![]() These other terms of social slang might be useful: If you don't want to take part or can't afford to, it is perfectly acceptable to say so and buy your own. In a large group, this may not be practical – people may decide to buy their own or split into smaller rounds. In a UK café or pub, it is common for small groups of friends to take it in turns to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the table. You might see BYOB written on the invitation. In the UK, it is common for the party host to ask guests to bring their own drinks. If you are invited to one of these, you may need to be aware of the below terms: People may use this in a light-hearted way. A 'knees up' is a more old-fashioned term for a party. You may well be invited to a 'do', 'bash', or 'get-together', which are all other words for a party or group gathering. For example, 'it was dead good' or 'that exam was well difficult!'. You may hear people use the slang terms 'well', 'dead' instead of very or really. She's solid!', or 'that economics exam was solid!'. For example, 'she just ran the London marathon. The word 'solid' usually refers to an object, but in slang, it can mean that something or someone is resilient or difficult. 'It's doing my head in!' means it is annoying me, and 'it's all kicking off!' means an argument is happening. If someone is being 'mardy', this means they are acting moody or sulky. When disappointed, though, they might say 'I'm gutted'. If someone is happy, they might say 'I'm made up!' or 'I'm well chuffed!'. If it is bad or suspicious, then it it could be 'dodgy'. If something is uncool, people may say it is 'naff' or 'cheesy' (the latter is used especially for anything with clichés – a cheesy song, for example). These words are particularly popular in London and the south of England. 'Wicked' and 'sick' formally mean evil or distasteful, but in slang terms they can mean cool, too. In the north of England, you might hear 'ace' and 'mint' and in Northern Ireland you might hear 'dead on' or 'grand'. For example, in Wales you might hear people say 'tidy' or 'lush', while in Birmingham you might hear 'bostin'. There are lots of slang and dialect words to say something is good or cool. It is especially popular in the northwest and midlands of England. 'Our kid' refers to 'my brother' or 'my sister'. They are more old-fashioned now, but you may still hear people use them in a light-hearted way. 'Me old mucker' or 'chum' both mean 'friend', too. This is mainly in the north of England and Scotland. 'Lass' or 'lassie' is another word for 'girl'. 'Bairn' is especially popular in Scotland and the north east of England and means 'baby' or 'young child'. (It is usually not appropriate for younger people to use these terms with older people, however). Older people in the UK often use these terms when they are addressing younger people as a sign of affection and friendliness. 'Cheers' is usually said as a toast when you raise your glasses to celebrate, but it also means 'thank you'.ĭon't be confused if someone calls you 'pet', 'duck', 'sweetie', 'love', 'chicken', 'chuck' or 'sunshine'. 'Ta' is another way of saying 'thank you'. 'Howay' is popular in the north east of England and means 'let's go' or 'come on'. 'What about ye?' is popular in Northern Ireland and is another way of saying 'How are you?' 'Hiya' or 'Hey up' – these informal greetings both mean 'hello' and are especially popular in the north of England. With your friends, however, it can be great fun trying out new words. People may think it impolite if you use slang in these situations. It is worth noting that it is best to avoid using slang with strangers, in the classroom, or in formal situations until you're confident with the language. To help you 'cotton on' (slang for 'understand'), here are some common words you may hear. A lot of these words are shared with other English-speaking countries, but many are unique to Britain, so even if you're a grade-A student or a native speaker, you might still be baffled. ![]() You might hear some regional dialect words, too. People here, like in many other places, often use slang – especially with friends and family. Don't worry, this is completely normal and you will soon get used to it. This, unhelpfully, will often also vary depending on which part of the UK you are in. When you first arrive in the UK, you might be mystified by some of the words and phrases people use. 'Hiya, mate, fancy a cuppa and a chin-wag?' 'I can't. Are you moving to the UK for study or work? The British Council's Sophie Cannon explains some of the weird and wonderful words and phrases you might encounter.
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