Topic Focus: English Slang
There are at least two versions of any language:
- The one you learn from books and classes
- The one most often spoken by people in daily conversations
And if you want to be truly fluent, you can't avoid the second one!
This article collects several of our posts about the casual language English speakers use every day. We encourage you to start with the ones most interesting to you, but all of them contain information you should know!
Noggins and Choppers: English Slang for Body Parts
If you want to learn slang, one of the best places to start is with your own body.
While you can always use standard words like "head" and "eyes," there are much more fun and interesting words you can use instead.
Learn British Slang With the Harry Potter Series
The Harry Potter series has introduced people around the world to many aspects of British life and language. But even if you aren't a fan, it can still help you to learn words and phrases unique to British English.
Greenbacks and Cheddar Cheese: English Slang for Money
The expression "Money makes the world go 'round" means that money is essential for many aspects of life. And naturally, there are many, many different names for it. How many do you know?
English Slang for Online Dating
Some of the most fun slang is related to dating and romance. And when you include special terms used on dating apps and in text messages, things become even more interesting.
Read to learn what expressions like "ghosting," "thirsty" and "DTR" mean in the world of romantic relationships!
Learn These 12 Fun Ways to Say “Sleep” in English
Sleep is a basic part of life that everyone needs. And with expressions like "catching Zs" and "sawing logs," you can be very creative when talking about it. Check out the article to learn about these and ten more.
Would you like to practice using any of this slang in a real chat? Book a lesson with an Engoo tutor and give it a try. Engoo tutors are available 24 hours and day and are looking forward to helping you!
Go Juice: English Slang for Coffee and Caffeine
Coffee has so many nicknames, it's possible for even native speakers to get confused!
Because of coffee's popularity, it's a good idea to learn some of the other names for it so you'll understand casual conversations in cafes and office break rooms.
“Genius!” Fun Names for People With High Skill Levels
When someone can do a task extremely well, it's not enough to say they're "good" or even "great." Sometimes you need more extreme ways to express how skilled they are.
Luckily, there are many fun ways to do this in English. Some are based on the names of real people, while others come from fictional characters with amazing abilities. Check out our list!
“Sick!” When Negative Words Have Positive Meanings
Slang often uses words in ways that are the opposite of their original meanings. For example, "bad" normally means something is negative or unpleasant. But in some situations, it can actually mean "excellent"!
Even native speakers sometimes get confused by these switches, but this article can help you to make sense of these tricky words.
Wrap-up
The vocabulary you learn in school is necessary for a strong foundation in English. But once you can speak comfortably, it's time to move to the next level and learn the "real" English spoken by real people in real situations.
Slang is always changing, however, so we'll update this post as we share more words and expressions you should know. Don't forget to check back in the future!
