English is one of the most spoken languages in the world, with one of its variants being British English. To sound like a native, you’ll want to learn British Slang words. These are the best!

British English is much like French, it is generally considered to be one of the most sophisticated languages on the planet. As a Brit, I find it odd that Americans don’t understand that we too have our own British Slang words!

15. Prat – Stupid (Person)

Prat is personally one of my most favorite British slang words. If you ever want to tell someone who you hate (or thoroughly dislike) that they have the IQ of a bag of rocks, prat is how you’d go about doing it!

This is because prat is the slang term for a generally stupid or overly incompetent moron. It is generally seen as meaning someone is stupider than just being stupid, although it isn’t a swear word.

The origin of prat is actually fairly straightforward. Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, British people began reinventing the meaning of 16th century words that are no longer used. One of these was prat.

14. Bloke – Man

When it comes to British slang in American TV shows, bloke is one of the least commonly used, although in reality, it is one of the more commonly used slang words in Britain.

Bloke is the slang word for “Man”, it is used as commonly in Britain as “Dude” is used in the United States, although isn’t akin to other words like “bro”.

Thanks in part to the British Empire, bloke isn’t just used in Britain. Other former-British Empire countries such as Ireland, Australia and New Zealand (among others) use bloke just as commonly as the British do!

13. Pissed – Drunk

In much of the rest of the world, the term “pissed” is used to describe how angry a person is. Whilst in Britain, the term pissed can mean angry, it is more commonly used to describe something being else…

More commonly, the term pissed is used to describe someone as being drunk. If you visit Britain and spend anytime near a pub, bar or restaurant, it’s probably likely that you’ll hear something along the lines of “He’s pissed!” meaning “He’s drunk!”

Pissed is most commonly used by the lower and working classes to describe someone as being drunk. The upper classes too have their own British slang word for being drunk- squiffy, which is used in the same context.

12. Arse – Backside (interjection)

I have to admit, out of all of the British slang words in this article, I probably use arse the most. It is actually one of the most flexible British slang words I have ever come across, being used in several different ways.

Mostly, this depends on context. In one context, it may seen as an interjection (similar to “damn”). In another, it may be used to talk about one’s backside. In others, it may be used to insult someone.

It is generally agreed that it is the root for the Americanized “ass” or at least was somewhat of the basis for the word, given their similar pronunciation, spelling and meanings.

11. Sod’s law – Murphy’s law

Since the dawn of time, humans have believed that whatever can go wrong, will eventually go wrong. For much of the rest of the English-speaking world, they have Murphy’s law, Britain has Sod’s law.

Unlike Murphy’s law, Sod’s law is much broader and covers a lot more than what Murphy’s law does. Sod’s law is so broad, that it is also used in the context of “Hope for the best, expect the worst”.

Sod’s law has also been turned into its own verb- sod it. This is used to say something along the lines of “Oh well, it’s going to go wrong anyway”. Although, in certain areas of Britain, this is more or less common than others.

10. Shambles – Mess

Shambles is one of the few British slang words to have actually made it across the pond and stay somewhat in use. Although, it is usually used to describe things that are political- ie. Is Washington in shambles?

Shambles in used in the same context that you’d use “mess” in. However, shambles is usually a bit more than a mess, more commonly an absolute mess, or something in a state of complete disorder.

Due in part to the mess it makes, many small village Butcher’s slaughterhouses were nicknamed “The Shambles”. Over time, this has led to many streets being named for their slaughter house, and many old butcher’s shops calling themselves “The Shambles”.

9. Pear-shaped – Gone wrong

Pear-shaped is actually a fairly common term. It isn’t just used in British English but also in American English, used from a bygone era of British colonialism, in a similar, but different use.

Most commonly, pear-shaped is used to say something has gone wrong. For instance, you might say your woodwork project had gone pear-shaped because you’d broken a vital piece and there were no replacements.

However, in British slang, it can also be used to describe a person too. This is the original and more common version abroad, used to describe a person with unusually large hips for a small body.

8. Dodgy – Suspicious

Akin the American slang term “shady”, dodgy is similarly one of the most common British slang words. In fact, the Italian slang word ingannevole which means the exact same, is one of my favorites!

Dodgy is commonly used in the same way that you would use the American “shady” or the Standard-English “suspicious”. Interestingly, you will hear British people describe both people and places with the term, which is actually quite rare!

