Noggins and Choppers: English Slang for Body Parts
It's common for things that people talk about often to have many different names. A great example of this is body parts, which we all use every day.
In informal situations, English speakers often switch regular words for body parts with fun (and sometimes rude) alternatives. Adding these to your vocabulary can help your English sound much more natural.
Head
Noggin
"Noggin" is mostly used when referring to children's heads or as a joke for adults.
- Little Johnny fell down and bumped his noggin, but he's OK.
- It's hard to find hats that fit my big noggin.
Noggin is also the name of a TV streaming service that makes educational programs for children.
Bean
People use "bean" specifically when referring to the head as a tool for thinking and understanding. Generally, it's for talking about one's own head, not someone else's. This usage is often put together with "old."
- This old bean still has a few good ideas left.
Face
Mug
It is thought that this term came from old drinking mugs in 17th century England that were shaped like scary faces. Perhaps that is why it often has a funny or negative nuance today.
- Did you see the mug on that big guy on the motorcycle? I wouldn't want to mess with him!
When someone is arrested and has their picture taken at a police station, the photograph is called a "mug shot."
- The celebrity's mug shot quickly went viral on social media.
Related Daily News article: One for the History Books: Donald Trump's Mug Shot
Kisser
This is another very informal word. We use our mouths to kiss, and our mouths are on our faces, so this word isn't too difficult to understand.
"Kisser" is often used when something hits someone's face!
- The foul ball hit the man right in the kisser.
Eyes
Peepers
The verb "peep" means to look at something, so "peepers" became a slang term for the eyes. Like many of the terms in this article, it is often used in a joking or playful way.
- Kat has beautiful brown peepers that I can't stop staring at.
Nose
There are quite a few casual synonyms for noses. However, they all have a humorous or negative nuance.
Snout
"Snout" is usually used for animals, but it can be used for people in some situations.
- My next-door neighbor is always sticking her big snout in my business.*
*This comes from the expression "to be nosy," which means to have too much interest in someone else's life.
Schnoz
This funny word rhymes with "jaws" and "cause." It often refers to noses that are bigger than average.
- The mosquito bite left a big red bump on the tip of my schnoz.
Honker
This refers to the "honking" sound people sometimes make when they blow their noses into tissues.
- The man in the back of the theater disturbed everyone by constantly blowing his honker throughout the movie.
Mouth
Trap
This slang term can sound quite rude, so be careful with it.
- Mark couldn't keep his trap shut; he told Ayako about our surprise party plans for her!
Remember "kisser" from earlier in the article? Sometimes it refers to a mouth instead of a face.
- She pulled her scarf over her kisser to block the cold winter air.
Teeth
Pearly whites
This is a funny reference to the color of clean, bright teeth.
- The salesman smiled, showing off his pearly whites.
Choppers
We use our teeth to cut and grind our food, and "chop" is another word for "cut."
- I have a dentist appointment this afternoon to get my choppers cleaned.
Hair
Mane
"Mane" is mostly used for hair on animals such as lions and horses, but you can use it for people too if you want to sound dramatic. However, it only refers to long hair.
- Viktoria has a mane of blond hair that goes down to her waist.
Locks / Locs
"Locks" often refers to curly hair.
- Her red locks bounced as she walked across the room.
"Locs," (without a "k") on the other hand, is the short form of "dreadlocks."
- Locs can take a lot of work to maintain, but they look great.
Hands
The following words for fingers aren't slang, but they are still important for all English speakers to know.
Moving from the finger closest to the thumb to the finger furthest away, the fingers are called:
Index finger or Pointer > Middle finger > Ring finger > Pinky*
*"Pinky" is also used for the smallest toe on a foot.
Wrap-up
Words like "head," eye" and "hair" are the standard words that all English learners will recognize. But if you want to sound more like a native speaker, you'll need to know the creative alternatives that are used every day in casual conversations.
Give them a try in your next chat — but only if it is appropriate for the situation!
