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Who says "teach" for "teacher"?

Hi English experts

I'm not a native speaker. Please help me with some insights to the informal "teach" for "teacher". How widely is it used? Who uses it? Is it a Brit/US thing? Is it a fashionable expression now or is it out of fashion? Does everyone know it or is it an insider expression?

Background info: I intend to register a domain name that contains this word. The website is going to provide a great service for kids and teenagers. It would be an epic fail if "teach" was something their grandmother used to say...

Thank you very much.

- Jonathan


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Happy Valentine's. Play us a rose, you're organic, man.

Victims of circumstance owe it to fate. Victims of choice owe it to themselves.

It was slang in the USA back in the 50s and maybe into the 60s. I do not know if it is still used. I did not hear any of my 5 children use it.

Personally, if I were a teacher, I would find this term offensive.

Here is the entry from Webster's New World Dictionary-

TEACH
vt.
taught, teach-ing from ME techen < OE t+can < base of tacn, a sign, symbol (see TOKEN); basic sense “to show, demonstrate,” as in Ger zeigen
1    to show or help (a person) to learn (how) to do something !to teach a child (how) to swim"
2    to give lessons to (a student, pupil, or class); guide the studies of; instruct
3    to give lessons in (a subject) to someone; help someone to develop (a skill or trait) !teaches French, taught him self-discipline"
4    a) to provide (a person) with knowledge, insight, etc. !the accident that taught her to be careful" b) to attempt to cause someone to understand or accept (a precept or philosophy), esp. by one's own example or preaching !her life itself teaches nonviolence"
5    to give instruction at or in (a place) !to teach school"
vi.
to give lessons or instruction; be a teacher, esp. in a school or college



n. teachability or teachableness

adj. teachable

adv.teachably


SYN.—teach is the basic, inclusive word for the imparting of knowledge or skills and usually connotes some individual attention to the learner [he taught her how to skate]; instruct implies systematized teaching, usually in some particular subject [she instructs in chemistry]; educate stresses the development of latent faculties and powers by formal, systematic teaching, esp. in institutions of higher learning [he was educated in European universities]; train implies the development of a particular faculty or skill, or instruction toward a particular occupation, as by methodical discipline, exercise, etc. [he was trained as a mechanic]; school, often equivalent to any of the preceding, sometimes specifically connotes a disciplining to endure something difficult [he had to school himself to obedience]

Notably, one does not see teach used in the slang manner that you inquire about.

Jay

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Rob
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Yes, it was not very commonly used, even when it was around as slang for teacher. It was not very respectful to say "Hi teach." But then "Hi teacher" would seem odd too. Rob

Posted 2009-12-15T02:22:43Z
Rob was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

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