The 239 Most In style American Slang Phrases and Phrases You Want
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Studying English vocabulary is one factor, however what about American slang? These conversational phrases and phrases are vital to know once you reside in or go to the US. Learn the way to make use of and pronounce frequent American slang like no matter, massive yikes, and bless your coronary heart to sound like a local English speaker with American aptitude.
What’s American slang?
Slang is an English phrase which means “casual vocabulary.” American-English slang is casual vocabulary utilized in the US, together with in American motion pictures, music, and tv. You’ll additionally hear a lot of American slang phrases in conversations with native English audio system, particularly for those who’re speaking to younger folks or youngsters. And for the reason that US is a really massive place, you’ll discover totally different American slang phrases in every area.
Some American slang phrases are within the English dictionary however others aren’t. And English isn’t the one language with slang! Each language has its personal casual dialect that language learners have to know in an effort to perceive conversations with locals.
Frequent American slang for conversations
People use slang of their informal conversations on a regular basis! Frequent American slang phrases that you simply’ll hear embody:
- cap
- I don’t consider you, that’s cap!
- my unhealthy
- I by chance took your jacket, my unhealthy.
- no worries
- No worries, we don’t have to rush.
- no matter
- No matter, I don’t care what you say.
That’s just the start. Try extra frequent American slang phrases and phrases that many individuals use day-after-day.
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| based mostly | beyst | true |
| wager | wager | that’s appropriate |
| bounce | bouns | to depart a spot |
| cap | kap | I don’t consider you |
| chat | chat | a bunch of individuals |
| ditch | dich | to depart somebody or one thing behind |
| drip | drip | clothes or equipment |
| highkey | hahy-kee | clearly, actually, strongly |
| fam | fam | household, shut associates |
| flex | fleks | brag |
| for actual | fawr REEL | are you severe, really |
| dunno | duh-NOH | I don’t know |
| legit | luh-JIT | actual, genuine |
| lowkey | loh-kee | understated, low emotions |
| my unhealthy | mahy unhealthy | that’s my fault |
| no cap | noh KAP | I’m not mendacity |
| no sweat | noh SWET | not an issue |
| no worries | noh WUR-eez | don’t fear about it |
| periodt | PEER-ee-uhdt | finish of debate |
| rizz | riz | charisma |
| sitch | sich | brief for “scenario” |
| spicy | SPAHY-see | scorching (enticing/temperature), daring, thrilling |
| tea | tee | information, gossip |
| completely | TOHT-l-ee | I agree with you |
| no matter | wuht-EV-er | I don’t care |
| phrase | wurd | I agree |
Slang phrases for greetings
There are extra methods to greet somebody in English than the phrase “Howdy!” Use these frequent English greetings in pleasant conversations, and to ask somebody how they’re doing.
- hello
- Hello! It’s good to see you!
- very long time no see
- Very long time no see! How have you ever been?
- what’s up
- What’s up? What’s occurring in your life?
- yo
- Yo! Let’s hang around someday!
Extra frequent American greetings which might be slang could be discovered on this chart.
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| hey | hey | whats up |
| hello | hahy | whats up |
| hiya | hahy-yah | whats up |
| how’s it going/hanging | howz it GOH-ing/HANG-ing | How are you? |
| very long time no see | lawng tahym noh SEE | I haven’t seen you shortly |
| sup | suhp | shortened model of “what’s up” |
| what’s occurring | wuhts HAP-uh-ning | How are you? |
| what’s shaking | wuhts SHEY-king | How are you? |
| what’s up | wuhts UHP | How are you? |
| yo | yoh | Howdy |
Learn how to describe folks with slang
It’s possible you’ll know frequent English nouns to explain an individual’s job or look, however what about their persona? Learn the way to speak about an individual in each constructive and damaging methods utilizing American slang.
- broke
- I can’t afford that new automobile. I’m broke.
- cool
- That man is so cool and trendy.
- scorching
- Bethany is so scorching! I want we had been relationship.
- nerd
- They known as me a nerd as a result of I like to review.
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| babe | beyb | somebody you’re interested in or love |
| bae | bey | girlfriend or boyfriend |
| primary | BEY-sik | not very attention-grabbing |
| broke | brohk | haven’t any cash |
| boujee | BOO-zhee | fancy, wealthy |
| rooster | CHIK-uhn | afraid or cowardly |
| chill | chil | relaxed |
| cool | kool | fashionable, well-liked |
| ex | eks | somebody you used so far |
| further | EK-struh | too dramatic |
| flaky | FLEY-kee | not dependable |
| scorching | scorching | excellent wanting |
| hottie | HOT-ee | a handsome individual |
| fool | ID-ee-uht | dumb individual |
| jacked | jakt | very muscular |
| loaded | LOH-did | very wealthy (or drunk) |
| nerd | nurd | very sensible however not fashionable |
| beginner | NOO-bee | newbie |
| ripped | ript | very muscular |
| savage | SAV-ij | robust or wonderful |
| shredded | SHRED-ed | very muscular |
| simp | simp | silly individual |
| snack | snak | handsome |
| swole | swohl | very muscular |
| uptight | uhp-TAHYT | no enjoyable, very strict |
| wildin’ | WAHYLD-n | appearing loopy |
Slang to explain emotions and feelings
Offended, unhappy, and joyful are formal methods to explain feelings in English. Learn the way native English audio system describe feeling pleased with American slang phrases like:
- amped
- I’m amped to go dancing with you tonight!
