Slang Among Business Administration Students: A Descriptive Study in a University in Cagayan de Oro City

This study aimed to determine the use of slang among Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) students at a university in Cagayan de Oro City. Using a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design, 74 fourth-year respondents were selected through stratified random sampling and answered a researcher-administered questionnaire. The most commonly reported slang expressions were abas (17.6%), charot (14.9%), fr (12.2%), and sana all (12.2%), most of which were general youth and internet slang formed through shortening, coinage, and meaning reassignment; business-related expressions were listed by 23.0% of respondents. The study examined the relationship between students’ frequency of slang usage and its perceived influence on their academic, peer-related, and professional domains. Results showed a high frequency of slang usage (M = 3.71, SD = 0.88), particularly in academic settings, and a very high level of perceived influence (M = 4.37, SD = 3.95), with the professional domain obtaining the highest rating. A significant strong positive relationship was found between frequency of slang use and its perceived influence, r(72) = .70, 95% CI [.56, .80], p < .001. Because the design is correlational, this result indicates an association and not a causal effect. The findings suggest that respondents report adjusting their slang use according to the setting. The study highlights the importance of developing flexible language skills for effective communication in both informal and formal settings.