British Slang: 100 Words You Need to Know

Why Learn British Slang?

British English is full of colourful expressions that you won't find in textbooks. Whether you're moving to the UK, visiting, or just want to understand British TV and films, knowing these slang words will help you fit right in.

Everyday Slang

1. Alright? — Hello (greeting, not a question about health)
2. Cheers — Thank you (also used when saying goodbye)
3. Brilliant — Great, excellent, amazing
4. Gutted — Very disappointed
5. Chuffed — Very pleased, happy
6. Naff — Uncool, tacky
7. Dodgy — Suspicious, unreliable, or of poor quality
8. Faff — To do something unnecessarily complicated
9. Knackered — Very tired, exhausted
10. Mate — Friend, used frequently in conversation
11. Proper — Really, very (e.g., "proper good")
12. Sorted — Organised, arranged, or "no problem"
13. Legend — Someone impressive or admirable
14. Bloody — Mild swear word used for emphasis (e.g., "bloody hell")
15. Rubbish — Garbage, or something of poor quality

Food & Drink Slang

16. Cuppa — A cup of tea
17. Brew — A cup of tea (Northern England)
18. Butty — A sandwich (Wales and Northern England)
19. Sarnie — A sandwich
20. Chips — Thick-cut fried potatoes (what Americans call "fries" are "chips" in the UK)
21. Crisps — Potato chips
22. Biscuit — A cookie (but not a soft American cookie — a proper British biscuit)
23. Pudding — Any dessert, not just the actual pudding
24. Full English — A traditional English breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, toast, etc.
25. Treat — Something special (e.g., "I'm treating myself")

People & Relationships

26. Lad/Lass — Boy/Girl, young man/young woman
27. Chap — A man, gentleman
28. Dear/Love — Terms of endearment used by strangers (especially in the North)
29. Innit — "Isn't it?" (used as a tag question)
30. Gov'nor/Guv — Sir, boss (London)
31. Mum/Dad — Mum/Dad (not Mom/Dad as in American English)
32. Nan/Granny — Grandmother
33. Sibling — Brother or sister
34. Best mate — Best friend
35. Ex — Ex-girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse

Describing Things

36. Fit — Attractive, good-looking
37. Boss — Excellent, brilliant (Northern England)
38. Mint — Excellent, great (North of England)
39. Dreadful — Very bad, terrible
40. Tidy — Good, neat (Wales)
41. Wee — Small (Scotland and Northern Ireland)
42. Giant — Very large
43. Chuffed to bits — Extremely pleased
44. Over the moon — Very happy
45. Dead chuffed — Very pleased
46. Gobsmacked — Amazed, astonished
47. Flabbergasted — Very surprised
48. Sussed — Understood or figured out
49. Ruined — Destroyed or wrecked
50. Minging — Disgusting, ugly

Actions & Phrases

51. Fancy — To want or like (e.g., "Do you fancy a cuppa?")
52. Properly — Completely, really
53. Faffing about — Wasting time on unimportant things
54. Have a natter — Have a chat
55. Popping in — Visiting briefly
56. Nip out — Go out briefly
57. Sod off — Go away (rude)
58. Bugger off — Go away (less rude)
59. Bog off — Go away (informal)
60. Chinwag — A chat, gossip
61. Have a butcher's — Have a look (Cockney rhyming slang: butcher's hook = look)
62. Leg it — Run away
63. Skipper — Captain, leader
64. Bail out — Leave, depart
65. Bonkers — Crazy, mad
66. Barking — Crazy (as in "barking mad")
67. Nuts — Crazy
68. Wicked — Excellent, cool
69. Sweet — Good, nice, okay
70. Dope — Excellent
71. Smashed — Very drunk
72. Pissed — Drunk (in the UK, not angry)
73. Tankered — Very drunk (Northern England)
74. Hammered — Very drunk
75. Sloshed — Drunk

Regional Gems

76. Wee — Small (Scotland)
77. Loch — Lake (Scotland)
78. Bairn — Child (Northern England and Scotland)
79. Nowt — Nothing (Northern England)
80. Owt — Anything (Northern England)
81. Ow's it goin'? — How are you? (Northern England)
82. Proper job — Good work, excellent (Cornwall)
83. What's occurin'? — What's happening? (Wales)
84. Cwtch — A cuddle, hug (Wales)
85. Wee bawbag — Small person (Scotland — can be affectionate or rude)
86. Dead on — Good, nice (Northern Ireland)
87. Craic — Fun, entertainment, news (used in Northern Ireland and increasingly everywhere)
88. Grand — Good, fine (Ireland and Northern Ireland)
89. Cod — To joke, trick (Northern Ireland)
90. Buck eejit — Complete idiot (Scotland)

The Essential Ones

If you only remember 10 words, make it these:

1. Alright? — Hello
2. Cheers — Thank you
3. Brilliant — Great
4. Mate — Friend
5. Fancy — Want
6. Rubbish — Bad/Garbage
7. Knackered — Tired
8. Chuffed — Happy
9. Gutted — Disappointed
10. Sorted — Done/Organised

Now you're ready to talk like a local! Check our British traditions guide to learn more about the culture behind the language.