- down unhealthy
- I used to be down unhealthy after Marcy broke up with me.
- feels
- This unhappy film gave me the feels.
- salty
- He was salty after shedding the soccer sport.
You may additionally hear British slang that has develop into fashionable in American English, such because the phrases knackered and gassed.
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| amped | AMP-t | excited |
| blue | bloo | unhappy |
| burned out | burns OUT | exhausted |
| crabby | KRAB-ee | irritated |
| useless | ded | very amused |
| down unhealthy | doun BAD | depressed or sad |
| feels | feelz | emotions |
| gassed | gast | drained or drunk |
| hyped | hahypt | excited |
| knackered | NAK-erd | drained |
| crazy | LOO-pee | foolish, wild |
| salty | SAWL-tee | bitter or indignant |
| steamed | steemd | indignant |
| stoked | stohkt | excited |
| vibes | vahybz | emotions |
American slang for belongings you like
Are there higher methods to say that one thing is good? Use American-English slang phrases to precise how a lot you want one thing, together with:
- cooking
- John was cooking when he acquired an A on that take a look at!
- epic
- That social gathering final evening was epic!
- gucci
- Your hair is gucci at this time.
- slaps
- I like this music! The guitar solo slaps!
These phrases are sometimes adjectives, that means that you could put them earlier than a noun (or after the verb to be). The phrase banger is a noun which means “one thing nice” (normally a music), and the phrase slaps is a verb that exhibits that one thing is superb.
| Slang | Pronunciation |
| superior | AW-suhm |
| banger | BANG-er |
| bomb | bom |
| cooking | KOOK-ing |
| dope | dohp |
| epic | EP-ik |
| fireplace | fahyr |
| gucci | GOO-chee |
| lit | lit |
| poppin’ | POP-in |
| sick | sik |
| snatched | snacht |
| candy | candy |
| slaps | slaps |
American slang for belongings you don’t like
Typically you simply actually don’t like one thing. Present your preferences with slang phrases like:
- tacky
- Romance motion pictures are so tacky.
- cringe
- He was appearing actually embarrassing and cringe.
- dumb
- That call was actually dumb.
- wack
- That social gathering was wack final evening. My associates didn’t come.
| Slang | Pronunciation |
| massive yikes | massive YAHYKS |
| bleak | bleek |
| bogus | BOH-guhs |
| tacky | CHEE-zee |
| cooked | kukt |
| cringe | krinj |
| dorky | DAWR-kee |
| dumb | duhm |
| fail | feyl |
| shady | SHEY-dee |
| silly | STOO-pid |
| sus | suhs |
| wack | wak |
American slang for celebrations
What do you yell when your favourite sports activities workforce wins the sport? Use these celebration slang phrases to indicate folks you’re joyful or enthusiastic about one thing that simply occurred.
- hurray
- for the win
- Edgar handed the take a look at! For the win!
- candy
- Candy! I get to go house early!
- yeet
- Yeet! Mother stated we are able to go to the live performance!
| Slang | Pronunciation |
| Cheers! | cheerz |
| Hurray! | hur-AY |
| For the win! | fawr thuh win |
| Rating! | skohr |
| Candy! | candy |
| Woo hoo! | woo hoo |
| Yaaaaas! | yahs |
| Yay! | yey |
| Yeet! | yeet |
| Yippee! | yip-EE |
Slang phrases for disappointment
Oh no, your favourite workforce misplaced the sport! Categorical your disappointment with American slang phrases like bummer, too unhealthy, and shook.
- boo
- Boo. I can’t go on the journey.
- gutted
- I used to be gutted after I misplaced the competition.
- shook
- Our household was shook on the unhealthy information.
- take the L
- You misplaced the sport, so simply take the L.
| Slang | Pronunciation |
| boo | boo |
| bummer | BUHM-er |
| gutted | GUHT-id |
| letdown | LET-doun |
| oh no | oh noh |
| shook | shook |
| take the L | teyk thuh EL |
| that’s a disgrace | thats uh SHEYM |
| that sucks | that SUKS |
| too unhealthy | too BAD |
| what a pity | wuht uh PIT-ee |
In style American slang phrases
US slang makes use of many English idioms, that are expressions that aren’t actually true. The one approach to be taught what these phrases imply is to memorize them. Check out these fashionable American slang phrases the following time you’re practising your English in a dialog:
- epic fail
- My final mission was an epic fail, so I needed to begin over.
