Learning a language in a classroom is very good , but you don't begin to experience the language until you know the slang right . Nowhere is this more true than in Britain . It's completely possible that you walk into a British bar or should I say a freezer and don't understand more than half of what they're saying .
If you don't want to be this person and you want to be able to converse fluently with your British mate and the president , then I'm here to help you out . Now , the problem with slang is that it is always changing and there are trends , like fashion and clothing style . A word that was commonly used in the 80s or 90s may sound dated , out of place today .
I did my best , however , to find the most common and recent example . What I want you to do , to let me know in the comments below how many phrases you have come across . Okay , are you ready ? Let's start . Number one would be fit . If you're okay , fit doesn't just mean that you go to the gym a lot .
Fit is a way of saying that a person is attractive or sexy . Bad guy is so fit . Should I get his number ? Okay ? Next we have loo . Yes , this is probably the British slang word . You'll hear a lot if you come to the UK simply because it's the word for turleys , without saying turleys . Okay , can we just stop at a cafe ?
I really need to go to the loo . Next we have dodgy . I love dodgy . Dodgy is a credible , useful word when British people describe anything we're a bit concerned about . It can be used to mean anything that's low quality , potentially dangerous or unreliable . I wouldn't go there . It can be a bit dodgy later on . Next we have proper . Proper is an adjective .
Proper is a difficult word to define , mainly because British people use it a lot in many different things . Doing things properly means doing them correctly , right or in the right way . In the north of England , proper can also be used for emphasise , in the same way as the word verb . Let's think of an example A proper cup of tea needs milk and two sugars .
That's a proper , good cup of tea . Quid quid it's a slang word for poundrecht . Can you lend me a quid for the parking machine ? Thank you . Next we have skin . Skin means that you don't have any money . Sorry , I can't come out for your birthday . I'm not getting paid until next week and I can . I put it on ?
It's Keter Snog to snog means to give someone a kiss , but specifically the kind of kiss that is not very romantic . Did you hear that Lisa snogged Keter at the Christmas party ? Cheers , so you might know this word for us Cheers when you want to use the toast to your drinks in English .
But as the British like to be different , we also use cheers for something else . We use cheers to mean thank you and often , mind you , it can use a little bit sarcastic . I'll give you an example . Do you want to help me clean the car ? No , I'm good . Cheers Now . Nafi's used to say that something is lacking in style or good taste .
I was about to buy you the pink dress , but I thought it looked a bit nuff . To sack off ? To sack off , it means to avoid doing something or to give up doing something , normally something that you didn't want to do in the first place . By the way , give someone the sack . It means firing this person from his or hers last job .
I think I'm going to sack off work and drinks later . I'm way too tired . Bunter Bunter is a word to use to mean joking or teasing someone that is meant to be friendly but often isn't . So don't get offended , it's just a bit of a bunter . Next we have my favorite bonkers . It can mean either crazy or angry , depending on the context .
For example , someone can be completely bonkers or can go bonkers meaning losing your temper . Pissed . Now in the United States pissed means angry . Right In the UK pissed means drunk and pissed off means angry . So it's a little bit confusing . I'll give you an example . I was so pissed off when I saw how pissed she got at the party .
Okay , melt , I want a slang word to describe someone who is a wimp or a coward . Just go and ask them out , stop being such a mouth . And here we have cheeky . Probably you heard this word . Cheeky has long been used in the UK to describe something like hearted but a little rude .
However , it is now used to describe any activity that is a little bit naughty or nice , like do you fancy a cheeky pint after work ? To mug off . To mug someone off is to take advantage of someone or make a fool out of them . Totally not nice . That guy at the football kept laughing at me for wearing an Arsenal shirt .
Told him to stop mugging me off , mate . So mate . British slang for a friend I'm not good Means I'm tired . Here's a good one Bloody . This is a very British thing to say , meaning very , that was a bloody good show . Rubbish . It could mean garbage or nonsense , depending on the context .
Rubbish Blimey is similar to the American wow Blimeys used to describe something that takes you by surprise . Blimey Blok Blok is similar to a guy . In America it is a blanket term to describe a man in general . Here's another good one Bollocks , one of the more well-known British terms . It actually has a multitude of meanings .
