Unlock the Secrets of Odd British English Phrases and Dazzle Locals with Adept English
Have you ever felt like British folks are talking in code? Trust me, you're not alone. Iâm Hilary, and today, you'll decode British slang words that are so timeless, they've been in play since the 1930s! đ˛ Imagine being gobsmacked when you finally get that 'bazillion' just means âa lotâ or knowing that someone who is âdodgyâ is really just âa bit sus.â
What You'll Gain:
- đŹđ§ Master AUTHENTIC British Slang: From âgobsmackedâ to âbazillionâ to âdosh,â speak like you were born in Britain!
- đ° Time-tested Words: These slang words have roots going back to the 1930s, and they're not going away!
- đ Have Some Fun: Use slang words people wouldnât expect you to know. Surprise and delight your British friends!
- đ´ó §ó ˘ó ˇó Źó łó ż Venture Beyond England: Pick up a few words from Scotland and Wales too!
- đ§ Just Listen: With Adept English's "listen & learn" system, it's as easy as hitting "play"!
âLesson transcript: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/english-phrases-learn-british-slang-words-for-everyday-conversation/
Learning never exhausts the mind.
â Leonardo da Vinci
You may not like slang, and not want to use it in your own conversations, but you still need to know it
so you can follow others who do use slang in their conversations. So navigate the maze of British slang like a pro! Watch our latest lesson and get an #EnglishLesson like no other! No fluff. No filler. Just cold, hard, conversational gems thatâll make Brits think you've lived among them for years. Because, letâs face it, language isn't just about grammarâit's the key to a culture.
Imagine this: You're in the UK, surrounded by locals, and you hear the word "gobsmacked." Confused? You should be. This English lesson dives into the quirky world of British slang, revealing words like "gobsmacked" that will leave you absolutelyâwell, gobsmacked. Far from your typical lesson, this one uncovers the language that real Brits use every day. Don't just learn Englishâexperience it!
One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.
â Frank Smith
đ So, are you ready to become a British Slang Maestro? Hit 'Play' and jump-start your journey to English fluency with Adept English.đ Don't walk, RUN to this lesson. Become a part of the Adept English revolution now!đ
More About This Lesson
Welcome to Adept English! Want to talk like a British local? Tired of not getting British jokes and phrases? Dive into our lesson, "Master British Slang with Adept English!" We'll teach you words like 'gobsmacked,' 'bazillion,' and 'chuffed.' Plus, we'll even take you on a tour of slang from Scotland and Wales!
The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
â Ludwig Wittgenstein
Things you will learn in today's English vocabulary and phrases lesson:
- Introduction of Common Slang: Provides learners with a real understanding of day-to-day British language.
- Historical Context: Offers insight into the origin of words, adding depth to language comprehension.
- Word Explanations: Breaks down slang words into simpler terms, helping learners grasp meaning.
- Real-World Examples: Helps learners know when and how to use slang in conversation.
- Regional Variations: Exposes learners to slang from Scotland and Wales, broadening understanding.
- Engagement Techniques: Uses questions to involve learners, making the information more memorable.
- Tips on Usage: Provides warnings and guidance on when not to use certain slang terms.
- Promotion of Active Listening: Emphasizes the importance of listening for language acquisition.
- Free Resources Plug: Informs about additional tools available to speed up the language learning process.
- Lesson Recap: Aids memory retention by summarizing key points at the end.
Benefits of our listen & learn approach to learning
- Sound Like a Local: Learn words that British people actually use.
- Make Friends: Slang helps you connect with people on a deeper level.
- Explore Culture: You'll get to know not just the language, but the culture of the UK, too.
- Learn Timeless Words: Some slang words we teach have been around since the 1930s!
- Add Spice to Conversations: Just like spices in food, slang adds flavour to your talks.
- Gain Cultural Insight: Words have stories. Learn why 'chuffed' means more than just happy.
Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.
â Rudyard Kipling
Need more reasons to listen?
- Catch Real Emotions: Know when someone is 'chuffed to bits,' they are really, really happy!
- Don't Feel Left Out: Understanding slang means you wonât feel lost in British conversations.
- Have Fun: Slang adds a fun twist. You won't just learn; you'll enjoy yourself!
- Scared of Making Mistakes?: Don't worry, people find it cute when you try!
- Think Slang is Hard?: Take it easy. Youâll learn as you practice more.
Ready to change your English language learning game? Click now to join Adept English and unravel the fun world of British slang. Step up your English to legendary status!
Questions You Might Have...
