Word
lang
Phoneticslang
/ˈɫæŋ/
Definitions
01abbreviation for language
n. a short form of the word 'language', often used in computer settings or lists.
n. a standard abbreviation for 'language', frequently employed in ISO codes, computing metadata, and linguistic documentation.
“The website settings had a folder named 'lang' where all the different translations were kept.”
“The developer adjusted the 'lang' attribute in the HTML header to ensure screen readers used the correct pronunciation for the regional dialect.”
Technical
Usage
Often used as a label in code or as a file extension.
Teaching tip
Students will mostly see this in digital contexts or on forms rather than in spoken English.
Synonyms
02long
adj. an old or regional way of saying 'long'.
adj. a dialectal or archaic variant of 'long', surviving primarily in Scots and Northern English dialects.
“The old song mentioned the 'lang road' home across the hills.”
“The poet utilised 'lang' to evoke a specific Northern atmosphere, grounding the verse in the linguistic traditions of the border regions.”
Archaic · Dialect
Usage
Primarily found in Scots or Northern English poetry and traditional songs.
Teaching tip
This is a non-standard form; learners should recognise it in literature but avoid using it in modern standard prose.
Antonyms
Idioms
auld lang syne — Days gone by; former times.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/lang