50 British English Slang Words
Learning British slang can be tricky but also fun and incredibly useful if you want to sound more natural when speaking English. Here’s a guide to 50 popular British slang words and phrases, along with explanations and example sentences to help you understand and use them in context.
1. Bloke
Explanation: A casual term for a man.
Example: "He’s a nice bloke once you get to know him."
Example: "Who’s that bloke talking to Sarah?"
2. Mate
Explanation: Another word for a friend, commonly used in British English.
Example: "Alright, mate? How’s it going?"
Example: "I’m meeting my mates at the pub later."
3. Cheers
Explanation: Used not only for toasting but also as a way to say thank you.
Example: "Cheers for helping me out with that project."
Example: "Here’s your coffee. – Cheers!"
4. Knackered
Explanation: Extremely tired or exhausted.
Example: "I’m absolutely knackered after that long day at work."
Example: "He looked knackered after running the marathon."
5. Chuffed
Explanation: Very pleased or happy about something.
Example: "I’m really chuffed with how my presentation went."
Example: "She was chuffed when she got the promotion."
6. Skint
Explanation: Having no money; broke.
Example: "I’m skint until payday, can’t afford to go out."
Example: "He’s always skint because he spends too much on clothes."
7. Gutted
Explanation: Extremely disappointed or upset.
Example: "I was gutted when I didn’t get the job."
Example: "She was gutted that her favorite band canceled their concert."
8. Dodgy
Explanation: Suspicious, untrustworthy, or dangerous.
Example: "That area looks a bit dodgy at night."
Example: "I wouldn’t trust him; he seems dodgy."
9. Quid
Explanation: A slang term for the British pound.
Example: "This coffee only cost me two quid."
Example: "Can you lend me a quid for the bus?"
10. Fancy
Explanation: To like someone romantically or to want something.
Example: "I think she fancies him; she’s always smiling at him."
Example: "Do you fancy going out for dinner tonight?"
11. Rubbish
Explanation: Trash or something of poor quality.
Example: "That movie was absolute rubbish."
Example: "Can you take the rubbish out, please?"
12. Bollocks
Explanation: Used to express disbelief, frustration, or as a term for nonsense.
Example: "That’s absolute bollocks! I don’t believe a word."
Example: "Oh bollocks! I forgot my keys."
13. Leg it
Explanation: To run away quickly, often to escape.
Example: "When they saw the police, they legged it."
Example: "We’re going to be late, let’s leg it to the station."
14. Taking the mickey
Explanation: Teasing or making fun of someone.
Example: "Are you taking the mickey out of me?"
Example: "They were just taking the mickey, don’t take it seriously."
15. Pissed
Explanation: Drunk (in British English).
Example: "He got absolutely pissed at the party last night."
Example: "Everyone was pissed by the end of the night."
16. Brilliant
Explanation: Amazing or fantastic.
Example: "The show was absolutely brilliant!"
Example: "That’s a brilliant idea!"
17. Barmy
Explanation: Crazy or mad.
Example: "You’re barmy if you think that’s going to work."
Example: "It’s barmy to go swimming in this weather."
18. Gobsmacked
Explanation: Shocked or surprised.
Example: "I was gobsmacked when I won the competition."
Example: "She was gobsmacked at the news."
19. Knock up
Explanation: To wake someone up by knocking on their door (also has a different slang meaning in American English).
Example: "I’ll knock you up at 7 a.m. before we leave."
Example: "The milkman used to knock people up early in the morning."
20. Sod off
Explanation: A rude way of telling someone to go away.
Example: "Sod off! I’m not interested in what you’re selling."
Example: "He told me to sod off when I asked for help."
21. Scrummy
Explanation: Delicious or tasty.
Example: "That cake was scrummy, can I have the recipe?"
Example: "This restaurant makes the most scrummy desserts."
22. Bits and bobs
Explanation: Various small things or tasks.
Example: "I’ve got a few bits and bobs to sort out this afternoon."
Example: "She’s selling some old bits and bobs at the car boot sale."
23. Miffed
Explanation: Slightly annoyed or irritated.
Example: "I was a bit miffed when they didn’t invite me."
Example: "He’s miffed because they forgot his birthday."
24. Kip
Explanation: A short nap or sleep.
Example: "I could do with a quick kip before we go out."
Example: "I had a good kip last night, feeling fresh!"
25. Faff
Explanation: To waste time or dither.
Example: "Stop faffing about and get on with it."
