shrub
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To mispronounce (a word or words) in another language in a manner that is influenced by one's mother tongue.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The people who benefit from making fun of shrubbing, therefore, are Kenyans who do not speak indigenous languages, because they are less likely to shrub than Kenyans who learned English as a second language in school and may have a heavier accent.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “shrub” mean?
To mispronounce (a word or words) in another language in a manner that is influenced by one's mother tongue.
Is “shrub” formal or informal?
shrub is generally slang.