死語(しご)

しご
noun
dead word; obsolete word; dead language
language
1. dead word; obsolete expression
A word or expression that was once commonly used but is no longer current. Often said humorously about slang or trends that have fallen out of fashion.
その言葉(ことば)はもう死語(しご)だよ。
That word is already obsolete.
「ナウい」は完全(かんぜん)に死語(しご)になった。
"Naui" (trendy) has become completely obsolete.
若者(わかもの)の流行語(りゅうこうご)はすぐに死語(しご)になりやすい。
Youth slang tends to become obsolete quickly.
2. dead language
A language that is no longer spoken as a native language by any community, such as Latin or Ancient Greek.
ラテン語(ご)は死語(しご)だ。
Latin is a dead language.
死語(しご)とされる言語(げんご)でも研究者(けんきゅうしゃ)には重要(じゅうよう)だ。
Even languages considered dead are important to researchers.
死語(しご)を復活(ふっかつ)させようとする運動(うんどう)もある。
There are also movements trying to revive dead languages.

Usage

Sense 1 is the more common usage in everyday Japanese. Often used humorously when someone uses an outdated slang term or expression. Japanese has many generational slang words that quickly become 死語(しご), such as ナウい (1980s slang for "trendy").

Common collocations

  • 死語(しご)になる (to become obsolete)
  • 死語(しご)と化(か)す (to turn into a dead word)
  • もはや死語(しご) (already a dead word)

Similar words

Related Words

Related: 古語(こご) (archaic/classical word)
Compare: 廃語(はいご) (obsolete word)
Homophone: 死後(しご) (after death)
general
Added 2026.3.16 14:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
17000/17170_shigo