Bizarre

50 British Slang Words to Spice up the Conversation

British English speakers are believed to have the most exhaustive slang vocabulary as well as the most researched and documented one.

Several British slang dictionaries and research studies have been published and as surprising as it may seem, the earliest ones was a seven-volume British slang dictionary published in 1889.

It may be overwhelming to even the British folk to remember and actively use all slang phrases and words in their conversation. Below is a list of some of the more commonly used and understood British slang words that could spice up your conversation and make you feel at home in the UK and may come in handy when indulging in ‘English’ fun:

List of 50 British Slang Words

Here is a list of British Slang Words to spice up your coversation:

1 – Flog

To flog means to sell something, as in:“I managed to flog my stolen Xbox
for a pretty good price”

Flog

2Crickey

Crickey is an exclamation of surprise, equivalent to the American ‘Holy shit’ expression. As in when your wife walk in with a ton of shopping bags, you can say “Crickey! Have you gone mad
woman?”

Crickey

3Blimey

This is another commonly used British slang word that expresses surprise, similar in use to the word ‘Crickey’. As in: “Blimey! You’re much uglier in person now that we’ve finally met.”

Blimey

4 – Yampy

A word used to state someone madness. Mostly sued in Birmingham. As in: “You’ve gone yampy if you think you can win from me at Russian Roulette, gimme that gun.”

Yampy

5Twock

Means to steal or burgle. Interestingly this word is derived from the police term TWOC for ‘taken without owner’s consent’.

Twock

6Snap

Slang term used in Birmingham for ‘food’. Usage: “I’m off to McDonalds
to get some snap”

Snap

7Tosh

Nonsense or Nonsensical. As in: “He speaks nothing but tosh after the third
beer.”

Tosh

8Spawny

Means ‘lucky’. As in: Spawny, the pregnancy test came back
negative.”

Spawny

9Skint

Means broke or bankrupt or without money. As in: “I’m not buying you another hooker! I’m skint.”

Skint

10Skive

A term used when faking illness or injury to avoid a commitment such as work or school. As in: “He skived off school only to later bump into his teacher at the gay bar.”

Skive

11 Paste

To thoroughly beat the crap out of someone.

Paste

12 Paddy

To throw an anger fit or tantrum. As in: “He’s going to throw a
paddy soon as he starts losing at the cock fight.”

Paddy

13Numpty

A stupid or unwise person. Also could be incompetent. As in: “he and his numpty friend better drive my lambo carefully.”

Numpty

14Nob

Refers to a person of high social status or more accurately, a snob. As in: “I nicked this watch from some nob in a fancy suit at the hotel.”

Nob

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15Miffed

Is the slang for getting offended or upset at something or someone. As in: “He
got all miffed about losing his girlfriend, tell him to grow a pair.”

Miffed

16Marbles

Used to signify intelligence or sanity. As in: “Have you lost your
marbles?”

Marbles

17Laughing Gear

This is a metaphor for ones’ mouth’. Equivalent to the American ‘pie hole’.

Laughing Gear

18Gutted

When you say ‘you’re gutted’, it means you’re in a state of depression or despair, feeling very low.

Gutted

19Antwacky

Means something that’s gone out of style. Comes from the improper pronunciation of the word ‘Antique’

Antwacky

20Beltas

A proclamation of joy.

Beltas

21Blart

Used to state someone is crying or sobbing. As in: “he started blarting cuz his girlfriend dumped him.”

Blart

22Chobble

To chew something loudly, as in: “you better stop chobbling those rocks cuz my ears hurt.”

Chobble

23Clamming

Means to starve, as in: “thank god you brought Chinese, I’ve been
clamming all day.”

Clamming

24Dancers

Interestingly, this is the slang British word for stairs. Used as: “get your butt up those dancers and go to sleep.’

Dancers

25Deaf it

Used when you ask someone to stop bothering about something, as in: “deaf
it pal, why do you even care?”

Deaf it

26Deek

This is said about a quick peek. As in: “yeah I’ll catch up soon as
I deek the neighbors window.”

Deek

27Dibble

One of my favorites, comes from Officer Dibble from Top Cat. Means the police. The fuzz.

Dibble

28Fettled

Means to be fixed, mended or repaired. As in: “I’m going to the shop to get my ride
fettled.”

Fettled

29Row

Pronounced as the word that rhymes with ‘cow’, means having an argument. Having a row.

Row

30Smashing

Means something that is amazing or brilliant. As in: “you had a
baby? That’s smashing!”

Smashing

31Yem

Is the slang for ‘home’

Yem

32Trabs

This unique word is used to describe ‘shoes’. As in: “Got these trabs pretty cheap on a sale.”

Trabs

33Slummock

Means to slouch or idle around.

Slummock

34Scrikin

Means ‘crying’. Mostly referred to children.

Scrikin

35Salfords

Used in Manchester to refer to socks. As in: “my idea is going to
knock your Salfords off.”

Salfords

36Paggered

Means ‘Exhausted’. Originates from Newcastle.

Paggered

37Ozzy

Another favorite of mine, going to the ozzy means going to the ‘hospital’.

Ozzy

38Netty

Another Newcastle slang word used to denote a ‘toilet’.

Netty

39Newtons

Check out the state of those newtons is what someone would say when they want you to check out someone’s ‘teeth’.

Newtons

40Nebby

Used for someone who is overy nosy and inquisitive.

Nebby

41Hinny

Refers to a female partner or wife. Might have stemmed from the word ‘honey’

Hinny

42Jarg

A fun way to say something that’s fake. As in: “got this jarg hand
bag a the store, I thought it was genuine.”

Jarg

43Steaming

The state of being extremely drunk or extremely angry.

Steaming

44 Wag off

Means to waste time. As in: “I do nothing but wag off at work.”

Wag off

45Lag

A convict. Means to arrest or transport someone for a crime..

Lag

46Knees up

Used as an adjective for liveliness. Maybe to describe a party.

Knees up

47Kerfuffle

A fight or argument caused by varying views.

Kerfuffle

48Honk

Means to vomit.

Honk

49Gaffer

Refers to your boss or foreman. As in: “let’s ask the gaffer if
we can get the hell out of the office for a break.”

Gaffer

50Fence

This actually means a person who is deals in stolen items or property. As in taking something to a fence to see how much money you can get.

Fence

Ahmed Raza

Ahmad in a nutshell is product of passion, enthusiasm and adventure. He loves to write around anything that involves behaviors, art, business and what makes people happier. He also shares his business and lifestyle content on entrepreneur.com and lifehack.org.

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