Unlocking British slang is like finding a secret codebook that suddenly makes you part of an exclusive club. Adept English's lesson is your golden ticket to that hidden world, revealing gems like "gobsmacked" and "chuffed." Imagine cracking the linguistic enigma, surprising locals, and feeling the thrill of blending in. It's not just language learning; it's a cultural treasure hunt!
- Why is learning British slang essential for mastering English fluently? Learning slang enriches your understanding of the language, making your conversations feel more natural and nuanced. You'll blend in effortlessly with locals and gain a deeper insight into British culture. Trust me, when you throw in a slang word like "gobsmacked" or "chuffed" in a conversation, you not only surprise people but also display your understanding of the nuances in British English. Adept English makes learning slang a breeze with immersive lessons, so dive in!
- What does 'gobsmacked' mean and how do I use it? The term 'gobsmacked' means you're extremely surprised or shocked. It's a blend of 'gob', a slang for mouth, and 'smacked', which means to hit. Imagine someone telling you a surprising fact; you can express your astonishment by saying, "I was absolutely gobsmacked!" Incorporating such terms into your vocabulary makes your English sound more native and engaging.
- How does Adept English teach British slang effectively? Adept English employs a listen & learn method that's not just easy but also fun. By listening to real conversations that use slang, you internalize these terms naturally, without the grind of rote memorization. Moreover, Adept English presents slang in its cultural and historical context, making your learning experience culturally enriching. For instance, did you know that some slang terms date back to the 1930s?
- Can learning slang help in understanding regional accents like those in Scotland and Wales? Absolutely, yes! Adept English even covers slang terms from Scotland and Wales, like "wee" and "lush." So, you're not just learning British slang; you're going on a linguistic tour of the UK. Grasping these regional words gives you a keen edge in understanding accents and dialects across Britain. So, next time you hear someone from Wales say something is "lush," you'll know it's a compliment!
- Is Adept English's approach to teaching slang suitable for beginners? You bet! Adept English's teaching style is accessible to learners at all levels. With the listen & learn system, you soak up slang in a contextual and intuitive way, making it easy to remember and use. Plus, Adept English offers a free course that guides you through the basics, making the road to fluency smoother.
Most Unusual Words:
- Gobsmacked: Very surprised or shocked.
- Bazillion: A made-up word that means "a lot."
- Sus: Short for "suspicious," means something is not trustworthy.
- Chuffed: Very happy or pleased.
- Dosh: Slang for money.
- Mental: Slang that means either "crazy" or "very angry."
- Lush: In Welsh slang, means "very nice" or "fabulous."
- Tidy: In Welsh slang, means "pleasing" or "good."
- Wee: Scottish word that means "small."
- Bonnie: Scottish word that means "attractive" or "beautiful."
Most Frequently Used Words:
Word | Count |
---|---|
Means | 20 |
Slang | 17 |
Words | 13 |
Adjective | 11 |
English | 10 |
Someone | 10 |
British | 9 |
People | 9 |
Might | 9 |
Meaning | 8 |
Listen To The Audio Lesson Now
The mp3 audio and pdf transcript for this lesson is now part of the Adept English back catalogue . You can still download and listen to this lesson as part of one of our podcast bundles.Transcript: Crack The Code Of Everyday British Conversation
Letâs practise some British slang words
Hi there. Have you ever wondered why British people sometimes sound like they're speaking a different version of English? Well, that's because in conversation we often use slang words - thatâs SLANG. If you spend time in the UK, youâll find that a lot of the language is formal, standard, but that amongst ordinary people in conversation, slang is automatically used and understood. But it may leave English language learners puzzled. Youâll generally pick them up, these words, as you go along if you spend lots of time in the UK - but letâs cover some slang words today - then you can get comfortable with them and maybe even use them yourself, which will make people smile. If youâre an English language learner, people probably wonât expect you to know these words - so you can have some fun with it! And stick around to the end of this podcast for some British slang words which come from Scotland and Wales - words which everybody knows!
And slang isnât just âhere today, gone tomorrowâ. Some of the British slang words Iâll cover today originated as far back as the 1930s but remain widely used in everyday conversation today. Slang words have staying power, so they're worth learning because you're likely to hear them or use them for years to come.
Hello, Iâm Hilary, and youâre listening to Adept English. We will help you to speak English fluently. All you have to do is listen. So start listening now and find out how it works.
Have you ever been âgobsmackedâ?