Unlike its American English counterparts, however, dodgy isn’t just used to describe potentially illegal or harmful activities/people. It is also used to describe somewhere or something as being extremely low quality.

7. Fiddlesticks! – Nonsense!

If you are young and use the term “fiddlesticks” in public, many people will probably look at you quite weirdly. This is down to the fact that it is almost exclusively used by old grandmothers to their grandchildren.

Fiddlesticks! quite literally translates as something along the lines of “Nonsense!” It is quite likely that you’ll hear it paired with something like “Oh” to make “Oh fiddlesticks” to mean that it is especially nonsensical!

The word originally derives from the term “Fiddle sticks”- as in the stick you would use to play the fiddle. Over time however, it has come to be used to mean “nonsense”. However, some do see it as a minor swear word (although it is uncommon).

6. Wonky – Not Straight

Similarly to the aforementioned shambles, the term wonky has come to the US and has actually been used fairly often as well! Wonky is also perhaps one of the versatile British slang words too.

This is thanks to wonky being used in the same context as saying “not straight”, “off-centre” or “askew”. It’s other main use is in terms of saying something is faulty- ie. “wonky knees” – knees that don’t work very well.

Another British slang term for wonky would be to say/use skew whiff which is used in almost the exact same context as the first definition of wonky! However, skew whiff is more commonly used by older generations, where younger ones use wonky.

5. ‘ard – Ready for a fight

There really isn’t anything akin to ‘ard in any other language’s slang, not even in other variants of English. Normally, the term ‘ard (otherwise spelled as “Hard”) was used to describe how dense something is, but not in British slang…

‘ard (otherwise spelled as “Hard”) is the British slang term for someone who is ready to fight (literally anything). You may also hear a derivative of the term- ‘ard lad meaning a guy who is ready for a fight (although you could also use it for a girl too!)

In some of the poorer areas of Britain, many young lads (usually teenagers) will fight one another in order to be called an ‘ard lad as if it is some kind of trophy! But this is usually with their friends and not strangers.

4. Bob’s Your Uncle! – There you have it!

Most people are familiar with the French phrase voilà that has become famous all over the world. However, most people outside of Britain don’t know that the British too, have their equivalent of voilà.

This is Bob’s your uncle, which is used to mean something akin to “and there you have it”. It is most commonly used after a long set of instructions, usually as your “final” instruction (to show your finished whatever).

It actually has a quite weird origin too. In 1887, then-British Prime Minister Sir Robert Cecil (nicknamed Bob) made his unqualified nephew Chief Secretary of Ireland. The reason he got the job- Bob’s your uncle!

3. Jammy – Lucky

Americans have things such as “Lucky son of a gun” or phrases of a similar ilk. The British equivalent is jammy usually followed by any number of other words, including swear words.

Jammy is usually used to say that someone is uncommonly or unnecessarily lucky in some aspect of their life, or just in general. Most commonly it is followed by something like “Pr!ck” or “B@stard” or “Sh!t” or something similar.

Quite hilariously however, it is also quite common to hear someone saying “You jammy dodger” with the term “Jammy dodger” deriving from a popular British snack of the same name!

2. Daft – Silly

If said in a “proper” English accent, daft can sound rather posh. In a not-so-“proper” English accent, daft can sound rather… daft if you will. Similarly to many other British slang words, daft has inspired a plethora of daughter slang terms too.

Daft is used in the same context that silly or foolish is. Most commonly, it is used to describe a person or a group of people, although can quite easily be used to describe an object if in the right context.

However, that isn’t its only use. Although becoming less and less common nowadays, daft can also be used to describe the fact that someone or something is mad or insane (as in their literal meanings).

1. Mate – Good friend

Americans don’t really use this term (I don’t really know why!) Australia is perhaps the most famous for using the slang term mate, but it actually originated in British English, and was borrowed by Australian settlers.

Unlike much of the rest of British slang, many people, both young and old use it. Although, it is more commonly used by younger people, rather than older people. It is usually used in a sentence such as “You alright, mate?”

In many ways, it is similar to how Americans use “Dude” or “Bro” in their day-to-day life. Since it has become so widely used, the slang term “mate” has been turned into its own word- mateship, meaning something similar to friendship. (Although British people don’t really use that term).

Which are your favorite British slang words? Tell me in the comments!