- hang around
- Are you able to hang around this weekend?
- killing it
- I acquired a brand new job that pays extra money. I’m killing it!
- piece of cake
- This simple class goes to be a piece of cake.
| Slang Phrases | Pronunciation | That means |
| massive mad | BIG mad | very upset |
| caught crimson handed | KAWT crimson HAN-ded | noticed somebody doing one thing mistaken |
| crash out | krash OUT | to get very upset |
| epic fail | EP-ik feyl | massive disappointment |
| freak out | freek OUT | to get very upset |
| ghost somebody | ghost suhm-wuhn | to cease speaking to somebody |
| provides me the ick | givz me thuh IK | I don’t prefer it |
| glow up | GLOH uhp | look higher than earlier than |
| hang around | dangle OUT | spend time collectively |
| have beef | hav BEEF | to have an issue with somebody |
| hit the books | hit thuh BOOKS | to review |
| hit the sack | hit thuh sak | fall asleep |
| maintain up | hohld UHP | wait a second |
| maintain your horses | hohld yohr HAWRS-ez | wait a second |
| I can’t even | ahy kant EE-ven | I can’t deal with this |
| I really feel you | ahy really feel yoo | I perceive it, I get it |
| I’m down | ahym DOUN | I like that concept |
| I’m good | ahym gud | no thanks |
| in a nutshell | in uh NUHT-shel | very transient story |
| it sends me | it SENZ mee | I prefer it quite a bit |
| it’s giving | its GIV-ing | has a sure feeling or vibe |
| killing it | KIL-ing it | doing an important job |
| let the cat out of the bag | let thuh CAT out uhv thuh BAG | inform a secret |
| lengthy story brief | lawng stohr-ee SHAWRT | skipping to the tip of a narrative |
| on the home | on thuh HOUS | free, no value |
| out of pocket | out uhv POK-it | inappropriate |
| piece of cake | pees uhv KEYK | very simple |
| pig out | pig OUT | to eat quite a bit |
| placed on blast | poot on BLAST | to publicly embarrass somebody |
| rizz up | riz UHP | to flirt with somebody |
| spill the tea | spil thuh TEE | inform a secret |
| straight fireplace | streyt FAHYR | excellent |
| contact grass | tuhch gras | go outdoors and get off social media |
| vibe examine | vahyb chek | How’s everybody feeling? |
| you killed it | yoo kild it | you probably did nice |
Slang phrases from throughout America
The US is a giant place, and every area has its personal slang. That’s one of many causes English could be exhausting to be taught. Try the variations between Southern American slang, West Coast slang, East coast slang, and slang from the American Midwest.
Southern American slang
The Southern American area contains Southern states like Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. This space has slang phrases and phrases that come from many various cultures, together with African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). Study vital Southern American slang so you may perceive and communicate American English on this a part of the US.
- finna
- I’m finna get mad for those who don’t cease speaking.
- hankering
- Yesterday I had a hankering for my grandma’s blueberry pie.
- reckon
- Do you reckon we’ll get quite a lot of rain at this time?
- y’all
- What do y’all wish to do at this time?
Discover extra fashionable Southern American slang to make use of on a go to to the South.
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| ain’t | eynt | isn’t |
| bless your coronary heart | bles yohr HAHRT | good luck, sorry to listen to, or a sarcastic insult for silly folks |
| egg on | eg ON | to encourage somebody to do one thing |
| determine | FIG-yer | to plan or resolve |
| finna | FIN-uh | about to (“fixing to”) |
| match to be tied | match too bee TAHYD | very indignant |
| fixin’ | FIK-sin | going to |
| hankering | HANG-ker-ing | a craving or want for one thing |
| heap | heep | quite a bit |
| holler | HAWL-ler | to shout or a small, remoted valley |
| hornswoggle | HAWRN-swog-uhl | to trick or cheat |
| howdy | HOU-dee | hou |
| kin | kin | household |
| may might | mahyt KUHD | may have the ability to |
| nearabout | NEER-uh-BOUT | virtually |
| ornery | AWN-nuh-ree | irritable or not likeable |
| reckon | REK-uhn | I believe |
| skedaddle | ski-DAD-l | to depart |
| that canine gained’t hunt | that dawg wohnt HUHNT | that gained’t work |
| uppity | UHP-i-tee | thinks they’re higher than different folks |
| y’all | yawl | you all |
| yonder | YON-der | over there |
West Coast American slang
Slang from the West Coast area of the US additionally comes from many various sources! You’ll hear influences from Spanish slang and Hawaiian slang, together with browsing phrases and phrases. The phrase dude by itself will get you far in any West Coast dialog!
