How well do you know your British slang? No, we aren鈥檛 talking about words like brilliant or bloke鈥攜ou probably know these. We want to challenge you with some slang words that might not be as widely known by American English speakers. The world of British slang is vast, and it includes everything from modern abbreviations to terms that have existed for a century. So let鈥檚 dive in and learn some other UK originals that you might hear more often if you mingle with the locals.
bruv
In the US, we have friend terms like bro and bruh. In the UK, they have bruv. Bruv is short for brother, as in 鈥渇ellow; buddy.鈥� It鈥檚 a familiar term typically used between male friends, close relations, or even actual brothers. Bruvver is one regional (especially Cockney) pronunciation of brother in the UK, and bruv is a shortening of that.
oojah
You鈥檝e likely heard of a doohickey or whatchamacallit, but what about an oojah? It鈥檚 a handy British word for an object you just can鈥檛 quite remember the name of. One of the earliest uses of the term in print appears in a 1917 Washington Post article about military slang. That means it鈥檚 stuck around for more than 100 years.
innit
It鈥檚 a good time to learn some new words, innit? This well known British word is unique because it鈥檚 actually a slang contraction. It鈥檚 a shortened form of the phrase isn鈥檛 it. Innit has roots in the Asian and Jamaican communities in London. It was also popularized by Ali G, a fictional British character played by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
peng
If something is peng, that means it鈥檚 attractive or appealing. Frequently, the term applies to good-looking people, but it can also be used to describe other things that look good, like clothing or food items. Peng is an example of modern British slang, as evidenced by its use on current popular shows like 鈥淟ove Island.鈥�
chuffed
Chuffed means 鈥渄elighted, pleased, satisfied.鈥� You might say you鈥檙e chuffed that your favorite team won the soccer game. This word dates back to the 1800s, when it was originally used to mean 鈥減uffed up with fat.鈥� It later became a slang term to express satisfaction. Victorian fiction enthusiasts may also recognize chuffed, though in literature it means the opposite: 鈥渁nnoyed; disgruntled; displeased.鈥�
knackered
Long day? Knackered is British slang for 鈥渧ery tired.鈥� It was first recorded in English in the late 1880s from knacker, or 鈥渢o tire.鈥� It鈥檚 related to an earlier sense of knacker that meant 鈥渢o kill.鈥� Luckily, the meaning today is much less shocking. Though it鈥檚 an older word, knackered is still relevant and used frequently.
barmy
Barmy means 鈥渃razy; foolish; eccentric.鈥� It鈥檚 thought to be an alteration of the word balmy, meaning 鈥渇oolish.鈥� This sense was first recorded in the 1800s and has an interesting history. Before baker’s yeast was widely available, bakers used a 鈥�barm tub鈥� to let bits of dough ferment into leavening. Some would drink this fermented alcoholic brew, making them barmy.
bants
If you meet up for some bants, you鈥檙e in for 鈥減layful teasing or mocking.鈥� Bants is a shortened form of banter, the English word that means 鈥渁n exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery.鈥� Banter was recorded in English beginning in the 1660s, but bants is a more recent sense of the word that鈥檚 popular among young people in the UK.
antwackie
Now, let鈥檚 talk about a throwback word. Antwackie isn鈥檛 just an older word itself, it actually means 鈥渙ld fashioned.鈥� Generally, it鈥檚 slang that鈥檚 used to describe people who are old fashioned or out of date. It鈥檚 thought to be related to the word antique (perhaps combined with the word wacky for humorous effect), though the exact origins aren鈥檛 known.
Talk about old-fashioned! How many of these old-timey dating slang words do you know?
ace
This next word is ace. In British slang, ace means 鈥渆xcellent; first-rate; outstanding.鈥� Whereas Americans might say they aced a test, ace is used in the UK as an adjective, like that movie was ace. This usage is most popular in Northern England and among young people.
damp squib
You could say disappointment, or you could say damp squib. This unique phrase means 鈥渟omething meant (to) but failing to impress or succeed.鈥� To understand this one, you first need to know what a squib is. It鈥檚 a word for a small firework. Therefore, a damp squib would be like a damp firework that doesn鈥檛 explode as intended. It鈥檚 meant to be great, but it ends up being lackluster. This usage has been around since the late 1960s.
scrummy
Have you had anything scrummy lately? You probably have because scrummy is short for scrumptious. Though these words fit聽right in among modern English speakers, they actually date back to the 1800s!
gobby
Gobby is a word that might describe the loudest person in the room, depending on what room you鈥檙e in. It means 鈥渓oud-mouthed and offensive.鈥� It鈥檚 used to describe someone who is very talkative and opinionated鈥攁nd not necessarily in a good way. It鈥檚 not known where this term originated, but the UK slang sense has been in use since the 1800s.
tosh
If someone speaks a lot of tosh, that means they are talking 鈥渘onsense; rubbish.鈥� In American English, it would fit right in among words like malarkey or baloney. You might say the new season of a popular TV show is absolute tosh or that a candidate鈥檚 speech is a load of tosh. This sense developed late in the 1800s.
ledge
Abbreviations abound in British slang, and ledge is no exception. This term is short for legend, and though it can be used in a genuine way, it鈥檚 often used ironically or in good-natured jest. Think: Paul saved me a seat in the cafeteria like a total ledge. Ledge is a good example of British slang that might be used as textspeak and primarily among teens and young adults.
Enough bants, it’s time to take the quiz!
Have you been reading carefully while sipping on some English Breakfast (or something tastier, hopefully)? We’d be chuffed if you took your knowledge to the next level by taking our quiz on these slang terms. And if you think this article is ace, just wait until you visit our British Slang word list!