Example: "We spent ages faffing before we actually left the house."
26. Lurgy
Explanation: A mild illness, like a cold or flu.
Example: "I’ve caught the lurgy and feel awful."
Example: "Half the office is off sick with the lurgy."
27. Naff
Explanation: Uncool, tacky, or lacking style.
Example: "That outfit is a bit naff, isn’t it?"
Example: "I thought the decorations were quite naff."
28. Skive
Explanation: To avoid work or responsibilities by pretending to be ill or finding excuses.
Example: "He’s always skiving off work."
Example: "We used to skive lessons when we were at school."
29. Wicked
Explanation: Cool, awesome, or great.
Example: "That concert was wicked!"
Example: "You’ve done a wicked job with the presentation."
30. Gaff
Explanation: A house or flat.
Example: "I’m having a party at my gaff this weekend."
Example: "He’s got a nice little gaff in the city center."
31. Stag do
Explanation: A bachelor party.
Example: "We’re going to Barcelona for his stag do."
Example: "The stag do got pretty wild by the end of the night."
32. Hen do
Explanation: A bachelorette party.
Example: "The girls are planning a hen do in Brighton."
Example: "Her hen do was full of laughs and lots of champagne."
33. Nutter
Explanation: A crazy or eccentric person.
Example: "He’s a bit of a nutter, but he’s harmless."
Example: "That guy driving like that is an absolute nutter."
34. Sorted
Explanation: Fixed, organized, or taken care of.
Example: "Don’t worry, everything’s sorted for the event."
Example: "I’ve got my flights and hotel sorted for the trip."
35. Bugger all
Explanation: Nothing at all.
Example: "I did bugger all over the weekend."
Example: "There’s bugger all in the fridge, we need to go shopping."
36. Dodgy
Explanation: Unreliable, suspicious, or of low quality.
Example: "That website looks a bit dodgy to me."
Example: "He’s got some dodgy business deals going on."
37. Cracking
Explanation: Excellent or very good.
Example: "That was a cracking match!"
Example: "She’s got a cracking sense of humor."
38. Chuffed to bits
Explanation: Extremely pleased or happy.
Example: "I’m chuffed to bits with how the event turned out."
Example: "She was chuffed to bits when she heard the news."
39. Blinding
Explanation: Excellent or impressive.
Example: "They played a blinding set at the festival."
Example: "What a blinding performance by the team!"
40. Throw a wobbly
Explanation: To have an emotional outburst or get very angry.
Example: "He threw a wobbly when they changed his schedule."
Example: "Watch out, she might throw a wobbly if she doesn’t get her way."
41. On the pull
Explanation: Looking to find someone to date or flirt with.
Example: "He’s always out on the pull at weekends."
Example: "We’re going out on the pull tonight."
42. Minted
Explanation: Wealthy or rich.
Example: "He’s absolutely minted, look at that car he drives."
Example: "They must be minted to afford a house like that."
43. Peckish
Explanation: Slightly hungry.
Example: "I’m feeling a bit peckish; fancy a snack?"
Example: "I’ll have dinner soon, but I’m peckish now."
44. Daft
Explanation: Silly or foolish.
Example: "Don’t be daft; of course you can do it."
Example: "He made a daft mistake during the meeting."
45. Mug
Explanation: A fool or someone easily tricked.
Example: "Don’t be a mug, don’t let them take advantage of you."
Example: "He felt like a mug for believing their lies."
46. Cheeky
Explanation: Impolite in a funny or endearing way.
Example: "That was a cheeky comment, but I’ll let it slide."
Example: "He’s got a cheeky grin, doesn’t he?"
47. Gaff
Explanation: Slang for a house or flat.
Example: "I’m throwing a party at my gaff this weekend."
Example: "She’s got a lovely gaff in London."
48. Nosh
Explanation: Food.
Example: "I’m starving, let’s get some nosh."
Example: "That pub serves great nosh."
49. Bodge job
Explanation: A repair or task done poorly or in a makeshift way.
Example: "This is just a bodge job; it won’t last long."
Example: "He did a bodge job on the plumbing, and now it’s leaking."
50. Mug off
Explanation: To treat someone unfairly or disrespectfully.
Example: "Don’t mug me off, I know what really happened."
Example: "He felt mugged off after they ignored his suggestions."
These British slang terms are commonly used in everyday conversation, and mastering them will help you understand and communicate more naturally with native speakers. Incorporating them into your English can make you sound more fluent and in tune with British culture!
