dem
gb/dɪm/ us/dɪm/
B2
English
~ 8300
őket, nekik, demokrata, digitális domborzatmodell, DEM
B2
SLANG
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] [verb] dem
You see dem over there by the gate?
Látod őket ott a kapunál?
All dem kids were dancing to the music.
Azok a gyerekek mind a zenére táncoltak.
I told dem to be quiet, but they kept talking.
She don’t like dem kind of movies at all.
Look at dem shoes—where did you get them?
Learner examples
I saw dem in the park.
Láttam őket a parkban.
He said he would help dem tomorrow.
Azt mondta, hogy holnap segít nekik.
She is angry with dem now.
We met dem after the show.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think “dem” is a correct standard word like “them.” In normal English writing, exams, and formal speech, only “them” is correct. “Dem” should be avoided outside of quoted speech, song lyrics, or when you intentionally write in a particular dialect.
Meaning
nonstandard spelling of “them”
Collocations
all dem
|look at dem
|dem boys
|dem girls
|dem people
Synonyms
them (Standard and correct in all types of English; use this form in normal writing and speech.)
|
those people (More explicit phrase; refers only to people, not things, and sounds more formal than “dem.”)
Antonyms
us (Refers to the speaker’s own group, opposite to “them/dem,” which refers to another group.)
Themes
communication
|culture
|internet
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A slang spelling of “them,” used in songs, chats, and some dialects to show informal speech.
A highly informal, nonstandard spelling of “them,” used in some English dialects and in writing that imitates informal speech or song lyrics.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
2
demokrata
B1
Usage pattern:
a Dem [politician]
Several Dem lawmakers spoke out against the bill.
She’s a lifelong Dem from Wisconsin.
Some Dem strategists are worried about low turnout among young voters.
The ad was clearly aimed at persuading swing voters, not core Dem supporters.
Learner examples
He is a Dem from New York.
Many Dem voters liked that plan.
Some Dem leaders talked about climate change on TV.
A young Dem candidate won the election.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse “Dem” with general words like “democratic” or “democracy.” “Dem” is specifically a U.S. political label for members or supporters of the Democratic Party, and it is usually written with a capital D. It is not used for democracy in general.
Meaning
informal word for “Democrat”
Collocations
Dem voters
|Dem lawmakers
|Dem candidate
|Dem leaders
|pro-Dem groups
Synonyms
Democrat (Full standard term; used in all levels of formality and in careful writing.)
Antonyms
Republican (Member or supporter of the main opposing party in U.S. politics; often contrasted with “Dem.”)
Themes
politics
|news
|society
Definition
A short, informal word for a person who is in, or supports, the U.S. Democratic Party.
An informal abbreviation for a member or supporter of the U.S. Democratic Party.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
DEM
C1
Usage pattern:
a DEM of [a place]
The researchers created a DEM from satellite imagery to study landslide risk.
A kutatók műholdfelvételek alapján digitális domborzatmodellt készítettek, hogy vizsgálják a földcsuszamlás kockázatát.
We used the DEM to model potential flood zones along the river.
A digitális domborzatmodellt használtuk arra, hogy modellezzük a folyó menti lehetséges árvízi zónákat.
DEM data were imported into the GIS before running the hydrological analysis.
Learner examples
The DEM shows the hills and valleys on the map.
A digitális domborzatmodell megmutatja a dombokat és a völgyeket a térképen.
They made a DEM of the island from satellite photos.
Műholdfelvételek alapján digitális domborzatmodellt készítettek a szigetről.
Engineers use a DEM to plan where to build roads.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is almost always written in all caps as “DEM” and used mainly in technical or GIS contexts. It is unrelated to the slang pronoun spelling “dem” meaning “them.”
Meaning
digital elevation model (DEM)
Collocations
high-resolution DEM
|DEM data
|DEM generation
|DEM analysis
|DEM of the area
Synonyms
digital elevation model (Full technical term; more explicit and formal, often preferred in academic writing.)
Themes
science
|technology
|geography
Definition
A computer map that shows how high or low the land is at many points.
An abbreviation for “digital elevation model,” a digital representation of ground surface elevations used in mapping and geographic analysis.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dem
IPA
GB/dɪm/
US/dɪm/
Syllables & stress
dem (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: dem
- Plural: dems
Word family
Forms
dems
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.