More fun British slang phrasesīloody hell: To express anger, shock or surprise.Ĭhucking it down: If you didn’t know, UK weather includes (lots of) rain with a side of rain and this expression is used often. Innit: Just as it sounds, this comes from the phrase: “Isn’t it?” but abbreviated. Nosh: Food, usually as a positive connotation.
Idris Elba Teaches You British Slang /7qG5v56oSbīird: Unlike its true definition of a warm-blooded vertebrate, this refers to a female and is usually used by males to describe beautiful ones.īog: Even though it’s known as a muddy wetland in geographical terms, in the UK this is used to describe the toilet. Skint: The complete opposite of posh, being skint means you’re broke (something we probably all relate to right now!). Posh: Just like Posh Spice, this is used to describe something classy and fancy. Minging: If someone tells you “you’re minging”, consider putting some deodorant on because this means foul-smelling in the UK. Instead, say “you’re welcome,” because this word means thank you. We could write a whole book on this but we’ll just go through the most popular ones for you to know as an international student:Ĭheers: If someone says this to you, don’t scramble to look for a drink to toast. Knackered: You’re bound to hear this a lot at uni - it means exhausted. If you’re American, change the dollar for a quid and you’re officially speaking in slang.Ĭhips : Not to be confused with crisps (thinly sliced potato that’s been deep-fried), chips are known in the UK as thick chunky fries.īanter: If you’re having very open conversations - it might sound like an argument, at times, but a positive one - with your new friends in the UK, it’s considered banter.
#BRITISH SLANG EXAMPLES HOW TO#
Skive: If you’re one to skip classes and fake an illness, firstly, you rebel! We’re not here for judgment but to tell you that this slang means avoiding duties.Ī post shared by How To British A one-pound coin. Gutted: Means u pset and disappointed - this might be used by your peers if they describe a test they didn’t do well on. This slang has other derivatives in which males can be called “lad” or “chap” and females are called “lass” or “lassie.” Mate: A popular term of endearment used to call someone a friend. Libes: A place you go to study and read books, otherwise known as the library.īudge up: If someone says this to you, they’re casually asking you to make room.
#BRITISH SLANG EXAMPLES CRACK#
Let’s get a crack on some of the most used British slang you’ll hear on campus.įresher: When someone calls you this, they’re calling you a first-year student. TikTok is a vortex you can get sucked into, all you need to do is key in a hashtag like “#britishslang” and you’ll have an endless stream of entertainment. Another great way to immerse yourself in this terminology is by listening to British music, get to “Vossi bopping” with Stormzy. Watch “Doctor Who” and “Peaky Blinders,” to get a sense of how British slang is used.Īnother great way is to watch Brits themselves use such colloquialisms in short videos through platforms like Youtube. “Misfits” and “The Inbetweeners” are great shows that use a lot of casual language. As slang is ever-changing, just like fashion styles and music, the key is to find recent examples.Ĭomedy is the greatest place to find British slang. Why limit what you know, what you can say, and what fun you can have with it? Here are our tips to enjoy this sometimes weird, sometimes wonderful quirk of the English language as spoken by the Brits: PrepareĮxposure through watching and hearing the language (in this case, British slang) is the best way to learn new words. To know British slang is to enrich your time in the UK as an international student. It may originate from subcultures, criminals during the 16th century in saloons and gambling houses, or the codes certain vulnerable communities use to survive. “I’m going up the apples,” “You look like a right lemon,” or “Cheeky Nando’s” make no sense in the proper use of the language of Shakespeare and Milton. Once you’ve figured them out, however, British slang is as delightful a play on words as the best, the most grammatically correct sentences.īritish slang refers to “unconventional words or phrases” the Brits use to express either something new or something old in a new way. The use of British slang can bewilder the rest of us who speak English.
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