Word
dem
Phoneticsdem
Definitions
01them
pron. a way of saying 'them' used in certain dialects or informal speech.
pron. a nonstandard or dialectal variant of the third-person plural object pronoun 'them'.
“I don't like dem at all, they are always making noise.”
“In many Caribbean-influenced dialects, 'dem' serves as the standard object pronoun where general English would use 'them'.”
Dialect · Slang · Informal
Usage
Used as the object of a verb or preposition in specific dialects.
Teaching tip
Learners should recognize this in songs or films but avoid using it in academic or professional writing unless they are intentionally mimicking a specific dialect.
Synonyms
02those
det. a way of saying 'those' used in some informal dialects.
det. a dialectal demonstrative determiner used in place of 'those'.
“Look at dem shoes over there, they look really expensive.”
“The speaker used 'dem' as a demonstrative to point out specific items across the room, a common feature in Multicultural London English.”
Dialect · Slang · Informal
Usage
Placed before a plural noun to point something out.
Teaching tip
This is highly informal and associated with specific regional identities; use with caution.
Synonyms
03Democrat
n. a short way to say 'Democrat' or refer to the Democratic Party in the US.
n. A clipping of 'Democrat' or an abbreviation for the Democratic Party, often used in political journalism or polling data.
“The latest poll shows the Dem candidate is leading by five points.”
“Political analysts often use 'Dem' and 'GOP' as shorthand when discussing voting blocks and legislative strategies in the United States.”
American English · Informal
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun like 'candidate' or 'voter'.
Teaching tip
Common in headlines and news graphics where space is limited.
Synonyms
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/dem