12 Everyday British Slang Words Americans Probably Don't Know | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

12 Everyday British Slang Words Americans Probably Don't Know

We swear we're not taking the piss.

203
12 Everyday British Slang Words Americans Probably Don't Know
pxhere

If you have ever watched a British TV show, heard British people talk, or even have gone over to England, it's pretty clear that even though both the English and Americans speak English, we actually speak two completely different versions. Shocking, I know.

Having lived in England and having a boyfriend who is English, I have come across some pretty odd words and phrases. When I first heard them I was like, "That is not a word, no way!" But believe me. It actually is. If you didn't know British slang before, well get ready because this list, though random, isn't taking the piss.

Welcome to the 12 Everyday British Slang Words Americans Probably Don't Know.


1. Alright?

"You Alright?" Believe it or not, they're not asking about your well-being. Nope, still nobody cares about how you are, it's more like a form of "what's up?"

2. Peng.


If you're peng, you're super attractive, like DAMN, go you!

3. Nelson Mandela's.

Not exactly this kinda Stella, we're actually talking Stella Artois. Stella...Mandela. It's cockney rhyming slang, but that's an explanation for another time.

4. Taking the piss.


If you're taking the piss, you're screwing around and most likely being wanker too.

5. Do.

If the dancing minion didn't give it away, it's a party! Everyone loves a good do.

6. Plaster.

Yes, band-aids are called "plaster," not as interesting, but definitely different.

7. Lorry.

So my boyfriend talked about the work lorry for weeks before I actually had to stop him and be like wtf is a lorry. Well, if you can't tell, it's a truck.

8. "Give you a bell."

Definitely one of the best ones that I've heard said, "I'll give you a bell" means I'll call you. By the looks of it, Conor's certainly waiting on one.


9. Chemist

The Chemist is the pharmacist. Kinda like how we have CVS, they have Boots. If you're sick you go to the Chemist's, or the Pharmacy.

10. Quid.

Money, money, money. A cool ass word for money.

11. Pants.

As Simon Pegg is obviously rocking, pants are underwear. Confusing, I know, but once you take off your trousers, you'll be in your pants. Think panties.

12. Yank.

Well, that's you, my friend. You're an American.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
ross geller
YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

301052
Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause
StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments