Learn the lingo and you'll soon be conversing like a true Brit. U.K. slang includes some interesting insults. Ill be with you in a jiffy. It is not considered appropriate for use in polite company. Mate You know you're living the UK when you hear this used like a comma. One of the more boring and technical terms on this list, a car park is in effect, the place outside or attached to a building where people park their cars. Last edited on Nov 26 2011. Privacy Policy. Often preceded with the word "quite" or "pretty" because British people dont like to show off. Cuppa is just another way of saying a cup of tea. Its a Southern English slang that came from the phrase cup of and was shortened to eventually just cuppa.. You can find out more about that in this wiki post. Example in spoken form: In my new job Ill be earning 75 kay a year. 10. British people like to enjoy themselves. Can mean either "crazy" or "angry" depending on the context. One pound is subdivided into 100 pence, the singular of which is one penny. British slang is a niche of its own, evolving and transforming and adapting from city to city and from year to year, just as the English language itself has done. any expensive, flashy, or shiny jewelry, usually gold or silver, esp. These include, Laurence Brown is a British man writing his way through the truly bizarre world of America - a place he sometimes accidentally calls home and a place he still hasn't quite figured out after seven years, . For example, you might say Im going to Steves birthday do tonight.. He got merked last week. From New York, to California, Louisiana to Hawaii (and so much more! on Mar 03 2002. However it's been surmised that bonbon isn't meant as candy, but something much better: genitals. Tom Scocca, Gawker.com. So you're basically claiming something, like the passenger seat of a car. When someone in England, especially in London, takes the subway train to go somewhere, they usually use this expression. The art of British slang. Writers who can turn any piece of writing into a dream read!Show me their credentials! One of the most productive terms of the war was strafe. to expose an inappropriate part of one's body. Usage: "Air force Ones are the cadillacs of feet whips". London's infamous roadmen have their . A nifty little British term that means rubbish or crap. Open yourself up to the delights of the English language, especially the variety that's spoken where English got its start. on Feb 05 2002. This is a slightly politer way to say our next expression: To mock or laugh at someone or something. One of the most useful swear words in English. For example, My wife gave me a real bollocking for getting to pick up the dry cleaning on my way home from work.. Often substituted in friendly circles for exhausted. on Mar 08 2002. Float my boat - usually used in the phrase, 'yeah, whatever floats your boat' meaning whatever you like. If a British person tells you theyre off to spend a penny and then they promptly disappear, its because theyre actually going to the toilet. What I like about this term and its two/three usages is that the following sentence, Nick got nicked for nicking somethingmakes grammatical sense. No collection of slang would be complete without casual terminology used for nouns that are common among those who speak the language or dialect. In fact, British people say "cheers" all the time without noticing they're doing it - a bit like the way they say "sorry" all . % buffered 00:01 3. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. ), read on for an exploration of fascinating, common, odd, rare and unique American slang. This classic British insult literally means that someone masturbates, but is used much like pillock and tosser. With FluentU, for example, you can create a personalized flashcard deck based on the words that pop up in the programs English media clips, like movie trailers and interviews. There's no getting around itclothes are just an important part of everyday life. I will not be going out today; it is a pea-souper out there. Trainers are the British equivalent of the American sneakers denoting athletic shoes. If you want to read more about cockney rhyming slang and money, read this BBC article. Slightly more of an outdated version, this British slang term is still used, and its meaning remains relevant today. Bodge something 6. More common, and common in the north and southwest England. Welcome to Britain, where the food is heavy and the slang is almost completely impenetrable. 3. Mostly heard in London, this means "ladies". For example, Dont it that mate it looks minging.. Bog ( slang) - This is a slang term for a toilet, and has spun off several related terms, such as bog brush (toilet brush) and bog roll (toilet paper). Whats more British than fish and chips? 14. Butcher's hook 22. For example, I left my car in the car park this morning.. Free English Learning Apps That Make ESL Practice Convenient and Cheap, Learn English Through Movies and Film: The Complete Guide, How to Speak English Fluently: 27 Simple Tips for Reaching Your Language Goals. Seldom seen these days. Bloody How to Learn More UK Slang Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Hes dead gorgeous. For example, busted can mean "broken" or "ugly," sick can mean "ill" or "very cool," and hip can mean "trendy" or "fashionably un-trendy.". 