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Our guide to British slang words, lingo & expressions includes regional variations from the Queen's English, Cockney, to Welsh colloquialisms.
- Bet. Bet is used as a way to confirm or agree with something. Consider it a synonym for okay or sounds good. —Can you pick up Joshua in an hour? —Bet, I’ll be there.
- Boujee. Boujee (also spelled bougie) is mostly used as an adjective describing something extravagant, luxurious, or of high-class taste. Boujee can also describe a person who is materialistic, pretentious, or who prioritizes an upscale lifestyle.
- Curve. To curve someone is to dismiss someone’s flirtatious advances or expressions of interest. In other words, if someone is flirting with you, and you tell them you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, you’ve curved them.
- DMs. DM is an abbreviation for direct message. It refers to a private message sent via a social media platform like Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter).
- Bruv
- Oojah
- Innit
- Peng
- Chuffed
- Knackered
- Barmy
- Bants
- Antwackie
- Ace
In the US, we have friend terms like bro and bruh. In the UK, they havebruv. Bruv is short for brother, as in “fellow; buddy.” It’s a familiar term typically used between male friends, close relations, or even actual brothers. Bruvver is one regional (especially Cockney) pronunciation of brother in the UK, and bruvis a shortening of that.
You’ve likely heard of a doohickey or whatchamacallit, but what about an oojah? It’s a handy British word for an object you just can’t quite remember the name of. One of the earliest uses of the term in print appears in a 1917 Washington Postarticle about military slang. That means it’s stuck around for more than 100 years.
It’s a good time to learn some new words, innit? This well known British word is unique because it’s actually a slang contraction. It’s a shortened form of the phrase isn’t it. Innithas roots in the Asian and Jamaican communities in London. It was also popularized by Ali G, a fictional British character played by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
If something ispeng, that means it’s attractive or appealing. Frequently, the term applies to good-looking people, but it can also be used to describe other things that look good, like clothing or food items. Pengis an example of modern British slang, as evidenced by its use on current popular shows like “Love Island.”
Chuffed means “delighted, pleased, satisfied.” You might say you’re chuffed that your favorite team won the soccer game. This word dates back to the 1800s, when it was originally used to mean “puffed up with fat.” It later became a slang term to express satisfaction. Victorian fiction enthusiasts may also recognize chuffed, though in literature it ...
Long day? Knackered is British slang for “very tired.” It was first recorded in English in the late 1880s from knacker, or “to tire.” It’s related to an earlier sense of knacker that meant “to kill.” Luckily, the meaning today is much less shocking. Though it’s an older word, knackeredis still relevant and used frequently.
Barmy means “crazy; foolish; eccentric.” It’s thought to be an alteration of the word balmy, meaning “foolish.” This sense was first recorded in the 1800s and has an interesting history. Before baker’s yeast was widely available, bakers used a “barm tub” to let bits of dough ferment into leavening. Some would drink this fermented alcoholic brew, ma...
If you meet up for some bants, you’re in for “playful teasing or mocking.” Bants is a shortened form of banter, the English word that means “an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery.” Banter was recorded in English beginning in the 1660s, but bantsis a more recent sense of the word that’s popular among young people in t...
Now, let’s talk about a throwback word. Antwackie isn’t just an older word itself, it actually means “old fashioned.” Generally, it’s slang that’s used to describe people who are old fashioned or out of date. It’s thought to be related to the word antique (perhaps combined with the word wackyfor humorous effect), though the exact origins aren’t kno...
This next word is ace. In British slang,ace means “excellent; first-rate; outstanding.” Whereas Americans might say theyaced a test, ace is used in the UK as an adjective, likethat movie was ace. This usage is most popular in Northern England and among young people.
Aug 9, 2023 · Meaning of the Slang Term: GOAT. The British Isles have a rich linguistic history with colloquial expressions like 'bloke', 'cheeky', 'mate', and 'blimey'. Navigate the myriad of British slang terms and idioms that offer a unique window into UK culture.
- Arse. What a great way to start the list. An arse is your rear end (not to be confused with an ass, which is a donkey). But it can also be a reference to an annoying person: “Stop being such an arse”.
- Banter. Making jokes, often at the expense of others in your company. British people love to banter, and someone with good banter is likely to be popular.
- Bare. Used mostly in London to mean "a lot of". “There were bare man at the rave”. Note the use of “man” in the singular to mean “men” or even “people”.
- Barmy. Crazy. “That’s a barmy idea”.
May 30, 2024 · If you’ve ever come across British slang words and you live anywhere other than the UK, it’s understandable if you’re confused by what they mean! But, fear not! This ultimate list of British slang words covers the popular slang words and phrases that you might hear in the UK.
Sep 6, 2023 · Do you want to learn unusual words and old-timey slang to make conversation more interesting, or discover fascinating tidbits about the origins of everyday phrases?
