Imagine you are studying in America and go out for your first shopping, you ask a shopkeeper about the price of an item and he replies ‘10 Bucks mam.’ You will be puzzled at first and then you will realise that ‘Buck’ is ‘Dollar’ in American slang. Slangs are the words that are used by the natives in their language. It may vary from country to country or city to city.
If you are studying in the USA or planning to move to America for further studies, this blog is just for you! We will be discussing some of the most common American slang that will blow your mind. Keep reading further!
Table of contents
What is American Slang?
American slang is a language used by the American people, especially in the USA. These are the words that are typically not found in the standard dictionaries. They can be words, phrases, or expressions that you will not find anywhere in written dictionaries. American Slang is the words that are being followed traditionally and ritually and they don’t have any literal meaning. It is a part of American cultural etiquette that is being followed traditionally in the country.
Also Read: If you are still planning to pursue education in the USA, check out our blog on the Best Places to Study Abroad in the USA.
Top 65 American Slang Words
American slang generally includes American words and phrases that are not found with their literal meanings. These words are generally used by Americans in daily conversation and are being used in the flow. Check out some of the most popular American slang words.
- All-ears: Listening to what someone is saying with undivided attention.
- All-nighter: A period of work or study that lasts all night.
- Are you kidding me? : To express frustration or excitement.
- Around-the-clock: 24/7, all day and night, non-stop
- ASAP: stands for ‘as soon as possible’
- B-Ball: often used to abbreviate basketball
- Blow or Bomb: to fail or to be unsuccessful
- Blue or Have the Blues: to feel depressed or sad
- Bro: a friend, often used for a masculine friend
- Buck: one dollar
- Cheesy: Cheap, tacky.
- Chill: relax.
- Come on: To express frustration.
- Cool: nice, great, impressive, popular.
- Cop: Police officer.
- Couch Potato: a lazy person, one who sits on a couch and watches TV.
- Cram: to study feverishly before an exam.
- Crash: to go to sleep, or to show up without an invitation.
- Dead: Empty; quiet.
- Drive up the wall: to irritate
- Dutch or go Dutch: each person pays for his/her meal.
- FYI: acronym “for your information”
- Get under one’s skin: bother
- Give the cold shoulder: ignore
- Hang out: to gather casually and socially.
- Hip: cool, popular.
- Hit the books: study.
- Hit the road: to leave.
- Hold your horses: Wait a minute!
- Hyped: Really excited.
- I feel you: I understand/empathize with you
- In no time: Very soon.
- It is what it is: it’s a fact that cannot be changed.
- Jacked: really strong/muscular.
- Jonesing: to want something badly.
- Lemon: a bad buy or purchase.
- Lighten up: To relax or to not take things too seriously.
- LOL: Text acronym for ‘laugh out loud’
- My Bad: my fault or my mistake.
- No problem: you’re welcome, not a big deal
- OMG: Text acronym for ‘oh my god’. Used to express surprise or excitement.
- On the hour: an idiom for every hour exactly
- Once in a blue moon: infrequently
- Pass the buck: transfer responsibility to someone else.
- Piece of cake: easy or effortless.
- Put up a front: trying to act/appear tough
- R.S.V.P.: Stands for a French phrase, repondez, s’il vous plait. A formal reply to an invitation, by phone or mail.
- Recap: to state something again
- Ride shotgun: To ride in the front passenger seat of a car.
- Rip-off: overcharge.
- Score: to get something you want.
- Screw up: To make a mistake or do something badly/wrong
- See ya: goodbye
- Shoot the breeze: casual conversation.
- Snagged/Nabbed: to take something without asking or slyly
- Spill the beans: reveal a secret.
- Take a rain check: do it at another time.
- Take for granted: to assume.
- That hit the spot: (When talking about food/drinks) that was really good
- The bomb: if something ‘is the bomb’, it is awesome
- Trash: To destroy.
- UCard: UMass term for the University student identification card
- What’s up: How are you?
- Wrap up: To finish; to bring something to a close.
- You bet: of course or no problem.
Also Read: Still unsure about the best time to book accommodation in the US? Read our blog to know the same and ensure the booking of the most in-demand and best student residences in the country.
Some Other Popular American Slang Phrases
Check out some other popular American slang phrases used by native Americans.
- To keep it a buck – To be honest and truthful about something even if it’s unpleasant or unpopular.
- To leave someone on read – Ignoring someone’s message or not replying to them after reading.
- To simp – To overly demonstrate kindness or obsession towards someone you like.
- To be in your bag – Being really focused on your goals or passions or achieving success.
- No shade – to soften any insult or criticism and indicate that no offence is intended.
- To shoot your shot – Taking a chance or risk, at something particularly involving romance or career opportunities.
- To hit different – If something has an unexpected impact or effect in a positive way.
- To put someone on blast – When someone publicly exposes or criticizes another person on social media platforms.
- To be on one – If someone is acting crazy or out of character.
- To catch feelings – When you unintentionally develop an emotional attachment to someone.
Do your friends also describe you as a shopaholic? If yes, then check out our blog – Shopping Districts in the USA!
FAQs
Some commonly used American slang words are:
– Bar – A place where alcoholic beverages are served.
– At One’s Fingertips – Easily recalled or available.
– ASAP – “As soon as possible.”
– Big Deal – Anything important or exciting.
– Blown Away – To be shocked about something.
There are so many American slang words for cool. Some of them are fab, funky, fresh, groovy, fly, phat, lit, gnarly, rad, and the cat’s meow.
LOL is the American slang word for laughing with the acronym laugh out louder. The term LOL is generally used in electronic communications. This American slang is appropriate for casual conversations but avoid using it in formal meetings.
There are various ways in which you can say ‘OK.’ Some of the best ways of saying ‘OK’ are:
– Yeah
– Alright
– Yep
– Aye
– All right
– Ay
– Yo
– Yes
There are various ways in which you can describe something as impressive and something exceptionally good. Slay is one such American slang which is commonly associated with fashion, music, and artistic performance.
Thank you for reading our blog about American slang words. Hope you liked it. For booking the best accommodation abroad to start your study abroad experience you can contact Fly Homes at 1800572118.
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