Slang is the real language you hear on the street, online, in movies, in music, in memes, and in everyday conversation. If you want your English to sound natural — not just “textbook correct” — you need to understand (and sometimes use) modern English slang.
This is a huge, comprehensive guide to all major types of English slang: internet slang, Gen-Z slang, classic slang, regional slang, pop-culture slang, British slang, American slang, texting slang, positive slang, insults, compliments, reactions, and everything in between.
Perfect for beginner-intermediate learners who want to understand real English used by real people.
What Is Slang?
Slang = informal, playful, often short expressions that people use in relaxed, everyday English. You’ll see slang:
in movies & TV
in online chats & comments
in memes
among friends
in music and youth culture Understanding slang helps you follow jokes, trends and natural social conversation.
Modern & Popular Slang (Used Everywhere Today)
Slang
Meaning
Example
vibe
mood / feeling
“This café has a great vibe.”
vibes
emotional signals
“I’m getting good vibes today.”
low-key
secretly / a little bit
“I low-key want to leave early.”
high-key
openly / strongly
“I high-key love this song.”
no cap
not lying / for real
“This pizza is the best, no cap.”
bet
agreement / okay
“You want to go at 7?” “Bet.”
sus
suspicious
“That deal sounds sus.”
dead / I’m dead
that’s so funny
“Your joke… I’m dead.”
slay
do something amazingly
“You slayed that outfit.”
fire
amazing / cool
“That track is fire.”
legit
real / true
“That was a legit mistake.”
iconic
culturally famous or amazing
“That performance was iconic.”
based
confident, true to yourself
“He said what everyone thinks — based.”
Internet & Social Media Slang
Slang
Meaning
DM
direct message
IRL
in real life
TL;DR
too long; didn’t read
FOMO
fear of missing out
troll
someone who provokes online
meme
funny cultural image or phrase
cringe
embarrassing
ratio
more dislikes/comments than likes
stan
extreme fan
ship
support a romantic pairing
glow up
big positive transformation
cancel / canceled
socially rejected
Example: “That comment section is full of trolls.”
General Youth / Gen-Z Slang (Very Current)
Slang
Meaning
Example
rizz
charisma / flirt ability
“He’s got rizz.”
delulu
delusional (funny)
“You think he likes you? You’re delulu.”
ate
did something amazingly well
“She ate that performance.”
it’s giving…
looks/feels like
“It’s giving main-character energy.”
mother
a woman who is iconic
“Taylor Swift? Mother.”
literally me
when a character feels personally relatable
“That stressed guy in the movie is literally me.”
cooked
extremely tired / defeated
“After that test, I’m cooked.”
mid
average / not impressive
“That movie was mid.”
W / L
win / loss
“He got the job — big W.”
Classic & Well-Known Slang (Not New, Still Very Common)
Slang
Meaning
Example
cool
good
“That’s a cool idea.”
dude
guy / friend
“What’s up, dude?”
chill
relaxed
“Let’s chill at my place.”
legit
real
“Is that a legit site?”
lame
boring / uncool
“That party was lame.”
awesome
amazing
“Your presentation was awesome.”
hang out
spend time
“Let’s hang out this weekend.”
Positive Slang
Slang
Meaning
dope
excellent
amazing
wonderful
wholesome
heart-warming
banger
great song
GOAT
greatest of all time
queen/king
someone impressive
wholesome
good, pure vibe
Negative Slang
Slang
Meaning
shady
untrustworthy
sketchy
suspicious
salty
bitter or annoyed
roasted
insulted heavily
trash
terrible
flop
failure
clown
foolish person
British Slang (Very common in UK English)
Slang
Meaning
mate
friend
cheers
thanks / bye
knackered
extremely tired
gutted
very disappointed
proper
very / really
dodgy
risky / unreliable
fancy
like someone romantically
rubbish
trash / nonsense
chuffed
very happy
bloke
man
quid
British pound (£)
Example: “I’m absolutely knackered after work.”
American Slang (Common in the US)
Slang
Meaning
y’all
you all
dude
friend
bro
casual male friend
sick
amazing (context)
heck
soft version of “hell”
ballpark
approximate number
buck
dollar
hit me up
contact me
nailed it
did perfectly
Australian Slang
Slang
Meaning
arvo
afternoon
brekkie
breakfast
mozzie
mosquito
no worries
it’s okay
cuppa
cup of tea
cheers
thanks
mate
friend
Slang for Emotions & Reactions
Slang
Meaning
I’m dead
that’s hilarious
I can’t
overwhelmed
big mood
relatable feeling
same
I agree or feel the same
yikes
expression of shock
bruh
disbelief or disappointment
omg / oh my god
strong reaction
Relationship & Friendship Slang
Slang
Meaning
bestie
best friend
bro
close male friend
squad
group of friends
crush
person you like
ghost
suddenly stop replying
cuffed
in a relationship
simp
someone overly devoted
Work & Life Slang
Slang
Meaning
adulting
doing grown-up responsibilities
grind
hard work
side hustle
extra job
downtime
rest time
burn out
exhaustion
brain fog
unclear thinking
Food & Drink Slang
Slang
Meaning
grub
food
munchies
craving food
foodie
person who loves food
sip
drink
to-go
takeaway
smashed
drunk
Slang in Pop Culture
“main character energy” = feeling like the star of your life
“plot twist” = surprising change
“canon” = accepted story in a fandom
“NPC” = someone acting robotic or passive
“big yikes” = huge embarrassment
“level up” = improve yourself
How to Use Slang Politely & Safely
Slang is informal, so use it with:
friends
social media
casual work environments
peers
relaxed conversations
Avoid slang with:
teachers
job interviews
formal emails
official presentations
Common Mistakes Learners Make
Overusing slang and sounding unnatural
Using slang in formal situations
Mixing slang from different generations
Misunderstanding tone (some slang is playful, some is rude)
Thinking slang always has direct translations — it doesn’t
Practice Exercises
Exercise A: Match the slang to the meaning
rizz
dead
shady
no cap
iconic
A. suspicious B. extremely funny C. charisma D. amazing/legendary E. not lying
Exercise B: Rewrite the sentence using slang
“That was very funny.”
“I’m exhausted.”
“He’s very cool.”
“That song is amazing.”
“I agree completely.”
Exercise C: Create your own sentences
Write 3 sentences using three new slang words you learned.
Yak’s Final Chewables
Slang is the beating heart of real English — messy, funny, emotional and constantly changing. When you understand it, conversations make more sense, jokes finally land, and online comments don’t look like a secret code. Learn the words, feel the vibe, and use slang carefully and confidently. Even a yak knows the difference between “mid,” “fire,” and a “massive W.”