First one - have you ever been so shocked that it felt like someone slapped you across the face? That's what 'gobsmacked' means! Thatâs GOBSMACKED. Itâs slang of course, and an adjective to mean âvery surprisedâ - as in âI was absolutely gobsmackedâ. An explanation? Well âgobâ, GOB is a slang word for your mouth. The word âgobâ - itâs a bit childish and it comes into phrases like âShut your gobâ - meaning âBe quiet!â, which would be rude in most company! So donât use that one, donât say that to someone unless you know them really well! Other slang words like âgobbyâ, GOBBY come from this word. Someone who is âgobbyâ has a lot to say and an overly confident attitude. âGobbyâ means their mouth or âgobâ is working too hard, talking. The âsmackedâ part of âgobsmackedâ? Well âto smackâ, SMACK means âto hit something with your open handâ, with the palm of your hand. So âgobsmackedâ means âvery surprisedâ, stunned perhaps âas though youâve been hit or smacked in the gobâ. Thatâs âgobsmackedâ. And according to the article Iâve included the link for, this word comes from the 1930s, but we still use it! And âgobsmackedâ isnât rude - it is informal and slang though. An example? âHe was gobsmacked when he got his new jobâ.
How many is a âbazillionâ?
Next one - âbazillionâ, thatâs BAZILLION. Again this is another word which originated in the 1930s, but itâs slang that we still use today. Itâs really simple this one - âbazillionâ of course rhymes with âmillionâ or âbillionâ or âtrillionâ - which are all words for large numbers. A âmillionâ, MILLION is a 1 followed by six zeroes - as in âa million poundsâ [ÂŁ1,000,000]. So a âbazillionâ is just a made-up word to mean âa lotâ. If youâre feeling overwhelmed, you might say âIâve got a bazillion things to do todayâ. So âbazillionâ is used in the context of exaggeration. Exaggeration, EXAGGERATION means when you âoverstateâ something, you talk about it in a way that makes it seem larger, more important, more impossible or worse than it is - you âexaggerateâ. So if you hear someone use the word âbazillionâ, youâll know that theyâre exaggerating. âBazillionâ isnât a fixed number - it just means âa lotâ. âThere are a bazillion flies in my kitchen todayâ. âSheâs made a bazillion sandwiches for the picnicâ.
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When something is âa bit susâ?
Ready for more British slang? Next have you heard the adjective 'susâ? âSusâ, SUS. If something is âa bit susâ, it means that itâs âquestionableâ or âdodgyâ, DODGY. âSusâ is short for âsuspectâ or âsuspiciousâ - and means âgenerally untrustworthy, not rightâ. A person or a situation can be âsusâ but for things weâre more likely use âdodgyâ - âI think I ate a dodgy curry last nightâ. To expand on âsuspectâ or âsuspiciousâ? âSuspiciousâ, SUSPICIOUS is an adjective and it can describe both your attitude if you see something âsusâ or dodgy and this makes you âsuspiciousâ. Or it can also be used to describe the actual activity or thing that you might be suspicious of. âThere was a suspicious package deliveredâ. And âsuspectâ can be a noun meaning âsomeone youâre suspicious ofâ, or an adjective - we might also say âa suspect package was delivered.â Or pronounced with the alternative emphasis âsuspectâ, it becomes the verb, âto suspectâ, meaning âto be suspicious of someone or somethingâ. So if you hear someone say âThatâs a bit susâ - youâll know what they mean! Itâs a questionable, a suspect, a dodgy situation.
đˇ
A photograph of lush green forest. Impress Locals: Use slang from Scotland and Wales for a well-rounded British vocabulary.
âChuffed to bitsâ?
Ever been so thrilled and excited that you didn't know how to express it? Well, in British slang, the word 'chuffed' may be what you're looking for. âChuffedâ means you're super happy - thatâs CHUFFED. Itâs an adjective and it means âhappy, satisfied, pleased with somethingâ. Because British people donât like to overstate achievements, it might be âIâm pretty chuffed - I passed my driving testâ or âIâm quite chuffed with my exam resultsâ. If someoneâs really âchuffedâ and struggling a bit more to contain their delight, you might hear âIâm chuffed to bitsâ - as in âMy son was chuffed to bits - he scored two goals!â âChuffedâ - quite a satisfying word. It does sound like a past participle, but as far as Iâm aware, there is no verb âto chuffâ or if there ever was, itâs been lost in time!
âDoshâ in the form of âfiversâ and âtennersâ?
