Translation guide
The English word "slug" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: the slimy animal, a bullet, a drink of alcohol, and a typographical line of text. Each meaning has different Japanese equivalents.
Referring to the shell-less terrestrial mollusk.
The standard Japanese word for a slug. Used in everyday conversation.
庭にナメクジがいた。
There was a slug in the garden.
The kanji form of ナメクジ. Rarely used in modern writing; usually written in kana.
蛞蝓が這っている。
A slug is crawling.
Referring to a single projectile fired from a shotgun or similar weapon.
The technical term for a shotgun slug. スラッグ is a loanword from English, and 弾 means 'bullet' or 'round'.
彼はスラッグ弾を装填した。
He loaded a slug.
Means 'shot' or 'pellet' in general, but can refer to a slug in context. More commonly used for smaller pellets.
散弾銃でスラッグを撃つ。
Shoot a slug with a shotgun.
Referring to a quick drink of liquor, often taken in one gulp.
A general counter for drinks. Can mean 'a glass' or 'a shot'. Use with the name of the drink.
ウイスキーを一杯飲んだ。
I had a slug of whiskey.
Loanword from English 'shot'. Commonly used in bars for a single measure of spirits.
テキーラのショットをください。
I'll have a slug of tequila.
An emphatic way to say 'a quick gulp'. ぐいっと is an onomatopoeia for gulping.
彼はビールをぐいっと一杯飲んだ。
He took a slug of beer.
Referring to a line of text in printing or typesetting, especially in journalism.
Loanword used in printing and journalism for a line of type or a strip of metal used for spacing. Also used in modern contexts for a line of text in a layout.
見出しのスラッグを設定する。
Set the slug for the headline.
General word for 'line' of text. Not specific to typesetting, but can be used in context.
この行をスラッグとして使う。
Use this line as a slug.
ナメクジ (slug) is often confused with カタツムリ (snail). A snail has a shell; a slug does not. Be careful not to mix them up.
カタツムリには殻があるが、ナメクジにはない。
A snail has a shell, but a slug does not.