If you’re a fan of the BBC or Netflix shows like Bake Off, Derry Girls, or Peaky Blinders, then chances are you’ve encountered some British slang. You know how the closer you are to a friend, the more nicknames you have for each other and the things you talk about that no one else can really understand? Well, that’s pretty much what slang is but for entire regions of people tied together by their culture and language.
Slang words in Britain are a little different than what you might be used to even if you are fluent in American English. Some things can sound vulgar but actually, mean something completely normal and some things can sound casual but actually take on a much more vulgar meaning. If you want to speak conversational English with people from across the pond, then you need to learn their slang.
Knowing these words can not only help you understand and communicate better, but it can also tell you a lot about their culture. For example, the sheer number of British words for bars and drinks tells you that British people love their alcohol while the whimsical and musical Cockney rhyming slang shows the region’s love of cheeky wordplay.
After reading this article, you’ll know to be careful calling someone a chav, how to tell a bugger to clear off, and be able to have a chat with the first bloke you see at the pub. Let’s get cracking, shall we?
Table of Contents
Most Common British Slang Words
1. Bloody
Used for emphasis
You are a bloody genius mate.
2. Bollocks
Nonsense
That is absolute bollocks.
3. Bugger
Vulgar slang for a silly or annoying person. Also used to refer to someone you feel bad for
The poor bugger has nowhere to go tonight. Let’s help him.
4. Cheeky
Playful, amusing, or a bit rude.
She was being real cheeky with the boss. They must go way back.
5. Cheers
Hello, goodbye, thank you, no thank you, congratulations, have a good one, formal or informal toasts at the bar
Cheers, Frank, see you tomorrow.
6. Chuffed
Very pleased
Making good time on the freeway gets me chuffed
7. Fit
Attractive or sexy
That guy is so fit.
8. Mate
Friend
We’ve been mates since we were toddlers.
9. Pint
A beer
Want to have a pint with me after work?
10. Snog
Amorous kissing and caressing
I caught them snogging on the couch this morning.
More British Slang Words You Should Know
1. Aggro
Aggravation; also, more uncommonly, aggression
He’s gotten nothing but aggro from his parents lately.
2. Apples and pears
Rhyming slang for stairs
Just go up the apples and pears and you should find the bathroom on the left.
3. Banged up
Be put in jail or incarcerated
My cousin’s been banged up for something he didn’t do.
4. Baps
Literally means bread rolls, also a euphemism for breasts
When a construction worker yells “Nice baps!” at a woman, he’s not complimenting her on her bread rolls.
5. Battle cruiser
Rhyming slang for a pub, rhymes with boozer
I had a pint down the old battle cruiser last night.
6. Bellend
A jerk or someone acting stupid, literally means the tip of a penis, a British slang variation of the American “dickhead”
I don’t care how rich he is, he’s a bellend.
7. Belter
Enthusiastic opinion of a person, place, or thing, used as a compliment
She’s a belter, that Rachel, you’d like her.
8. Bevvied
Intoxicated, from the word bevvy, short for “beverage”
He looked proper bevvied last night
9. Bin lid
Rhyming slang for child/kid
She has two bin lids at home.
10. Bloke
Man, a British slang equivalent to the American term “dude”
Francis is a good bloke. I trust him.
11. Boat/ Boat race
Rhyming slang for face
Stupid am I! Look into my boat and say that again!
12. Bob’s your uncle
Everything’s going to be okay; also used to emphasize that something can be done easily
Just sign up, pay the fee, and Bob’s your uncle.
13. Bog roll
Toilet paper
Do you have any bog roll left?
14. Bog standard
Average, mediocre
My old stove was just a bog standard model
15. Boozer
A pub
If you like a proper boozer and a chat with friends go to the Red Lion.
16. Bunk off
Play hooky
We used to bunk off school as kids.
17. Chav
A derogatory term used to describe troublemaking lower-class youth typically dressed in sportswear or casual clothing
Is that guy yelling at the referee? He’s a chav.
18. Clear off
Get lost
The owner told me to clear off.
19. Clever clogs or Clever boots
Similar to “smartypants,” a phrase that is used to refer to someone intelligent but is typically spoken with sarcasm
It’s amazing what these clever clogs have come up with.
20. Colonel Gadaffi
Rhyming slang for a café
Let’s meet up at the Colonel Gadaffi!
21. Cracking
Excellent
The way both teams are playing, I think it will be a cracking game.
22. Cream crackered
Rhyming slang for tired (knackered)
I don’t want to go out tonight. I’m cream crackered/knackered.
23. Daft
Stupid or foolish
Don’t be so daft. He’s obviously lying to you.
24. Diamond geezer
A very nice or good man
My late husband was a real diamond geezer
25. Dinner jacket
Tuxedo
He looked great in that dinner jacket.
26. Do a runner
Exit a restaurant or place of business without paying, equivalent to American “dine & dash”
Those two did a runner and haven’t been back since.
27. Dog and bone
Rhyming slang for telephone
As soon as a job has become available, he’s on the dog and bone.
