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Our guide to British slang words, lingo & expressions includes regional variations from the Queen's English, Cockney, to Welsh colloquialisms.
- A cuppa: A cup of tea. Commonly used when someone wants to express a desire for a hot beverage, particularly tea. Example sentence: “I fancy a cuppa after that long walk.”
- All right: A greeting or inquiry about one’s well-being. Used as a casual way to say hello and check in on someone. Example sentence: “All right, mate? How’s it going?”
- Arse: Buttocks or backside. A more informal and potentially humorous term for the posterior. Example sentence: “I nearly fell on my arse when I slipped on the ice.”
- Banter: Playful and teasing conversation. Often used in the context of joking and light-hearted exchanges. Example sentence: “We always have good banter at the pub.”
Aug 9, 2023 · Navigate the myriad of British slang terms and idioms that offer a unique window into UK culture. The British Isles have a rich linguistic history with colloquial expressions like 'bloke', 'cheeky', 'mate', and 'blimey'.
- 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”.
- 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).
Aug 8, 2024 · British slang is an interesting and lively part of the English language. It shows the rich culture of the country through unique words and phrases. Let's explore what slang actually is and look at some common words and phrases you might encounter in everyday conversations.
Sep 6, 2023 · Are you a logophile? 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?