British slang expressions to sound like a native speaker 

If you ever wondered, what’s the quickest and easiest way to sound like a native English speaker, learning popular slang words and expressions is the answer! 

Learning slang terms is an excellent way to enhance communication skills, pronunciation, and to sound natural, more like a native English speaker. Slang words and phrases are an integral part of a language, and incorporating them into already known vocabulary can help adults and children better understand the nuances of the language. 

Using slang expressions can help build rapport and connect with native speakers, especially in casual settings such as social gatherings or informal conversations. Understanding and using slang also demonstrates a level of proficiency and familiarity with the language, which can be especially valuable for those who work or study in an English-speaking environment.

There is no particular age from which you can start teaching your child slang British phrases. The earlier you begin, the more natural it becomes to kids to sound like a local. The best idea for young kids is to actually start their English language adventure with English courses run by native speaker teachers. 

Mastering slang terms can help improve one’s English fluency, cultural knowledge, and social connections, making it a valuable skill to add to the whole language learning repertoire.

1. Hit the sack – to go to bed or to go to sleep. 
2. Piece of cake – something that is very easy to do. 
3. Feeling under the weather – to feel unwell, sick or not in good health.
4. Hold your horses – to wait or to slow down. 
5. Call it a day –  to stop working or to end an activity for the day. 
6. Pulling your leg – to tease or to joke with someone playfully. 
7. To make a long story short – to give a brief summary or synopsis of a long story or event. 
8. Knackered –  to be extremely tired or exhausted.
9. Bob’s your uncle – a phrase meaning “there you have it” or “everything is good.”
10. Cheers mate – a thank-you, often used when buying a drink for someone else.
11. Come off it – an expression of disbelief or rejection, similar to “get real.”
12. Couldn’t care less – indifference or disinterest, often used sarcastically.
13. Easy peasy – something that is very easy or straightforward.
14. Fancy a cuppa? – Would you like a cup of tea?
15. Have a butcher’s – to have a look or inspect something.
16. In a pickle – in a difficult or troublesome situation.
17. It’s all gone pear-shaped – a situation that has gone wrong or awry.
18. Keep your hair on – an expression meaning “calm down” or “relax.”
19. Not my cup of tea – something that is not to one’s liking or interest.
20. Put a sock in it – a way of telling someone to be quiet or stop talking.
21. Sorted – a phrase meaning “everything is taken care of” or “it’s all good.”
22. The bee’s knees – something that is excellent or of high quality.
23. You’re welcome – a polite response to someone thanking you.
24. Gibberish – meaning confused or meaningless speech or writing
25. Hit in the mouth – describes a person or a place or thing that is in a very bad or rough shape.
26. Gobsmacked – meaning surprised beyond belief 
27. Alright? – a greeting derived from the question „Are you all right?”
28. Blinding – meaning very impressive or skillful 
29. Bloody – a minor swear word so be careful who you say it around
30. Chuffed – used when If you’re very pleased with yourself for having achieved something
31. Cracking – used to express your positive feelings about something
32. Fancy – a general way of asking someone whether he or she would like something (e.g. “Fancy a drink?”)
33. Gutted – to express that one is deeply upset or disappointed about something
34. Lovely – to express our fondness of something.
35. Reckon – „to think”
36. Rubbish – something that is worthless
37. Quid – an informal term for a pound, which is used only in singular 
38. It’s raining cats and dogs – pouring down with rain outside
39. Don’t get your knickers in a twist – meaning that someone is rather annoyed about something that isn’t very important
40. Ace – excellent, very good.
41. Bloke – a man
42. Bollocks – nonsense or rubbish
43. Dodgy – suspicious or risky
44. Loo – bathroom or toilet
45. Naff – unfashionable or tacky
46. Peckish – slightly hungry
47. Posh – elegant or high-class
48. Telly – Television
49. Wicked – cool or impressive
50. Fiver – Five-pound note

Learning a language with native speakers is a fun and effective way for kids to improve their language skills. Here are 10 reasons why:

• Accurate Pronunciation: Learning from native speakers can help kids learn the correct pronunciation of words and phrases.
• Real-Life Vocabulary: Kids can learn vocabulary that is used in everyday conversation and not just from textbooks.
• Cultural Insights: Learning from native speakers can help kids gain a deeper understanding of the culture and customs associated with the language.
• Fun Learning: Kids can learn through games, songs, and other interactive activities, making the learning process more enjoyable.
• Immediate Feedback: Kids can receive instant feedback on their speaking and writing skills, helping them improve faster.
• Fluency and Idioms: Learning from native speakers can help kids become fluent in the language and teach them idiomatic expressions that are not commonly found in textbooks.
• Learning the Context: Native speakers can help kids understand the context of language, such as when certain phrases are appropriate or not.
• Building Confidence: Learning from native speakers can help kids build their confidence in using the language.
• Making Friends: Learning from native speakers can also provide opportunities to make new friends and learn about other cultures.
• Immersion: Immersing themselves in the language and culture of native speakers can help kids learn faster and more naturally, leading to a deeper understanding of the language.

Do you want your kid to speak English like a native speaker? There’s no better way than signing your kid up for English online lessons at Novakid. Try it for free!

All classes at Novakid are taught by certified English native speaker teachers, who through playtime, engaging activities, songs and the TPR method, turn the learning experience into an extraordinary adventure. At Novakid, kids aged 4-12 learn grammar and vocabulary in a stress-free environment. Also, lessons with native speakers are the best opportunity to learn American and British slang words, idioms that are used in everyday life and both formal and informal speech.   

Let us know in the comments section below, how many of the British slang expressions listed in this article you already knew. Also, if there is any other slang vocabulary which you came across, share it with us!