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British Slang Words: Common Phrases for Everyday Conversations

Do you know what is the easy hack for fluent and smooth communication in the UK? If so, then learning British slang words will not be a challenging task for you. These are just informal words and phrases used in specific social settings. It helps people interact socially and express emotions and feelings in particular contexts.

In this blog, we will explore common British slang phrases and words with some expert tips to help you use them in day-to-day conversations. So, go ahead and have a read to enhance your British vocabulary.

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Table of Contents

List of British Slang Words and Phrases International Students Must Know

International students living in the UK must know about British slang words to improve their communication. This can be helpful to everyday interactions in the local settings. Further, learning the slang words is also important because students can easily learn about the local culture and feel more connected with social settings. 

General Terms

  • Cheers: Thank you or goodbye
  • Rubbish: Waste or junk
  • Prat: A silly or irritating person
  • Easy peasy: Very easy
  • Mate: A friend
  • Dishy: Attractive
  • Fit: Good Looking
  • Posh: Fancy or upper-class
  • Sorted: Everything is set or managed
  • Ace: Excellent
  • Pissed off: Annoyed
  • Banter: Playful teasing or witty conversation
  • Skint: Having no money
  • Full of beans: Energetic and lively
  • Bollocks: Nonsense or a curse word.
  • Scrummy: Delicious.
  • Lurgy: An illness or infection.
  • Dosh: Money.
  • Cheeky: Playfully rude or mischievous
  • Brilliant: Wonderful.
  • To skive: To avoid work or school.
  • Chock-a-block: Very crowded or full.
  • Telly: Television.
  • Faffing around: To waste time
  • Taking the piss: Making fun of someone
  • Daft: Silly or foolish
  • Gutted: Extremely disappointed.
  • Give it a whirl: To try something. 
  • Pants: Meaning something is bad
  • Hunky-dory: Fine or okay
  • Blimey: Something that surprises you
  • Bloody: Used to add an emphasis on the following word
  • Brolly: Umbrella
  • Bruv: Brother
  • Footie: Football
  • Lost the plot: Addressing irrational behaviour
  • Muppet: Ignorant and clueless
  • Slag off: Mocking someone
  • Sod: Devil
  • To Nick: Stealing 

Other Important Slang/ Phrases for International Students

  • Uni: A slang used for university
  • Fresher: Term used to address first-year university student
  • Libes: Library
  • Uni Digs: Term used to refer to student accommodation in UK
  • Budge up: Make space for someone
  • Hit the Books: Referring 'to study'
  • Bob's your uncle: “there you have it” or “It’s done”
  • See you later/ See ya: A general way to say goodbye
  • Any road: Anyway
  • You're having a laugh: Telling someone is joking
  • This Road is Chocka: Completely Packed
  • Innit: used in place of "isn't it?"
  • Buzzing: Being excited about something
  • Know Your Onions: To have a thorough understanding of particular subject
  • Yakking: Talking excessively
  • Taking the mickey: Making fun of someone
  • Gobsmacked: Expressing extreme surprise
  • Bugger all: Nothing
  • Knees-up: A lively party
  • Plonker: An irritating and dumb person
  • Lairy: A very loud person

These are some common British slang words and phrases that international students must learn for everyday conversations.

Why Learn British Slang?

Learning British slang can be a great way to indulge in language, learn about cultural practices and improve fluency in your day-to-day conversations. However, there are multiple other reasons you must learn British slang. So, let's have a brief look at some of these reasons. 

Improved Comprehension

Learning British slang phrases and words is just an additional layer of getting familiar with a language. If you are studying in the UK, learning slang becomes important as you easily understand the meaning of words used in everyday life. It will simplify your conversation by making it more exact. 

Enhanced Cultural Understanding

British Slang words are not only about enhancing vocabulary or understanding a language. It will help you learn about British cultural identity and its past. While learning the slang words, you know about social standards, their thought process and other crucial areas. It can be a useful way to connect with British locals.

Better Communication

One of the potential reasons for global students to learn slang words is better communication. It allows you to use them according to the given situation. Furthermore, with these words, students can actively take part in genuine and interesting discussions. In other words, a global student with a good knowledge of Slang used in UK can communicate more confidently among the native British people.

Common British Slang Words and Their Meanings

Learning slang words is crucial not just for everyday interaction with locals and other students, but it also improves cultural understanding. These slang words are used to describe or define various contexts in a short and precise manner. So, let's look at some common British slang words used to describe various things with their meanings.

