English slang words: 12 everyday expressions explained
B1–C112 words
Slang is what makes real conversation sound different from the coursebook. These twelve are current, widely understood in both British and American English, and safe to use with friends — though not in a job application.
Where you will use it: Films, series, social media and informal conversation.
English Slang — The word list
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| knackered | Extremely tired (British).“I'm absolutely knackered after that shift.” |
| hang out | To spend relaxed time with people.“We hung out at the park all afternoon.” |
| chill | To relax; also, relaxed.“Let's just chill tonight.” |
| ripped off | Charged far too much.“Forty pounds? You got ripped off.” |
| cheesy | Silly and over-sentimental.“The ending was a bit cheesy.” |
| broke | Having no money.“I'm broke until payday.” |
| mate | A friend (British).“He's an old mate from school.” |
| gutted | Very disappointed (British).“I was gutted when they cancelled.” |
| no worries | It's fine, don't apologise.“No worries, I'll do it.” |
| hyped | Very excited about something.“Everyone's hyped for the new season.” |
| sketchy | Suspicious or unsafe.“That street looks a bit sketchy at night.” |
| grab a bite | To get something quick to eat.“Want to grab a bite before the film?” |
How to study this list
Add five or six of these words a day rather than all twelve at once, keep the example sentence on the card, and review them when they come due. WordNest schedules each word across seven growing intervals — same day, then 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days — so the list is still with you months later. Read how spaced repetition works if you want the reasoning behind those numbers.
Studying english slang pairs well with our common English idioms list, essential phrasal verbs list and English small talk phrases, or browse all free English word lists.
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