20 of the Most Common British Slang Words
- Fit (adj) So, in the UK fit doesn’t just mean that you go to the gym a lot.
- Loo (noun)
- Dodgy (adj)
- Proper (adj)
- Knackered (adj)
- Quid (noun)
- Skint (noun)
- To Skive (verb) Skiver (noun)
What is the most British thing to say?
11 Bloody Brilliant British English Phrases
- “Fancy a cuppa?” meaning: “Would you like a cup of tea?”
- “Alright?” meaning: “Hey, how are you?”
- “I’m knackered!” meaning: “I’m tired.”
- Cheeky. meaning: playful; mischievous.
- “I’m chuffed to bits!” meaning “I’m very pleased.”
- Bloody. meaning: very.
- To bodge something.
- “I’m pissed.”
What is a very British thing to say?
I’m knackered – I’m tired. Cheeky – Mischievous or playful. Bloody – This is a very British thing to say – meaning very. I’m pissed – Not meaning the regular “angry”, in British talk it actually means you’re very drunk and is used quite a lot when you are out drinking with friends.
What is Britain’s Favourite word?
Favorite is preferred in American English, while favourite is preferred in British English.
What is a British slang word?
Below are a few more commonly used British slang words!
balls-up — a messed up situation. wazzock — an idiot. legless — extremely drunk. miffed — upset or offended. knackered — tired and exhausted.
Why do British say bloody?
Bloody. Don’t worry, it’s not a violent word… it has nothing to do with “blood”.”Bloody” is a common word to give more emphasis to the sentence, mostly used as an exclamation of surprise. Something may be “bloody marvellous” or “bloody awful“. Having said that, British people do sometimes use it when expressing anger…
Why do British say innit?
“Innit” is an abbreviation of “isn’t it” most commonly used amongst teenagers and young people. This phrase is used to confirm or agree with something that another person has just said. “It’s really cold today.” “Innit.”
How do Brits say angry?
You often hear Americans say that they are “pissed”, meaning that they are angry or annoyed. British people also use the phrase “pissed off”, which means the same thing.
Is blood a swear word yes or no?
Bloody is a common swear word that is considered to be milder and less offensive than other, more visceral alternatives. In 1994, it was the most commonly spoken swear word, accounting for around 650 of every million words said in the UK – 0.064 per cent.
What words can British not say?
The Most Difficult English Words
- British pronunciation: thur-er. American pronunciation: ther-ow. Exactly.
- Pronounced: mer-der-rer. Worcestershire. Ah Worcestershire, the infamous sauce that no one knows how to pronounce.
- Pronounced: luff-ber-er. Debt. The ‘b’ is silent everyone!
- Pronounced: however you like. Squirrel.
Do British people say love?
Love/luv. The term love in Britain is often written as luv, and it gets used simply as a title most of the time.
What is British slang happy?
Chuffed. When you’re really happy or proud of something, the perfect word in British slang to describe your emotions is chuffed.
How do British say cool?
8. Dynamite/Wicked. Dynamite is used for awesome and cool. Wicked too is used to convey the same meaning.
Why do Brits say bruv?
Bruv. Short for “brother”, this London street slang is used to refer to a male friend. “You alright bruv?”
Do British swear a lot?
No matter what age they start, the British seem far more fluent at swearing than Americans. They are more likely to link colourful language with having a sense of humour than with coarseness or vulgarity. Some even have the ability to make a word sound like a swear word when it isn’t.
Is shut up a swear word?
The phrase is probably a shortened form of “shut up your mouth” or “shut your mouth up”. Its use is generally considered rude and impolite, and may also be considered a form of profanity by some.
Why do Brits say smashing?
Smashing is a BrE slang which means “very good” or “impressive”. Most folks might know this already, due to its use as a catch phrase by various BrE characters in media.
What is the British slang for girl?
‘Lass’ or ‘lassie’ is another word for ‘girl’. This is mainly in the north of England and Scotland. ‘Lad’ is another word for boy. ‘Bloke’ or ‘chap’ means ‘man’.
What do Brits call a taxi?
Black cab
The famous London taxis are actually called ‘hackney carriages’ but in London we just call them ‘black cabs/taxis’. London taxi drivers have to pass a special exam called the Knowledge to get their license so if you take a black cab, you can be sure the driver will know the way.
What is British slang for peeing?
Moreover, Brits have an even greater number of words to describe the act of urinating, including the following: having a slash; breaking the seal; spending a penny; having a wee; draining the lizard; having a piddle; having a tinkle; pointing the pink pistol at the porcelain firing range; and watering the flowers.
How do British people say cry?
Below is the UK transcription for ‘cry’: Modern IPA: krɑ́j. Traditional IPA: kraɪ 1 syllable: “KRY”