Inspired to learn new languages beyond English? Download the Pimsleur app and language program to get started with your choice of 50+ languages. So, there you have it, our favorite UK slang words to get you talking like a Brit. I went up the apples and pears.Īdam and Eve = believe. Some favorites include:Īpples and pears = stairs. Although just used in the East End of London, and technically not used that often anymore in everyday life, it’s a fascinating window into slang words where everything rhymes. We couldn’t write a blog post about British slang without giving a special mention to Cockney rhyming slang. ![]() I need to buy a new TV, my old one is knackered. I stayed up late last night and now I’m knackered. ![]() The origins of the word aren’t clear, but it’s thought to have originated from describing old workhorses that couldn’t work anymore. Knackered is usually used to mean tired but it can also be used when referring to something that’s broken or old. Not only is rubbish the British equivalent of trash, but it can also be used as a feeling or to express a negative emotion. And taking the piss can mean either to make fun of something or to be unreasonable. You might also see piss being used for pee, although that’s more vulgar. If you’re pissed off, you’re angry, but if you’re just pissed, you’re drunk. Here’s another slang word with multiple meanings. She’s in trouble for doing some dodgy business. I never liked him, I thought he looked dodgy. ![]() Dodgy can range from slightly off or questionable to full-blown illegal. And pretty much anything can be described as dodgy: a person, an object, an action, for example. If something is described as dodgy, it’s bad. It’s my round, what do you want to drink? A round refers to when you take it in turns buying drinks for everyone in the group instead of all buying drinks separately. And that’s where you’ll most likely hear this slang word: round. Not only do Brits love drinking tea, but they’re also known for enjoying a few drinks in the pub, too. He got into university, he’s absolutely chuffed. So, if you hear a British person say they’re feeling chuffed, you can safely assume it’s positive. According to the dictionary, it can also mean the exact opposite-that is, unhappy or displeased-but that version is rarely used these days. ChuffedĬhuffed, always used in past tense, means to be happy or pleased about something, usually something you’ve achieved. And, just to make things extra confusing, to be nicked or to get nicked means to be arrested.ĭon’t leave your car unlocked, it’ll get nicked. The noun, the nick, means a prison whereas the verb, to nick, means to steal. The nick, to nick, and to get nicked all have slightly different but related meanings. Mate means friend and can be used to refer to someone you know, but you can also use it when informally addressing a stranger. Here’s another UK slang word that doesn’t need too much explanation. Bonus: it’s used a lot in Australia, too! It’s another slang word that’s been around for a while with uses found in the 1600s, and it was even considered a swear word until the 1900s. Bloody is an adverb used to show anger or surprise. Next up is a British slang word that most people around the world would have heard of and one that’s frequently used in everyday life. Although it’s short for “cup of,” it’s only ever really used to mean “cup of tea.”įirst thing I do every morning is make myself a cuppa. There’s evidence of it being used back in the early 1900s so it’s not new slang, but it’s stuck. ![]() This slang word came from the phrase “cup of tea” which was shortened to “cuppa tea” and eventually just cuppa. We all know the Brits love a good cup of tea, but did you know that tea can also be called a cuppa. Top British Slang Words, Including Cockney Rhyming Slang 1. So, if you want to sound like a real Brit, incorporate these words into your vocab and you’ll fit right in no time. If you’re heading to the UK, you might hear all kinds of words in informal speech which you’d never hear in the U.S. It changes with new words entering everyday use all the time. Ever wondered what the difference is between US and UK English? Apart from everyday words-like trainers instead of sneakers and holiday instead of vacation-you’ll see the most difference in the slang.
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