2. E.g. For example, Im going away for a fortnight to Egypt for my summer holiday.. Cockney Slang uses language in one of the most interesting ways, by rhyming with . For example, Cheers for getting me that drink, Steve. Bob's your uncle 5. This is a polite or indirect way to tell someone that you need to use the toilet. Often referred to as "The Gaffer". Interestingly, its only ever used in the singular. Used in the north of England to mean "thirsty". Making jokes, often at the expense of others in your company. An arse is your rear end (not to be confused with an ass, which is a donkey). There are considerable differences between Britain and America when it comes to houses. Your grasp of the slang portion of British English won't be complete unless you master a few of the most common U.K. slang exclamations and expressions. Also used as an adjective in parts of northern England to mean "fantastic": Thats grand. Narky 14. For example, I am absolutely knackered after working all day.. Innit 12. Gutted - is a British term you use to describe feeling devastated or upset. Jammy is in semi-common use in the north west and south west of England. For example, The papers sent out to the students were all in the wrong language its a real cock up. Also, I cocked up the orders for table number four.. All to pot refers to a situation going out of your control and failing miserably. Nice one, really.. Usually, this expression is used without the verb be. This means that people do not generally add the phrase I am before the expression. One of the definitions of the word pop is to move quickly or suddenly. A person can be dodgy but so can an object: I think I ate a dodgy curry. From "bourgeois." We also refer to a ten pound note as a tenner. Need your document in perfect English? When in doubt, refer to this list so you can carry on conversations with ease, even with the locals. Therefore one quid, five quid, fifty quid. This expression became popular around the Industrial Revolution in England when lots of factories burned coal and cities like London were always surrounded by a thick fog of pollution. A not so delicate way to refer to sexual intercourse. You might get a bollocking. We could see a movie." Taking the Piss To mock or ridicule. For example, She thinks Barrys the bees knees. Pissed: drunk. All rights reserved. Dont forget the mushy peas. Last edited on Apr 08 2013. These are example of British slang, and they can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand and use correctly. Hes a complete nutter. Of course, there also have to be slang options to describe actions and behaviors people engage in on a regular basis. Submitted by Rob H. from Newton, MA, USA Come over to my gaff; we are having a party there. Short for "of course" and normally followed by a word like "mate" or "bruv". Againa lot of words for drunk. Looking to create a blog? Have you ever overheard some rather strange terms for money? Ace: 'Ace' stands for excellent. This is the British university slang word for a library. Sneakers might be a simple Classic Keds shoe; Tennis Shoes are "improved" sneakers with strategically placed enforcement in the sole and upper, designed for the specialized purpose of playing tennis and more expensive than sneakers (see also Running Shoes, Basketball Shoes, et. But don't worry, we're going to help. A mouth. Usually used together with "completely", this means to be drunk. [orchestral music] Bob's your uncle, I never really know what this one means. Have you met Bobs girlfriend? For example, 'Cheers for getting me that drink, Steve'. You alright fam?. of extreme high quality, expensive to a point that it becomes unattainable. I was gobsmacked when I found out that I lost my job. However, in informal American English, geezer means odd or crazy and is usually used to refer to old men. Untrustworthy. It is often used as an expression of anger or is used to emphasize a comment. I avoid the morning traffic that way. You can refer to a person who grassed you up as a "grass". Are You Spending Your Time on What Is Time-Worthy? And, as with everything else, practice makes perfect! A do is essentially a party, to my knowledge it doesnt refer to a particular form of party, so feel free to use it as you like. For ex: Ill be back in a minute, Im just off to spend a penny! Chuffed is used more or less all over the UK, it seems to be decreasing in popularity, but is still in relatively common usage. Hes made a complete pigs ear of that project. Someone who is a bit stupid or annoying. Yes, British people have a lot of slang words for money. Last edited on Sep 15 2018. Idris Elba stars in TURN UP CHARLIE which will premiere onNetflix globally March 15:. A working knowledge of a few important slang words, phrases used in local dialects and colloquialisms will help your understanding of what's really going on in any conversation in the British Isles. An exclamation of surprise. Can be a noun (fancy a snog?) or a verb (did you snog him?). But there is something wonderfully tender and endearing about it. Rob is the only one on the team who does not faff around in the office. For ex: My neighbour has his own business and hes got heaps of dosh. We also participate in other affiliate advertising programs for products and services we believe in. Very wealthy. Beef - a hostility between two people that usually results in violence. Used to be standard wear for young boys until WW2 (getting "long pants" was a rite of passage). You never know when it starts to rain in England. Let us know in the comments. meaning fancy, stunning or anything that looks extraordinarily good. This quiz will be the center of your attention when you discover all the different British slang. Brap! For example, His girlfriend broke up with him. For example, You messed up the Rutherford order? Those curtains are a bit naff, dont you think?. For ex: I hate going out with John, hes such a penny-pincher that he never offers to buy everyone a round of drinks at the pub. For ex: Susan just had a new extension built onto her house, its beautiful but it must have cost her an arm and a leg! ; and it can also be used as a pejorative He just seems dodgy to me.. When someone spends a lot of time doing very little work, it is called faffing. Take the Tube 4. I prefer taking the Tube to go to work every day. Other British slang words for attractive include fit, lush, a sort, piff, buff, leng. Here the top 80 most used Irish slang phrases. 