slaw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to ModerateInformal, Culinary
Quick answer
What does “slaw” mean?
A salad made of shredded raw cabbage, sometimes with other shredded vegetables, in a dressing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A salad made of shredded raw cabbage, sometimes with other shredded vegetables, in a dressing.
A chilled salad composed primarily of finely sliced or shredded raw vegetables, typically served as a side dish. May also refer to any shredded vegetable mixture resembling traditional coleslaw.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, "coleslaw" is the dominant and more standard term; "slaw" is less common and can be seen as an Americanism. In the US, particularly the South and Midwest, "slaw" is a common, accepted short form.
Connotations
UK: Informal, possibly influenced by American media. US: Neutral to informal, often associated with home-style or Southern cooking.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, especially in menus and casual speech. Relatively low frequency in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “slaw” in a Sentence
[eat/have/serve] [some/a portion of] slaw[make/prepare] [a bowl of] [creamy] slaw[slaw] [with] [carrots/apples]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slaw” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- A slaw salad is perfect for a barbecue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in restaurant supply, catering, or food retail contexts.
Academic
Extremely rare, except in culinary or cultural studies.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation about food, especially in the US. Used when ordering or discussing meals.
Technical
Used in professional cooking and recipe writing as an informal term for coleslaw.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slaw”
- Spelling as 'slaw' when meaning 'slow'.
- Using 'slaw' in formal British writing where 'coleslaw' is expected.
- Assuming it refers to any salad, rather than specifically a shredded, raw vegetable one.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, primarily. It is a clipped form that has become standard in some varieties of English, especially American English.
Yes. While cabbage is traditional, modern recipes often use broccoli, kale, carrots, or other shredded raw vegetables. These are still commonly referred to as 'slaw' (e.g., broccoli slaw).
It is generally considered informal. In formal or academic writing, 'coleslaw' is the preferred term.
It comes from the Dutch word 'koolsla', meaning 'cabbage salad' ('kool' = cabbage, 'sla' = salad). The shortened form 'slaw' developed in American English.
A salad made of shredded raw cabbage, sometimes with other shredded vegetables, in a dressing.
Slaw: in British English it is pronounced /slɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /slɔː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Everything from soup to slaw (Southern US variant of 'soup to nuts')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound when you bite into a crunchy, fresh slaw: "SLAWunch!" It's a shortened, snappy word for a crunchy salad.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD IS CONSTRUCTION (slaw is 'built' from shredded ingredients).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'slaw' MOST appropriate?