It could be used to symbolise disbelief or just to talk about a man's private heart . Fortnite . Some of you may already knew this term Means two weeks in time . Here's an old one Hunky Dory , normal to say final , fine , cool . Posh , another well-known term that stands past of borders .
In Great Britain Posh means something that is fancy or she speaks Posh To nick , to take to steal Boot . When talking about a car , the boot is the trunk Broly . We just slang term for umbrella . Here's another good one , but not nice one , not a compliment deem .
This is used to describe someone that is not very smart , also a myth , meaning being annoyed , and the word fag . In American English fag is an insult meaning and very mean to say to someone who is gay . But in British slang , however , it just means a cigarette . I'm going outside for a fag , are you coming ?
Very nice , fag Granny means grandma , and television we say telly . And if you want to say to someone wake up , you just say wakey , wakey , boozer . Boozer means a pub , a cupper what does it mean a cupper ? Cupper comes from the phrase cup of Meaning and pay attention is cup of tea .
Because we love , we love tea , and sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason . The word tea is not actually needed . You only need to make it clear if it is a cupper of coffee or cupper of anything other than tea . Would you like a cupper ? Yeah , I'd love to . Okay , then I'll get the kettle on . Bevy , the short for the word beverage .
Usually I'll call it most often beer . Now you give it a try . And how would you say in British slang this line Pay attention , are you ready ? So grab grandma , turn off the television , grab your umbrella and let's go to the pub for a drink . Let's hear you .
Okay , wakey , wakey , granny , turn off the telly , grab your prolly and let's go to the boozer for a bevy . That's it , mate . I hope you enjoyed it . I know I did . And what can I tell you ? Cheers . A taxi or even booking , one could come to a fast-trating task , especially if you are visiting big cities like New York , paris or London .
Taxi drivers have something in common all over the world they are a special species with the way they behave or talk . British cup drivers , however , have their eudique way of talking .
In this episode , you are about to meet three guys working in a central London taxi station Ali , the taxi dispatcher , who is trying to find an available taxi driver on a busy day . And if you noticed a few slang words , don't worry , I get to it later with the meanings , of course .
Meanwhile , please download , click , like and share this podcast series on a playlist or with your friends . Also , I invite you to join my YouTube channel . Look and Listen English Lessons with Sharon Fay . You won't regret it , I promise . So sit back and enjoy your listening .
Taxi tower health station . Hello , ali is speaking . How can I help you ?
Hello , yes , yes , hello . May I book a taxi to Heathrow airport please ?
Where from ?
I need to be picked up from Savoy hotel .
What time is it for , madam ?
Aha , when is the soonest I could book for ?
Please hold on , madam . Let me check who is available to Savoy butterfly Uwe . Can you read me , mike ? Mike , can you read me Uwe ?
Radio . Hello Ali Over . Wow , I've got a cock and a hat stuck in the circus tonight . Try with Harry . You know Uwe , hold on Uwe , harry , mike over , free , free as a bird . I'm cruising for an hour . So here you go , pick and drop Savoy hotel to the flyer . Let Ali know you're on it . Oh , you're a life saver , that's great . Cheers , mike .
Cheers , mike . Yes , hello , madam , are you still there ? Yes , yes , hello , madam , the taxi is on its way in 15 minutes .
Well , I suppose it's okay , but if you'll be late I'm taking a different cabbie . Well , thank you . Oh , wait , hold on , how much will that cost ? Hello , hello , well , that's so typical . Hi , there , listeners pay attention . The famous London taxi are actually called Huckney Carriages , but in London we just call them black cabs or taxis . Now , what about ?
Huck in the Hand ? It means male and female passengers riding together . To the flyer means London Heathrow Airport Circus , meaning the Piccadilly Circus . Cabbie or Huckie it means a taxi driver . Thanks for listening , to Look and Listen . English Lessons broadcast To continue improving your English .
You are welcome to join my channel and watch the videos on different topics and levels . Till next time . Bye , bye , hey Walter , hey mate , hi , how's it going ?
Everything cool . How are you ?
I'm fine , so great to have you here with me . So thank you for joining us , walter . We thought , when we met a week ago , to talk about the challenge of Spanish speakers with English , the struggle they have with English speaking , and also we said that we're going to discuss the clash of British slang and Argentinian slang .
