Easy Insider hacks for speaking London slang

Living in the UK capital, you’ll probably notice a distinct accent, and some strange words that you’ve never used before. Welcome to London slang!

Here are some essential words and expressions to use to sound like a local in your new city:

• Cheers

– Used to express good wishes when leaving or ending a conversation. It can also be used in place of “thank you.”

Cheers = Thanks

E.g. When someone holds the door open for you, you can say, “Cheers.”

• You alright?

– “What’s up? How are you?” This is used as a greeting.

Are you alright?
E.g. You go up to the cash register and the cashier asks you, “You alright?” “I’m alright thanks. You?”

• Mate

– Friend.

London slang

E.g. “Mate, where are we going out to tonight?”

• Blimey

– Used to express surprise, excitement, or alarm.

Ben Afleck is surprised

E.g. If you go to a haunted house and something jumps out at you: “Blimey! That scared me.”

• Wicked

– Adjective to describe something that is excellent.

Is it wicked? Finn the Human

E.g. “I won free tickets to the Adele concert.” “That’s wicked!”

• Fiver, Tenner

– Another way to say £5, £10.

English notes

E.g. “I bought this all for under a tenner.”

• Quid

– Pound.

A pile of pound coins

E.g. “I paid five quid for this ticket.”

• Chuck a left

– Take a left.

Chicken steering a car

E.g. “Go out the door, chuck a left, and walk down the hallway.”

• Dodgy

– Describes something that is unreliable or sketchy.

I think my umbrella is dodgy

E.g. “The umbrella I got online is a bit dodgy”

• Cheeky

– Used to describe someone who does something or says something disrespectful or rude, but says it in a cunning, amusing way. It’s used in a light-hearted way.

Cheeky Cockatoo knocking things down

E.g. If someone doesn’t hold the door for you: “Well, that’s cheeky.”

• Rubbish

– Nonsense, lies.

That's rubbish!

E.g. “I didn’t eat the last cookie.” “That’s rubbish!”

• Innit

– “Isn’t it?” This one is mostly used at the end of a sentence, and as a filler.

Leo Dicaprio Innit?

E.g. “London is such a great city, innit.”

So ring your mate, get out of your flat, chuck a left towards the grocery store, buy some snacks for under a tenner, and don’t forget to tell the cashier ‘cheers’.

While you’re in London, check out all the awesome things you can do for free, or read how London life compares to living in Singapore.

You can also check in with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, to see more about student life in London.

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2 Responses

  1. May 25, 2017

    […] London is bustling with hidden gems for all international students to enjoy. Check out these awesome things to do in London for free or discover our easy insider hacks for speaking London slang.  […]

  2. June 29, 2017

    […] continue your learning further, you may also like to read about London slang or common English abbreviations […]

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