28. End of
Abbreviation of “end of story” spoken in a curt and disdainful manner
You are not going out tonight – end of!
29. Fanny
Vulgar slang for vagina/vulva
She got kicked right in the fanny and fell over.
30. Full of beans
Bursting with energy
He’s a cheerful lad, generally full of beans
31. Get cracking
To start doing something quickly
Let’s get cracking before we miss the train.
32. Git
Annoying person
My brother is the world’s biggest git.
33. Gob
Mouth; spit
Keep your gob shut about what you saw here.
34. Going to see a man about a dog
A phrase used to conceal one’s true destination (eg. to the bathroom, to buy a drink, etc.)
I’ve got to go, going to see a man about a dog.
35. Gormless
Stupid, brainless
Don’t listen to that gormless git.
36. Goss
Short for “gossip”
Have you heard the hot goss?
37. Gutted
Upset and disappointed
She was absolutely gutted after seeing her team lose.
38. Guv/ guv’nor
Short for “governor,” it is a polite way to address an elder or superior, and can also be used sarcastically or pejoratively
So glad you could make it, Guv.
39. Gypsy’s (kiss)
Rhyming slang for piss
I’m just going out for a quick gypsy’s.
40. Innit
Meaningless all-purpose suffix; performs the same function as “Know what I’m saying?
That’s a good job, innit?
41. Jam jar
Rhyming slang car
This Audi is the best jam jar I’ve ever owned.
42. Jammy
Lucky
You jammy bastard!
43. Jiffy
A moment, a short period of time
I’ll be right with you in a jiffy.
44. Jumper
Sweater
That girl in the red jumper is my sister.
45. Knock it on the head
Stop doing something, give something up
We need to knock this on the head before it goes too far.
46. Lad
Usually referring to a younger man, another equivalent to the American term “dude”
I’m going out with the lads tonight!
47. Leg it
Run, run for it
We legged it as soon as we heard the noise.
48. Lugholes
Ears
He shouted down my lughole so loud it hurt.
49. Mad for it
Very enthusiastic about something
She loves wrestling. She’s mad for it.
50. Nosh
Food and drink; to eat
I’m going home to visit my parents and have a nosh.
51. Oi!
Form of greeting; declaration of aggression
Oi! Eyes up here mate.
52. Peaky
Feeling a little under the weather
Are you feeling okay? You’re looking a bit peaky.
53. Poof
Referring to a gay man is often used derogatorily
Look at that poof with the handbag.
54. Pull a sickie/ chuck a sickie
Pretend to be ill to get yourself out of work
I decided to pull a sickie today.
55. Scooby (Doo)
Rhyming slang for a clue
I don’t have a Scooby how he did that.
56. Shell suit
Shiny tracksuit
That guy in the shell suit with the perm is my stepbrother.
57. Snazzy
Well-dressed, smart, and attractive
She’s wearing a very snazzy pair of shoes.
58. Take a butcher’s
Rhyming slang abbreviated from “butcher’s hook “meaning to take a look
I hear the new park just opened, you want to take a butcher’s?
59. Taking the piss
Joking with someone, lying, or being sarcastic in an obvious manner
I was only taking the piss mate!
60. Tenner
A ten-pound note
I found a tenner on the street on the way here.
61. The Bill/ The Old Bill
The police, after William Wilberforce, the lawmaker who first proposed a national police force
When I joined the force way back, there was some respect for the Old Bill.
62. The Business
Universal complement that may be used to express appreciation for any specific individual, thing, piece of art, or food
Marie, these banana muffins are the business!
63. Vest
Undershirt, or singlet
We have guests and you’re wearing nothing but a vest?
64. Waistcoat
Vest
Button up your waistcoat and let’s go.
65. Wee
Small, tiny; urine or to urinate
Don’t you think it’s a wee bit late for brunch?
66. Well
Very
I’m well pleased with how it turned out.
67. Well in it
In trouble
Oh, we’re well in it now thanks to you.
68. Willy
Penis
Keep your willy in your pants.
69. Wind up
Lie to or trick someone for the purpose of gaining amusement from their frustration
That can’t be true. You’re just winding me up!
70. Yakking
Talking too much about something uninteresting to you
My neighbour kept yakking on all afternoon about his new car.
How do you learn British slang?
If you want to learn British slang, the best way to do it is to get exposure from listening to or reading the words of native speakers. If you don’t have a British friend or roommate to talk to the media is the next best thing. Whether it is TV shows, podcasts, music, or radio. Even novels and comics can provide great examples for you to experience the use of informal language in its proper context. So the language in a courtroom drama will be very different from a sitcom primarily set in a local dive bar for example.
Bloody easy, innit?
Slang is the heart of a language and its culture. It’s a great thing to learn because once you can intuit the differences between regional slang and formal language, you will be able to navigate your way through any Conversational English situation. There are many ways to learn English. Advanced English classes can be a good way to practice, learn, and test yourself at the same time. Here’s a great article about learning English to put you on the right track.
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