7 Shocking Secrets Of The Past Tense For 'Slay': Slew, Slain, And The Slang Revolution Of 'Slayed'
The word "slay" has had a dramatic journey through the English language, transforming from a grim term for violent killing into one of the most powerful compliments in modern pop culture. As of December 2025, the question of its correct past tense remains a fascinating source of confusion for grammar enthusiasts and casual speakers alike. The answer is not a simple one, as the verb "slay" operates on two parallel tracks: the formal, centuries-old irregular form, and the modern, widely accepted slang form.
To truly master this verb, you must navigate the difference between its traditional, irregular conjugations—slew and slain—and the contemporary, regularized form, slayed, which has conquered social media and everyday conversation. Understanding this duality is key to using "slay" correctly, whether you're writing a formal essay or posting an enthusiastic comment online.
The Formal Conjugation: Slay, Slew, Slain (The Irregular Path)
In formal, traditional English, the verb "slay" is classified as a strong or irregular verb. This means it does not follow the standard rule of adding "-ed" to form its past tense and past participle. Instead, it undergoes an internal vowel change, a linguistic process known as ablaut.
The traditional, formal conjugations of "slay" are essential for its original meaning: to kill in a violent way, often associated with mythical or historical contexts like dragon-slaying or battlefield accounts.
- Base Form (V1/Infinitive): Slay
- Simple Past Tense (V2): Slew
- Past Participle (V3): Slain
The Simple Past Tense: Slew
The simple past tense, slew, is used to describe a completed action that took place in the past. While grammatically correct, it is increasingly rare in modern conversation and can sound archaic or overly dramatic.
Examples of Formal Usage with 'Slew':
- *The knight slew the beast with a single, mighty blow.* (Simple Past)
- *Shakespeare’s Macbeth slew the king to seize the throne.* (Simple Past)
The Past Participle: Slain
The past participle, slain, is used with auxiliary verbs (like *have*, *has*, *had*, or *be*) to form the perfect tenses (e.g., *present perfect*, *past perfect*) or the passive voice.
Examples of Formal Usage with 'Slain':
- *The dragon had already been slain by a previous hero.* (Past Perfect Passive)
- *Many soldiers were slain in the ancient battle.* (Passive Voice)
- *The news reported that three travelers had been slain in the remote forest.* (Past Perfect)
The Slang Revolution: Why 'Slayed' is Taking Over
The most significant development in the usage of "slay" is its shift in meaning and the subsequent regularization of its past tense. The verb "slay" gained its contemporary, positive definition—to do an excellent job, to impress greatly, or to look stunning—from Black and Hispanic LGBTQ+ ballroom culture, a movement that gained wider cultural prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
When used in this slang context, the traditional forms slew and slain feel completely out of place. Imagine telling a friend, "That outfit slew!"—it simply doesn't convey the intended meaning of "killing it" in a stylish way.
To match the new, vibrant meaning, speakers naturally applied the standard English rule for forming the past tense, resulting in the regularized form: slayed.
The Slang Conjugation:
- Base Form (V1): Slay
- Simple Past Tense (V2): Slayed
- Past Participle (V3): Slayed
Why 'Slayed' is the ONLY Correct Answer in Pop Culture
In the context of modern slang, slayed is the universally accepted and expected past tense and past participle. Using "slew" or "slain" in this context would not only sound awkward but would also completely miss the cultural mark. This is a classic example of how language evolves to meet the needs of its speakers, often favoring simplicity and regularity over historical precedent.
Examples of Slang Usage with 'Slayed':
- *Her performance at the awards show absolutely slayed.* (Simple Past - meaning: impressed everyone)
- *He had slayed the runway with his fierce walk.* (Past Perfect - meaning: done an amazing job)
- *That new song slayed me!* (Simple Past - meaning: overwhelmed me with delight or excitement)
Slew vs. Slayed: A Guide to Contextual Authority
Understanding when to use slew (or slain) and when to use slayed is the key to achieving topical authority on this verb. The choice is entirely dependent on the context and the intended meaning of the word.
When to Use 'Slew' or 'Slain' (Formal Context)
Use the irregular forms when the meaning is literally to kill or destroy.
- Subject Matter: Mythology, epic poetry, historical battles, crime reports, or formal academic writing.
- Tone: Serious, dramatic, or archaic.
- Associated Entities: Dragons, monsters, kings, knights, warriors, and ancient texts.
When to Use 'Slayed' (Informal Context)
Use the regularized form when the meaning is to succeed spectacularly or look fabulous.
- Subject Matter: Pop culture, fashion, performance, social media, music, or everyday enthusiastic conversation.
- Tone: Enthusiastic, celebratory, complimentary, or informal.
- Associated Entities: Celebrities (like Beyoncé or Taylor Swift), fashion shows, runway models, Grammys, TikTok trends, and Gen Z vocabulary.
The existence of two distinct past tenses for the same verb is a testament to the dynamic nature of English. The slang use of "slay" has effectively created a homograph—a word spelled the same but with different meanings and, crucially, different conjugations. The formal meaning retains its irregular history (slay-slew-slain), while the slang meaning adopts the regular pattern (slay-slayed-slayed), making it easier for new speakers to integrate the term.
The Etymological Deep Dive: From Old English to Gen Z
The verb "slay" has one of the longest and most fascinating histories in the English language. Its roots trace back to the Old English word *slean*, which meant "to strike, hit, or kill." This ancient origin is why it retains its irregular conjugation, similar to other old verbs like *see-saw-seen* or *drive-drove-driven*.
Over the centuries, the meaning of "slay" softened slightly, and by the 1300s, it could be used to mean being "slayed by overwhelming delight," a precursor to the modern slang. This shows that the capacity of "slay" to mean something powerful and positive has been dormant in the language for hundreds of years.
However, the modern resurgence is firmly rooted in 20th-century American culture, specifically the Ballroom scene, where performers would "slay" the competition with their looks, dance moves, or attitude. This usage was popularized and went mainstream through media and social platforms, cementing slayed as the dominant past tense for the slang meaning.
In conclusion, the past tense of "slay" is a grammatical paradox: slew is technically correct for the formal, violent meaning, but slayed is the undisputed champion for the modern, complimentary meaning. To be an expert user of English in the 21st century, you must master both.
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