5. While American slang has become nearly universal with the influx of TV shows, films, and other media filling the screens of a significant majority of the media-viewing global population, there is so much more available once you dig beneath the surface of British slang terms and can discover some real gems beneath the surface. For example, Yeah, everythings hunky-dory at the office.. Specifically, when something is exciting or wonderful, particularly when something is good news, brilliant can mean as such. If something is very expensive, it's apparently as costly as candy. As well as quid, we have a whole series of words that we use to refer to money, such as: Dosh is uncountable, so you cant have doshes! used to relate something to money; "wow, that's fancy!". If you're heading off on a holiday to the United Kingdom, it'll be handy to have certain British slang definitions down pat. fancy. Used as an adjective, to mean funny or just fun. The word relates to the way a goose (a male goose is called a gander) cranes its neck to look at something. exhausted; very tired: He is really knackered after work. The most commonly used form is as an alternative to steal. on Oct 23 2012. Proper is used as an alternative to very or extremely, something that can give a term extra weight. Youve got to keep the punters happy. In context, I cant come in, my shoes are all mucky.. While "snog" or "blimey" might sound a bit odd to you, it's all part of common slang to Brits. In the end, we decided to splash out on a pub lunch. Cockney rhyming slang definitely already has two other meanings for the word "tom", namely jewellery (from tomfoolery) and **** (from Tom Tit), which just goes to show that context is everything when trying to understand a Cockney. However it can be used to describe anything flashy or needlessly classy or expensive. Hes absolutely gutted.. It is not possible to make a complete list of modern British slang: by the time the list was finished, it would be out of date! Sneakers: Another word for running shoes, or "trainers" - light weight shoes having . Wed like to share our expertise with you. Like American English, British English has many unique slang phrases and expressions that you'll commonly hear on the street. on Sep 15 2011. We use this expression a lot. For example, That guy just cut me up in traffic what a wanker.. Can also mean to pass something with flying colors. Get an instant price to have your English document edited by professionals. I really fancy her is a profession of a love interest, but you could also ask someone: Do you fancy some lunch?. Hes a good bloke. It is used to describe someone who is so surprised that it looks like someone hit them. This is because, as you might have guessed from the title, there are a number of U.K. clothing words that are either not used stateside or are, at the very least, not very common. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Alright? The suitcase was chockablock with clothes. Speaking of underwear, while many Americans understand the meaning of this entry, it is nonetheless not widely used in the U.S. Moving on to baby fashion, this is one of the more well-known U.K./U.S. British people love to banter, and someone with good banter is likely to be popular. Banter means to joke around or talk back and forth quickly with witty remarks. Bovvered - verb describing a lack of interest. ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ. Bare - a lot of something. Fancy Bob's your uncle means like, I thought it was gonna rain. Example: "How about I skive off during lunch? quotations . A monster online slang dictionary of the rich colourful language we call slang. In context it works like this, Come here and have a gander at what hes doing.. FluentU brings English to life with real-world videos. Last edited on Oct 10 2015. The German phrase "Gott strafe England!" ("God punish England!") was widely used in German propaganda, and jocularly modified by English . It is believed these terms were imported from India by returning servicemen. But wait before you tighten your seat belts, there is a catch. All right? As an English speaker, it's nice to travel to countries where you can understand the language, like England, Scotland or Ireland. Another London term to mean the area you come from. 'You slept with Kate Upton last night? A bender can last a significant amount of time, and involves large amounts of alcohol or drugs. In British slang terms, dodgy refers to something wrong, illegal, or just plain off, in one way or another. A pound. Im pretty chuffed with my results on that exam. A Ace - is used to describe something that is awesome. Though, to make things slightly more confusing, that could also be called a "tenner". It can refer to your actual family but its often just how youll greet a friend. Sometimes brilliant can be shortened to just brill to give it a more casual feel. The rules about capital letters and currency are the following: you dont use a capital letter to spell out the whole name, therefore: pounds, euros and dollars. Submitted by Luke G. from Rossford, OH, USA A break in the routine. Blimey is used to show excitement, surprise or shock. Used mostly in Manchester to mean "very excited/happy". Though it may seem strange at first, its pretty simple, it is constructed out of the expressions second word, in this case the way hook rhymes directly with look however, perhaps contrary to expectations, the word hook is often removed, so you may hear someone say have a butchers at this.. The Hitchhiker's Guide has this to say