A1. There are so many British slang words that people in the UK use in their daily conversations. Some of the most common words are bloke (man), cheers (thank you), brilliant (very good), rubbish (nonsense), fancy (want), quid (pound – British currency), bog (toilet), cracking (excellent), cuppa (cup of tea) and so on.
Learning English as a foreign language is already a challenging task, and when you throw in British slang words and phrases, it becomes even more challenging. Suddenly, the words and their meanings that you've learned change. But that's the charm of the English language. As you travel from country to country, city to city, and even within the same region, the way people speak English changes — not just their accents, but also the meanings of words because of regional slang!
Among these changes, British slang stands out as some of the most popular and recognisable slang in the world. Let's take a stroll (a walk) down the streets of Britain to discover what British slang is all about. We'll explore some of the most popular and common words and their meanings. Understanding slang will not only help you engage in everyday conversations with the locals but also enhance your English skills, making your learning journey even more exciting.
What is British slang?
British slang is an informal way of speaking in English. It is unique to the UK and includes combining different English words and phrases that don’t often come together in normal sentences, such as 'take the mickey.' If you take that phrase literally, it would mean there's a person or a thing called ‘Mickey,’ and someone is asking you to take it, but it actually means 'to mock or tease.' This shows us that different British slang sometimes means something completely different from the literal definition of the words. It adds extra flavour to the English language, and by learning it, you can have interesting conversations with the locals in the UK.
Popular British slang and their meanings
Below, we’ve created a list of British slang words and phrases with their meanings that you might hear in the UK.
British slang words
1. Bloke/lad – Man.
Example: That bloke looks like your brother. (That man looks like your brother.)
2. Chip – French fry.
Example: Would you like chips with your fish? (Would you like fries with your fish?)
3. Chuffed – Pleased.
Example: I'm chuffed you passed your English test! (I'm happy you passed your English test!)
4. Fortnight – Two weeks.
Example: I'm going on holiday for a fortnight. (I'm going on holiday for two weeks.)
5. Quid – Pound (British currency).
Example: Can I borrow a quid? (Can I borrow a pound?)
6. Bog – Toilet.
Example: Excuse me, where's the bog? (Excuse me, where's the toilet?)
7. Kerfuffle – A fuss or commotion.
Example: There was a bit of a kerfuffle at the bus stop. (There was a bit of a commotion at the bus stop.)
8. Chippy – Takeaway shop selling fish and chips.
Example: Fancy a chippy tea? (Do you want fish and chips for dinner?)
9. Naff – Rubbish/bad.
Example: Those shoes are naff! (Those shoes are bad!)
10. Knackered – Exhausted/tired.
Example: I'm absolutely knackered from our trip to Big Ben. (I'm completely exhausted from our trip to Big Ben.)
11. Minging – Disgusting.
Example: That bin is minging! (That bin is disgusting!)
12. Cracking – Excellent.
Example: That was a cracking answer! (That was an excellent answer!)
13. Cuppa – Cup of tea (informal).
Example: Fancy a cuppa? (Do you want a cup of tea?)
14. Innit? – Isn't it?
Example: It's a lovely day, innit? (It's a lovely day, isn't it?)
15. Spar – Convenience store.
Example: I need to pop to the Spar for some milk. (I need to go to the convenience store for some milk.)
16. Cheerio – Goodbye.
Example: Cheerio! Have a nice trip! (Goodbye! Have a nice trip!)
17. Natter – Chat
Example: Let’s have a natter over coffee. (Let’s have a chat over coffee.)
18. Daft – Silly.
Example: Don’t be daft; of course, you can do it. (Don’t be silly; of course, you can do it.)
19. Grub – Food.
Example: Let’s get some grub. (Let’s get some food.)
20. Ivories – Piano keys.
Example: She loves to tickle the ivories. (She loves to tickle the piano keys.)
British slang phrases
1. Take the mickey – Tease someone playfully.
Example. The boys are just taking the mickey out of you. (The boys are just teasing you playfully.)
