Prison slang

Prison slang is an argot used primarily by criminals and detainees in correctional institutions. Many of the terms deal with criminal behavior, incarcerated life, legal cases, street life, and different types of inmates. Prison slang has existed as long as there have been crime and prisons; in Charles Dickens' time it was known as "thieves' cant". Words from prison slang often eventually migrate into common usage, such as "snitch", "ducking", and "narc".

Prison slang, like other types of slang and dialects, varies regionally.

See also

  • Gassing (prison slang)
  • External links

  • The Prison Slang Dictionary, written by a currently incarcerated inmate
  • Prison Slang (US and UK)
  • Podcasts:

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    Latest News for: prison slang

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    'Yoh' officially joins the Oxford English Dictionary

    Independent online (SA) 26 Mar 2025
    "A South African slang term describing a person who has had enough; one who is extremely annoyed, ... "A slang term for word jail or prison", and sharp-sharp as a casual way to say hello or goodbye.
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    Porridge? No, prisoners can now choose from 22 breakfast cereals! | Daily Mail Online

    The Daily Mail 22 Mar 2025
    There was a time when all that prisoners in Britain’s jails could rely upon was a gloopy helping of porridge. In fact, so frequently was it served that ‘doing porridge’ became the slang term for being incarcerated.
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    How to Follow Up a Blockbuster Debut Novel

    New York Magazine 21 Mar 2025
    What kind of research did you need to do in order to write the period slang accurately? ... So now the prison slang for the relationships that men have in prison with each other, they still use words like “punk.” It goes back to the logger stuff.
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