# The link between certain sounds and ranges of meanings

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-link-between-certain-sounds-and-ranges-of-meanings/649808>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 9, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-link-between-certain-sounds-and-ranges-of-meanings/649808 "2013-02-09T18:10:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-link-between-certain-sounds-and-ranges-of-meanings/649808/1 "2013-02-09T18:10:19Z")

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I’ve realized that a particular arrangement of letters has something in common. A 4 letter word whose first letter is an “s”, second one is “c” or “l”, third one is “a” or “u” and last one is “g”, “m” or “t” always has a quite negative meaning:

Scag: Heroin.  
Scam: Fraud.  
Scat: Feces.

Scug: Hiding/concealing - Shadow/shade. A shelter especially the downward slope of a hill. Hair that accumulates on the drain of a shower. - Schoolboy without academic or athletic distinction, social grace, or personal attraction; broadly: an unattractive meanspirited person  
Scum: Unwanted residue of impurities. A contemptible person.  
Scut: Trivial, tedious, dirty work.

Slag: Unwanted residue of impurities in the steel industry. A contemptible promiscuous woman.  
Slam: To hit violently or to strongly disparage.  
Slat: To throw violently or fling carelessly.

Slug: A heavy, slow, ponderous animal/projectile/person.  
Slum: A squalid overcrowded area.  
Slut: A contemptible promiscuous woman.  
If this isn’t a coincidence, what would be the reasons for such a phenomenon? Are there other sounds and letter arrangements which are associated with particular ranges of meanings, whether positive or negative?