- aloha
- Aloha! How are you doing?
- brah
- Brah, let’s go to the seaside this weekend.
- dude
- Dude, you forgot to take out the trash.
- no yeah
- No yeah, I wish to order pizza.
Check out these West Coast slang phrases the following time you’re close to the seaside.
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| aloha | ah-LOH-ha | whats up and goodbye |
| bro (brah) | broh (brah) | a pal or buddy |
| dip | dip | go away |
| dude | dood | individual of any gender (or phrase for “wow” or “hey”) |
| for certain | fer SHER | positively |
| contemporary | contemporary | good or stylish |
| gnarly | NAR-lee | unhealthy (or good) |
| attractiveness | attractiveness | thanks or good job |
| grom | grahm | newbie |
| hella | HEL-ah | very |
| heavy | HEV-ee | very severe |
| like | lahyk | filler phrase in a sentence |
| rad | rad | wonderful (“radical”) |
| no yeah | noh YAI | sure |
| tryna | TRY-nah | attempting to |
| vato | VAH-toh | man or dude |
| yeah no | yai NOH | no |
| you recognize | yoo noh | Do you agree? |
East Coast American slang
The East Coast is all the way in which throughout the US, and their slang is simply as distant! Learn the way to make use of Italian-American slang like gavone and strunz, in addition to New English slang like depraved and townie.
- gavone
- That impolite man is such a gavone.
- strunz
- Don’t be a strunz! Converse extra politely, please.
- townie
- The townies love going to the store down the road.
- depraved
- That trip was depraved enjoyable!
Needless to say the East Coast covers quite a lot of states which have their very own slang variations. That is only a basic listing of fashionable slang phrases that originated from or are used extra usually right here.
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| bang a Uey | bang uh YOO-ee | make a U-turn |
| bodega | boh-DEY-gah | neighborhood retailer |
| guide it | BOOK it | run away quick |
| brick | brik | very chilly |
| bubbler | BUB-ler | water fountain |
| capeesh | kah-PEESH | Do you perceive? |
| flatlander | FLAT-lan-der | somebody not from New England |
| gavone | gah-VOWN | a impolite individual |
| guap | gwap | cash |
| janky | JANG-kee | poor high quality |
| mad | mad | very or many |
| on line | on LAHYN | ready in a line |
| pie | pahy | pizza |
| shkeeve | sh-KEEV | disgusting or uncomfortable |
| statie | STAY-tee | State Trooper |
| strunz | strunts | not a pleasant individual |
| townie | TOUN-ee | somebody who lives on the town |
| whip | wip | an costly automobile |
| depraved | WIK-id | excellent |
| yerr | yur | what’s up (or sure) |
Midwest American slang
The US Midwest is a area between the coasts that features Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, and a number of other different states. Midwest American slang is just like Southern American slang, however you’ll solely hear a few of these phrases on this space of the US.
- all get out
- He’s as sensible as all get out.
- acquired the holler tail
- Don’t discuss to Susan. She’s acquired the holler tail.
- ope
- Ope! Sorry for bumping into you!
- you betcha
- Can I make a cake for you? You betcha!
You’ll additionally hear these extra midwest slang phrases in your on a regular basis conversations on this area:
| Slang | Pronunciation | That means |
| all get out | axe GET out | quite a bit |
| caddy nook | CAD-ee COR-ner | diagonal from |
| cattywampus | CAD-ee WAHM-pus | crooked or not straight |
| dese, dem, and dose | deez, dem, and dohz | these, them, and people |
| doesn’t know beans | DUHZ-uhnt noh BEENZ | isn’t very sensible |
| doncha know | DOHN-cha NOH | Do you agree? |
| acquired the holler tail | acquired thuh HOL-er teyl | in a nasty temper |
| heavens to Betsy | HEV-uhns too BET-see | oh my goodness |
| holy wah | HOH-lee WAH | oh my goodness |
| hotdish | HOT-dish | a casserole or most important dish |
| if I had my druthers | if ahy had mahy DRUH-thers | if I had my means |
| oh for cute | oh for kyoot | that’s so cute |
| ope | ohp | oops |
| pop | pop | any sort of soda |
| puthergoin | PUH-ther GOH-IN | let’s get going |
| placing on the canine | POOT-ing on thuh DAWG | appearing fancy |
| supper | SUH-per | dinner |
| tuckered out | TUH-kurd OUT | drained |
| uff da | UHF duh | oh no |
| you betcha | yoo BET-cha | I agree, otherwise you’re welcome |
Converse American English from coast to coast
Regardless of the place you reside or journey in the US, you’ll have to know American slang. When you’ve discovered these fashionable phrases and phrases in American English, strive studying slang from different English-speaking international locations like Australia and Canada. While you’re able to take the following step in your English language journey, learn the way Rosetta Stone will help.