Next one - time to talk money or should I say, 'dosh'? Thatâs DOSH. Nice simple one - âdoshâ just means âmoneyâ as in âHave you got any dosh on you?â Whether it's coins, notes, or your bank balance. It doesnât mean just cash - it can mean your wealth, your assets, whatâs in your bank account as in âTheyâre rolling in doshâ - that means âtheyâve got a lot of moneyâ. While weâre at it, do you know what âa fiverâ or âa tennerâ are? If you think of the banknotes in pounds sterling or British currency, then a âfiverâ, FIVER just means a âfive pound noteâ and a âtennerâ, TENNER just means a âten pound noteâ. So there we are - âLend us some dosh - a fiver or a tenner will do!â
If someone âgoes mentalâ?
You might recognise this next word because I use it oftenâ'mental', MENTAL meaning âof the mindâ. And youâll probably have heard that one in Adept English podcasts because I sometimes talk about peopleâs âmental healthâ, their âpsychological wellbeingâ. But did you know that âmentalâ has slang meanings too? It can be used of something like a weekend - or an evening - meaning âit got a bit crazy, it was mentalâ. That probably means there was a lot of drinking and partying - âThe weekend was mentalâ or âWhen that song came on, everyone went mental!â meaning probably that they danced vigorously and excitedly. But the more usual slang meaning, if someone âgoes mentalâ it means that they âgot very angryâ. âMy dad went mental when he heard Iâd crashed the carâ. It can also be used of a person, whoâs unpredictable or angry - âThat guy on the train was mental - I was scaredâ.
Welsh and Scottish slang words
Letâs make this truly British, as if Iâm not careful, I can be quite âEngland-centricâ. Ready for a quick trip around the UK? How about we explore some slang from Wales and Scotland? How about a couple of slang words from Wales and two that you might hear in Scotland?
âLushâ isnât just for grass
I lived in south Wales for four years, so I know these words are used all the time. The word âlushâ, LUSH. In formal English this is an adjective which you would use to describe juicy, green plant growth. You might comment that the lawn âlooks lushâ if thereâs been a lot of rain. But in Welsh slang, âlushâ means âvery niceâ or even âfabulousâ. Often used of someone you find attractive âOh, sheâs lush, she is!â I even remember someone using the phrase âCowinâ lushâ for emphasis - that means âreally, really nice!â Maybe that one is specific to south Wales!
âTidyâ doesnât just mean âneatâ
The other Welsh slang word and another positive one - âtidyâ. Usually, in formal English, the adjective âtidyâ, TIDY means âneatâ, arranged in the right place. Itâs also a verb âto tidyâ, said frequently to teenagers like my son - âGo and tidy your room - itâs a mess!â. But in Wales, âtidyâ is used as an adjective to âmean âpleasing or goodâ. You might hear âThe holiday is all booked and paid forâ and someone responds âTidy!â meaning âIâm pleased about that.
âA wee word for smallâ
A couple of Scottish words for you - these are so well-known you may have heard of them already. Scottish people use the word âweeâ, WEE as an adjective to mean âsmallâ. âI have a wee house in the Highlandsâ or âI have a wee sisterâ. Be a bit careful here though - âweeâ, WEE as a noun or verb in informal English means âurineâ or âto urinateâ. But the meaning âsmallâ will usually be obvious from the context and itâs only really ever used by Scottish people.
Listening Lessons
âBonnieâ a name and a compliment
Last one - another Scottish adjective for you - âbonnieâ, BONNIE. This one can also be a girlâs name, as in the singer Bonnie Tyler - though actually sheâs Welsh! But âbonnieâ as an adjective means âattractive, beautiful, prettyâ. More often used of people and more likely used of a girl or woman. âBonnieâ is also used in the north of England too. My mother would have said âOoh, sheâs a bonnie babyâ, for example. And of course, thereâs a Scottish song âOn the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomondâ - so apparently âbonnieâ can even be used to describe how pretty the shores of a lake are!
Download The Podcast Audio & Transcript
Recap
So, we've covered quite a bit there, haven't we? Ready to practise these words and surprise some British with your vocabulary? Letâs quickly recap, so that you remember them.
- Gobsmacked
- Bazillion
- Chuffed
- Dosh, with âfiverâ and tennerâ added in
- Mental
- Lush
- Tidy
- Wee and
- Bonnie.
Goodbye
British people will all know these words, but they may not expect you to - so have some fun with it - itâll make people smile!
Enough for now. Have a lovely day. Speak to you again soon. Goodbye.
Thank you so much for listening. Please help me tell others about this podcast by reviewing or rating it. And, please share it on social media. You can find more listening lessons and a free English course at adeptenglish.com
Links
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- Cowin' lush
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