55 Most Common Slang Words Used by Modern British English Speakers
Slang words, used by British English speakers, are a group of words, which can be funny, can be rude and others are (well) different. British slang words are not the same as American English slang words. Slang is an informal language used by many people especially the young. Here is a list of the most common slang words used by British English speakers:
Slang word Meaning
Not to my liking I do not like something
Ta Thank you
Blighty Britain
Fancy To want to do something ; To be attracted to a person
Blinding (success) A (great) success
Bloke Another word for a man
Bird Another word for a woman
Lost the plot Something or someone has gone crazy. Misunderstood what has happened
Gutted Devastated or very disappointed
Dodgy Suspicious or faulty
DIY Do it yourself (for home improvements)
Fag A cigarette
Rubbish Rubbish can be used to describe garbage; something not good or worthless
Shambles A mess/a situation, which has gone wrong
Diddle To rip someone off eg of take money from someone
Cheers Used when drinking with friend; or to say thank you or good bye
Daft Someone or something is stupid
Swotting To study extremely hard for exams
Knackered Feeling extremely tired
Whinge Someone moans about a situation
Cheesed off Someone is annoyed about a situation
Loaded If a person is loaded, it means the person is very rich
Luvvly-jubbly Lovely/pretty
Posh This refers to someone who is upper class
Quid £1 in pounds sterling (English currency)
Taking the piss Making fun of something or someone
Up for it A person is happy to join what is happening so he or she would say “I am up for it” say joining the party
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Uni A common shortened form of saying university
Full of beans Someone has a great deal of energy
Wanker This is another way of saying that someone is a jerk
Mate This means friend
Gobsmacked Someone is amazed about a something
Blinkered narrow-minded, prejudiced or biased
Booze Any alcohol and a common word in British English
A boozer An English pub or someone who drinks a great deal of alcohol
Pint This is a measure of beer sold in British pub. Beer in the UK comes in half pints or pints
Dodgy Something or someone who cannot be trusted
Wicked Great/cool and used by young people
Ace Something or someone is amazing
Brill Brilliant is the full word, excellent, very good
Flog Means to sell something
Getting off with Kissing someone
Knees up There is a party
Off your trolley Means someone is mad or crazy about someone or about a situation
Snog To kiss someone else
Bob’s your uncle Means there you go
Dog’s dinner Someone is dressed very well
Don’t get your knickers Do not get yourself worked up about a situation
in a twist
Stag night/party/weekend A bachelor pre wedding party
Hen night/party/weekend A ladies pre wedding party
Wonky Not correct or not right
Throw a spanner in the Mess up a situation
works
See a man about a dog Go to the cloakroom
Made redundant To loose one’s job
Grub Refers to food
Piece of cake Something which is easy to do
Horses for courses Something that will not work for another person or stick to what you know
Slang words refer to an unusual and casual use of words either by British English speakers (as described above) or by American English speakers. By learning to use any of the sayings above, all those who learn English as a second language will be able to understand what is being said and talked about when listening to British people using these slang word(s)/sayings. With practice everyone can use slang the same way British English speakers do!
