sleng

Sleng is a term used in several contexts, and its meaning can vary depending on the topic and regional usage. In linguistics and sociolinguistics, sleng (often rendered as slang in English, but spelled as sleng in some Caribbean and urban registers) denotes informal language, street talk, or jargon used within a particular community. The spelling variation reflects pronunciation and orthographic conventions in certain creoles and dialects, and researchers study sleng as a marker of identity, solidarity, social distance, and evolving cultural norms.

In Jamaican music, Sleng Teng refers to a landmark digital riddim that helped redefine dancehall in the mid-1980s. The riddim is notable for its fully digital production and its influence on the sound of contemporary reggae and dancehall. Songs built on the Sleng Teng bed popularized the style and contributed to a broader shift toward computer-generated rhythms in Caribbean music. The name itself has become emblematic within the genre and is often associated with the era, the innovations in production, and a distinctive, futuristic sound.

The term Sleng may also appear as a proper noun in other contexts, including stage names, group names, or branding. Such uses are less standardized and vary by region and medium, without a single, universally recognized canonical meaning. Overall, Sleng functions as a versatile label bridging linguistic slang and a culturally significant musical motif, depending on the context.