgin and how long has that word been around?

Answer 1

my sophmore year of highschool I read a book called American Language. I think that was what it was called. but it was very informative on how all kinds of things came about in our language and it was funny too. The book had a big eagle on the front cover. So if you go to the library I bet you could find it in the reference section.

Answer 2

I've often thought that slang words sometimes get started by someone mis-hearing a word or misunderstanding a word's meaning and then using what they think they understand in a situation where other people think it is cool. Sometimes it is a straight-out metaphor that gets shortened by use and popular familiarity. If a public figure or someone admired uses a phrase or word it is "picked up" and immitated by others.

To use your example, maybe someone saw some vomit and smelled it. They might have made the involuntary sound "phew" at the smell. Somebody else misheard them and thought they were saying "puke." So, the next time that second person ran a cross vomit they called it puke. A third person might have then heard that and used it as in "don't make me puke" leading to the gerund of "puking." Who knows?

Answer 3

Slang words get "licensed gradually" through regular usage in a society.

Answer 4

Simple. Someone makes a typo, someone makes fun of it. Soon everyone does, then it becomes a slang word. o_o

Answer 5

I don't know but Mr. T says " I pity the fool that pukes on me!"

Answer 6

Good question. I have no idea. Like a$$, where the heck did THAT come from?

Answer 7

get started to say these words. ;)

Answer 8

hang out with your friends and watching tv

Answer 9

This questions is folashous.

Answer 10

whell people dont no