about John Rabon: When not pretending to travel in time and space, eating bananas, and claiming that things are "fantastic", John lives in North Carolina. Gutted a British slang term that is one of the saddest on the lists in terms of pure contextual emotion. on Dec 06 2002. No other language in the world has been as bastardised as this one! Butters ugly. Generally, posh denotes the English upper classes. Who are these so-called experts?Professional editors who have passed our ridiculously stringent recruitment test. You probably dont need me to describe this, out of all British slang, this is by far the most popular and most commonly used. Stop slagging him off behind his back. Some think it has its origins in the French word, An exclamation of surprise. This is a shorter form of the word umbrella.. It is a term denoting your younger brother/ sister, or close family member such as a cousin. Did you see that bloke? "That looks like a total mess". Fortunately, there are quite a few descriptive British slang terms that paint quite a vivid picture to anyone who knows what the informal words mean. 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In British slang, "bloody" is a bit like the word "very," which adds stress or importance to the word that comes after it. Nappies is starting to pick up over here, though. As in, 'that outfit is beast.'. A multi-purpose word which can be used as a toast, to thank someone or even say goodbye. Do you want to come round my gaff?. Let's find out! (That's not to my liking.) Anorak: A person who knows a lot about a particular . Bum 8. 'Oh bollocks'; it can also be used to express derision and mocking disbelief, e.g. Or before tea, "Have ya washed yer donnies?" The story - possibly an urban myth - is that Bri. In every country there are slang terms for money. - representing oneself, bigging yourself up. You'll be chatting like a local in no time at all! 3. Rugby, another popular sport which the British invented only for everyone else to beat them at it. In some ways, trainers is the more appropriate term, after all, athletes tend to wear them while training, not sneaking. To over-egg the pudding is to overdo something with the intent of making it better. Wanker fits the closest fit by jerk or asshole, but to a slightly higher value. Did you know that the UK has around 40 different dialects of English, each with their own accents and slang? Some slang words have many uses, while others can sound quite similar to each other but have completely different meanings. This is one of the most popular slang words among students. A term of address, usually to a man but not always. Gagging 17. Think rockstars, mid-90s footballers and Prince Harry. Something or someone that is the best it/they could be. Leg it. Stop faffing around and start doing your homework. Normally used together with "a bit". Oh bollocks; it can also be used to express derision and mocking disbelief, e.g. Last edited on Mar 13 2002. A parka is a cold-weather jacket that zips in the front.Jumper: A type of girls' or women's dress that pulls down over the head.Knickers: (Short for "knickerbockers') Short pants that end just below the knee (fastened with elastic or buttons), usually worn with long socks. Finally, explore a few U.K. slang terms that are helpful when it comes to describing a person's attitude or expressions of emotion. 13. fancy, impressive, cool, showy. It is used to emphasize almost anything! Perhaps one of the most internationally famous British slang terms, 'bollocks' has a multitude of uses, although its top ones including being a curse word used to indicate dismay, e.g. So, sit back and enjoy the ride! Bowler - used to refer to the type of hat worn by Chaplin or John Steed.Cagoule - never heard of this but, unless it looks like a blanket with a slit in the center, it's probably not the equivalent of a poncho. In the past it was regarded as a swearword but now, due to its common usage, it is generally acceptable. As such a form of this expression Have a goosey also exists, but is much more uncommon. Fortnight a British slang term more commonly used by virtually everyone in the UK to mean a group of two weeks. To bodge something is to make a mistake or do something badly. As in I accidentally nicked this pen from work. Another way it can be used is as a term for being arrested. Contents 1. A little bit more affectionate than calling someone a pillock. on Dec 10 2000. Essentially, it is an expression of pride at your own actions or achievements. You can find out more about that in this, Pavarotti he was a famous tenor so a Pavarotti is a tenner (10), If you want to read more about cockney rhyming slang and money, read this. Bants This is an abbreviation of the term "banter". Dont talk rubbish.. Some have claimed that "tom" meaning a prostitute derives from "Thomas More" equalling "w h o r e". For even more fun, take a look at these common U.K. expressions. Cor blimey, did you see that? For more usage examples, check out, London street slang for sneakers (which British people call, An exclamation of surprise. Thats the game you play with your feet, hence the name. Originally a reference to gambling but can be used in a broader context now. Much more fun than a slog, this is a term for a french kiss. As each generation comes of age, it adds new and creative slang to the culture. . Mostly heard in London to mean a "lot of effort" or "annoying". See more words with the same meaning: good, okay, cool, awesome, fun . Last edited on Mar 03 2002. 23. Boffin - A scientist, inventor or engineer. You may well be invited to a 'do', 'bash', or 'get-together', which are all other words for a party or group gathering. In the earlier 20th century, the word "bit" was slang for a coin, and the word "bob" was slang for a shilling.