Right , so we're going to get to it later , but first , because of who you are and because I adore Mayumana I'm your fan , your biggest fan I want you to tell us a little bit about this company , dance Company .
Okay , mayumana is in a theater company . Mayumana the name is coming from Mayumanut , niswa and Ibru . It's a world that means abilities and for a big part of the company you need to have a lot of abilities like drumming , dancing , acting , acrobat a lot of things together .
This is the magic of Mayumanut you can do everything together with a lot of energy and coordinate .
Exactly so . You're using all kinds of stuff and you do those percussions right and using all kinds of things . What kinds of things are you actually using ?
We use buckets , burials , flippers , tubes , and the body is the first instrument that we have in there .
I can't hear you . Can you do it again ? Can you do it again faster ? Why can't you ? Oh cool , oh , this is cool , like like , uh , how do you say Castanet , castanet , yes , yes .
And I continue to work with this . I do classes , workshops , a lot of activities with corporate activities , team building , and I share all my what I learned in Mayumana with a lot of people .
Right , so so , uh , let's , let's you mentioned the , the workshops that you , that you do , we , what kinds of people do you work with and what , and how do you think that , uh , um , the abilities that you mentioned before can contribute to to people , let's say , that have block in the communication , Because when I teach drama in English , for , for instance , I
help people that have this kind of block in speaking English Uh , so , can you , can you share with us what , what can you contribute with dancing and and percussion and everything that you teach in your workshops ?
Okay , I go , I I'm going to try . First of all , uh , it's a good communication . When we start to play , the one of the first thing you need to to have is listening , and this is something that we need in all the , all the things in the , in the life and in the companies . It's , it's very important how to listen , learn to listen .
And in the music is one of the first thing .
What we we need to do and we do a lot of exercise , like I asked something with the rhythm and you need to ask to to to answer the same , the same phrase , and this is a lot of exercise , that we need to learn how to listen and how the body can express themselves to to say the what I feel or what I express .
Can . Can you give me an example of something that you do in your workshop ? Okay , let's say that I'm a little bit shy now . I'm scared to do something like this , but can you show me something like a first first class ?
Okay , let's , I'm going to answer this . This exercise , this in a , in a round everybody walk in the same time , like in the same pools , it's , it's . It's good also to to feel each other . This is a good exercise to feel each other , and everybody knows to walk . No , everybody knows to . We do like walk in the same place .
And I start to ask you I do , for example , and you answer , okay , I do something different . Okay , if you are in the same place , I can . I can hear the set there . I can hear you more but , it's okay . It's an exercise to to what I'm here , I can express with my , with my body . This is one of the exercises .
Wow , this is wonderful . I think it can be really , really helpful . Also , in drama lesson we have something similar to it , because we do lots of things with our body and , you know , let's dive right into the thing that we said that we're going to talk about , and it's the challenge for Spanish speakers with English .
So do you have any kind of example , maybe from your experience with , you know , with difficulties with English , do you have difficulties in English that you want to share ?
I think the harder thing in Spanish speaker face when learning English is the pronunciation . English has so many different sounds that don't exist in Spanish .
The thing the Sounds like the yeah , yeah , right .
We don't have in Spanish .
So what do you have instead of the ?
No , we have another . I don't know Right now , but we have the they , they or the , the Tomato , the Then , but it's different , it's it's . It's hard to meet the same . It's a , but it's , it's okay . We need to practice and to feel comfortable with the pronunciation .
Absolutely , absolutely . What else do you think people will find difficult when they speak Spanish and they try to speak in English ?
Other difficult Spanish and English , have different words , other birds , things and even different Generous . Generous For no , no , yeah .
No .
Try to apply in Spanish grammar rules to English can lead To minimum More Different , difficult world . Like Minutes there's .
You remember I don't know if you , if you saw this show , it was like back in the 70s on the BBC 40 Towers With John Cleese from Monty Python . Yeah there was . There was a guy there . He was A waiter Emmanuel .
Do you remember ?
And and I wow , I remember this episode . It was really really so funny . It was hilarious . When 40 is telling Emmanuel to take the butter to to the dining room and he said , and 40 always was bragging as he as , as if is he speaks Spanish , but instead he was . He wasn't really a Spanish speaker , okay , he was British .