Slang Words Used to Describe People

  • Bloke:Referring to a man
  • Lad:Addressing a young man or boy
  • Lass/lassie:Used for a girl or young woman (mainly in the North of England and Scotland)
  • Mate:Addressing a friend
  • Mug:Referring to a person who is easily tricked.
  • Nitwit:Used for a foolish person.
  • Blighter: Referring to an irritating person
  • Twit:Slang used to insult a stupid individual

Slang Words Used to Describe Emotions and Feelings

  • Chuffed: Expressing the feeling of being Pleased
  • Chuffed to bits: Expression used to describe very pleased or delighted
  • Gutted: Slang used to express extreme disappointment and sadness.
  • Gobsmacked: A feeling of being surprised or astonished.
  • Miffed: Common British slang used to describe annoyed or offended.
  • Narked: Expressing the feeling of being irritated.
  • Cheesedoff: British slang meaning being displeased.

Slang Words Used in Day-to-day situation

  • Bonkers:Used to address situations that are completely crazy or mad.
  • Daft:Use to describe something insane or silly in a certain context.
  • Dodgy:Referring to something doubtful or unreliable
  • Naff:Generally referring to something unfashionable or of poor quality.
  • Quid:A common slang used to address British pounds.
  • Tosh:A slang word used to describe something rubbish or worthless
  • Kip:A commonly used word referring to a short sleep or a power nap.
  • Cuppa:Slang word used to address a cup of tea.
  • Nosh: An everyday slang referring to food or a meal

Slang Phrases Used in Everyday Life

  • Chinwag:A common slang used for a small chat or conversation
  • Putting in a shift:A British slang used to indicate working hard or putting additional effort into a demanding job.
  • Leg it:A phrase meaning to run away or escape from a particular situation.
  • You're having a giraffe:A slang used to tell someone if they are serious or just joking.
  • Not my cup of tea:A phrase used for not something one likes or is interested in.

Tips for Using British Slang

Learning British slang is no doubt an exciting opportunity as you learn about new words and phrases. These slang words are of great help in everyday communication, making it smooth and precise. However, while learning, you might face issues with how to use them. So, continue reading this section to discover some expert tips for using British slang in an effective manner.

1. Dive Deep into the Language

To use the slang words, you have learned, you must immerse yourself in the language. It will help you learn about the context and potential difference between informal and formal slang. Further, you will get to know about using these words in the right situation for better communication.

2. Embrace the Creativity

While learning to use British slang, don't be hesitant to use the words in day-to-day conversations. You can use the slang words if you are confident about their meaning. In this situation, you will learn the correct use of the word. However, there are words with cultural significance, so it is better to learn British slang meaning and context before using them.

3. Practice Daily

The most crucial tip is to practice daily, as it will only make you perfect. Start using the slang words in daily conversations with friends or locals with confidence. Initially, you will likely make mistakes, however, it is important to learn from the mistakes and practice regularly. In addition, try to socialise with various groups of natives. It will help you learn their way of using slang words.

Conclusion

To sum up, this guide to British slang words and phrases can be of great help to you, especially if you are a student. The slang words can be useful for you to communicate with locals easily and get involved in meaningful conversations. However, you must not mix up British slang words with Roadman slang in UK. It is just a specific subset of British slang majorly used by young adults in urban areas like London. So, go ahead and practice new slang words for better communication and to improve your understanding.

FAQs

1. Can I use slang if I’m not British?

Yes, even if you are not British you can use British slang words in your conversations. However, it is crucial to know that you must be mindful of the context and the meaning of slang used in specific situations.

2. What slang should tourists learn first?

Tourists visiting a new place must learn some basic friendly phrases in the local language. It can be a great initial step to meet and greet people in a new place. Some of these phrases can be "thank you", "please", "goodbye", "excuse me".

3. Is British slang still evolving?

Yes, British slang is definitely evolving, with new words and phrases being created and used. This continuous evolution is due to multiple factors like social media, pop culture, GenZ and more.

4. What is British slang for girls?

In British English, the slang word used for a girl is "lass", "lassie”, or "chick".

5. What are British slang insult words?

Some of the British Slang insult words include

  • Wanker
  • Tosser
  • Pillock
  • Git
  • Daft
  • Minging
  • Naff

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