2. Off their rocker – Crazy.
Example: That bloke is off his rocker! (That man is crazy!)
3. Batten down the hatches – Prepare for trouble.
Example: We'd better batten down the hatches; a storm is coming! (We'd better prepare for trouble; a storm is coming!)
4. Easy Peasy – Extremely easy to do/understand.
Example: Once Adam figured it out, it was easy peasy. (Once Adam figured it out, it was easy to do.)
5. Dodgy ticker – Weak heart.
Example: My grandad's got a dodgy ticker. (My grandfather has a weak heart.)
6. A right laugh – A lot of fun.
Example: Going to the game was a right laugh. (Going to the game was a lot of fun.)
7. Bob’s your uncle – There it is/ and there you have it/it's done.
Example: Just add some water, stir, and Bob's your uncle!
8. Throw a spanner in the works – To cause problems or disrupt plans.
Example: His late arrival to the party really threw a spanner in the works. (His late arrival to the party really caused problems.)
9. Flog a dead horse – To waste time on something that has no chance of success.
Example: Trying to change his mind is like flogging a dead horse. (Trying to change his mind is a waste of time.)
10. Have a butcher’s – Take a look.
Example: Have a butcher's at this report. (Take a look at this report.)
11. The bee’s knees – Something excellent.
Example: That new book is the bee's knees. (That new book is excellent.)
12. Drop a clanger – Make an embarrassing mistake.
Example: I dropped a clanger by forgetting my homework. (I made a mistake by forgetting my homework.)
13. Full of beans – Energetic and lively.
Example: The students are full of beans today. (The students are full of energy today.)
14. Give us a bell – Call me.
Example: Give us a bell when you're free. (Call me when you're free.)
15. Know your onions – Be knowledgeable.
Example: She really knows her onions about managing a team. (She really knows a lot about managing a team.)
16. Donkey’s years – A long time.
Example: I haven't seen him in donkey's years. (I haven't seen him in a long time.)
17. Pull the other one – I don’t believe you.
Example: You won the lottery? Pull the other one! (You won the lottery? I don’t believe you!)
18. Hit the sack – Go to bed.
Example: I'm exhausted; I'm going to hit the sack. (I'm exhausted; I'm going to bed.)
19. Spend a penny – Go to the toilet.
Example: I need to spend a penny. (I need to go to the toilet.)
20. The Big Smoke – London.
Example: Robin is moving to the big smoke to learn English. (Robin is moving to London to learn English.)
These were some examples of the most common British slang you can hear in the UK. If you want to learn more about British slang and how to effectively use it in everyday conversations, join English Path! By enrolling in our english language courses in the UK, you can improve your language skills, immerse yourself in British culture and learn different British slang words and phrases. Become a part of a global community of English learners and enhance your skills to have a natter (chat) with native English speakers!
Frequently asked questions about British slang and what it means
Q1. What is the most common British slang?
Q2. Can I use British slang in formal settings?
A2. In general, British slang is only used in informal settings, but some terms, such as mate (man), cheers (thank you), grub (food), natter (chat), and more, are acceptable in casual professional environments. Remember to read the context and your audience before using slang.
Q3. Where can I hear British slang being used?
A3. You can hear British slang in British TV shows, movies, music, and, most importantly, by having conversations with locals in the UK. Engaging in conversations is one of the best ways to understand and learn how to use slang, as well as improve your English speaking skills.
Q4. Is learning British slang important if I want to improve my English skills?
A4. Learning British slang is not the most important thing if you want to improve your English skills but understanding it can help you enhance your communication skills for studying, travelling, and working in the UK. You can explore language courses at English Path in the UK, such as General English, IELTS Preparation, Business English, and more, to improve your English proficiency level and immerse yourself in British culture.
Q5. Are there regional variations in British slang?
A5. Yes! Slang terms and their meanings can differ depending on the region you’re in within the UK.