He couldn't really say properly and Emmanuel obviously didn't know English . So once 40 came out with yeah , take the butter to the dining room . And and Emmanuel was Boro , boro , boro , boro , and he said Boro and I'm , I'm mucho Boro , ali . Something was stupid , you know , and until his , his wife came and you know , everything started to come in place .
But it was really funny , you know , emmanuel , yeah , yeah , it's so different .
Also , in the Spanish it's not the same from from us to Mexican , argentinian , I don't know , costa Rica , that we have a different accent , different words of to say the same thing . We say different Like hold on .
I mean the grammar . The grammar that you use for Spanish , for Latin Spanish , is the same grammar that you use for Spanish in Spain said it's yes , but we use what when you , when we , when you talk , you talk in different way in Spain .
It's not the same , like in Chile , like we understand we , we . The accent is different , maybe the words are different . In Spain , the , the avocado , they say avocado , and in Chile they say the same thing and in Argentina , and in Argentina is avocado . For example , in Mexico is avocado .
Okay .
What did you ? Say what did you come ?
again Palta , palta , palta is avocado in . Argentina . Wow , I didn't know that .
Yeah . That's awesome and a lot of things like Pina in Mexico , I think they say Pina , or in Colombia , and we say anana , ananas , ananas .
Americans say ananas and pineapple . Okay , so now let's move on to something else . We promise to discuss a little bit about British slang and Argentinian slang . Walter , can you teach me something Argentinian slang ? Let's say I don't know how do you say in Argentina when someone is cool .
Okay , in Argentina , when something is cool , we say someone is cool , we say grosso , like grosso .
We say grosso yes it's super cool .
Additionally , we use a lot of re re grosso sometimes .
Wow , yeah , like Italians , let me try Super cool . You say it's what ? Come again Grosso or re lindo . When something is cute or re lindo . Okay , what else we say it's brilliant or mint . Can you repeat after me ?
Is that again Brilliant ? It's brilliant .
Yeah , it's brilliant . Or you can say mint , mint , yeah , mint , uh-huh . And if they find , let's say , if you find , something that it's really really funny , right , and you might say , oh , it's hilarious , yeah . Or you can say , uh , cracking up , it's cracking up Cracking up . Yeah , it's all about the quirky expressions .
If we quirky expressions , I am very expressive with my face , right .
Absolutely . Here in Argentina , when something is funny , we say it's a rice cake , Como it's Cago de risa Cago de risa .
Hold on , hold on . Uh , it's Me cago de risa , me cago de risa . Yes , did I say it okay .
Yes , perfect .
Okay , which later ?
I translate to I am louthing my butt off .
So , yeah , it's a bit more colorful , right ? Yeah , Definitely . So in speaking of colorful , did you know that the British have a slang word for someone who is annoying ? Yeah , you know they . You might say that um , here's um plonker . It's quite amusing , isn't it ? A plonker ?
Plonker .
Yeah , plonker is a plonker . Do you know any plonkers ? Do you have plonkers in your life ? Walter , I have plenty of plonkers .
Sasham . But yes , we have here in Argentina . You know , we have one word , it's boludo .
Boludo ? Yeah , I know this word , yeah , so what does ?
it mean Okay , it's like an idiot .
Yes , I know many boludos , lots of .
But we say also in a friendly way like yeah , boludo . When you call someone like I am a brother , we say in the good way also .
Yeah , like mate . But you say boludo , although mate is , you know , is a friend , right , yeah , yeah , yeah . So boludo can be a friendly way to talk to someone that you really know well .
Also when we play soccer .
We say hey boludo .
We can use like a good way or a bad way , wow .
So it's really fascinating how languages can be so different yet so similar , right yeah , in expressing emotions and connecting with others . This is wonderful . Thank you for sharing your insight , walter .
Thank you , charlotte . My pleasure , this was very , very , very funny , yeah , thank you .
Yeah , thank you so much and I hope people will like this video . Thanks , walter , that was really really fun . Thank you guys for watching this video . I hope you enjoyed it and I recommend that you watch this video that is all about British slang as well and don't forget to subscribe .
If you haven't done so , leave us a like and comment and I'll see you next time . Bye-bye .