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Slang words in the United States have become increasingly popular throughout the past few decades. What are some of the major differences between our words and other global slang words?
Slang is a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, and are normally used during friendly conversations with friends and family. Though mainly used in the United States, slang words are commonly used everywhere.
United States: "Lit" and "Sus"
In the U.S., slang changes all the time, especially with the influence of social media and online culture. Two slang terms that are really popular right now are lit and sus.
Lit: If something is lit, it means it's exciting, fun, or amazing.
Sus: The word sus is short for suspicious. You would use it if you think someone is acting shady or untrustworthy.
United Kingdom: "Cheeky" and "Brolly"
British slang is famous for being clever and often a bit funny. Two slang words that you’ll hear a lot in the UK are cheeky and brolly.
Cheeky: This term can mean playful or a little bit naughty, but in a mostly funny or endearing way.
Brolly: A brolly is just the British way of saying “umbrella.”
Australia: "Arvo" and "Chockers"
Australians love to shorten words and use very laid-back slang. Although slang in Australia is quite different from the U.S., they still have some pretty unusual words, such as arvo and chockers.
Arvo: Short for afternoon, This word is among the most popular words said in Australia at the moment. It is mainly used as a greeting, such as “Hi, Arvo!”
Chockers: This means something is full or packed (can be traded out with our phrase “to the brim”) An example would be “Man, this supermarket is chockers!”
South Africa: "Lekker" and "Bakkie"
South Africa has some really fun slang words that reflect the country’s very diverse culture. Two examples are lekker and bakkie.
Lekker: This word is used to describe something that’s really good, cool, or awesome.
Bakkie: A bakkie is a small pickup truck. It’s a common term in South Africa.
Japan: "Yabai" and "Baka"
Japanese slang is super interesting because it’s often used by younger people. Two popular slang terms in Japan are yabai and baka.
Yabai: This word can mean either “dangerous” or “amazing” depending on the situation. It's very similar to “Skibidi,” meaning that the way you use it and the words you use it with affects its meaning.
Baka: Baka means “fool” or “idiot,” but it can be used in a playful way. For a moment this slang word was incredibly popular in the United States, but it was quickly overshadowed.
Brazil: "Maneiro" and "Bicho"
In Brazil, people speak Portuguese not English, but there are still some really cool slang words. Some include maneiro and bicho.
Maneiro: This word directly translates to “cool” or “awesome.”
Bicho: This word literally means “animal,” but it’s used as a friendly term like “dude” or “guy.”
Spain and Mexico: "Guay" and "Chido"
In Spain and Latin America, people use Spanish slang all the time. Two popular slang words are guay and chido.
Guay: This term is used to describe something that’s “cool” or “awesome.”
Chido: In Mexico, chido is another way to say “cool.”
New Zealand: "Tiki Tour" and "Jandals"
New Zealand has its own unique slang just as any other country, with words like tiki tour and jandals.
Tiki Tour: A tiki tour is a relaxed road trip with no specific destination. You just drive around and explore.
Jandals: In New Zealand, jandals are flip-flops.
France: "Bobo" and "Kiffer"
French is a stylish and fun language, and its slang directly shows this. Two examples of French slang are bobo and kiffer.
Bobo: This word is short for bourgeois-bohème, which describes someone who is rich but also has an artsy or bohemian lifestyle.
Kiffer: This means “to really like” or “enjoy.”
India: "Bindaas" and "Jugaad"
India has a lot of slang words because it consists of so many different languages and cultures. Two cool slang words popularly used are bindaas and jugaad.
Bindaas: This word describes someone who is carefree and confident.
Jugaad: Jugaad refers to a clever or creative solution to a problem. It’s often used when someone fixes something with whatever they have available.
Slang makes language more fun, and it helps you connect with people from different cultures. Slang reflects the personality and vibe of a place. It is a great way to break the ice and show you’re familiar with different cultures!
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