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A Small Introduction to BritSpeak

As I said in my earlier post about accents, I had to learn almost a totally different language because Brits use so many words and phrases than North Americans do. But in a way, it's cool. I've always had an interest in languages and slang, and of course I learned stuff from watching Britcoms such as Monty Python, Blackadder etc! I thought it would be cool to share some of what I've learned. These definitions are gleaned from The Best of British, a British-American dictionary written by a British ex-pat living in Texas. Just the fact that one of these exists speaks of the fact that there are a lot of differences between the two 'dialects' of English, but this is quite well done and comprehensive. If you want to find out more, that's the website to go to, but without further ado, here's
CARLA'S USEFUL BRITISH TERMS.

Barmy - mad or crazy.
Bloody - One of the most useful (minor) swear words in BritSpeak. I use this too much sometimes, but I guess I could say worse things! Mostly used as an exclamation of surprise i.e. "bloody hell", but also used to emphasise almost anything, "bloody marvellous", "bloody awful","you're bloody mad", "not bloody likely" and can also be used in the middle of other words to emphasise them. E.g. "Abso-bloody-lutely"! (one of the words that sounds better with an English accent!)
Brill - Short for "brilliant". Used all the time to describe all manner of stuff. Some people really overuse this word!
Chuffed - really pleased about something. (I like this word)
Dead - used in BritSpeak as an adjective to mean 'very' as in 'dead funny' or 'dead clever'. Some people really overuse this word as well.
Dodgy - not to be trusted. eg: Dodgy people are best avoided. (I like this word too!)
Get stuffed! - way to tell someone to get lost. However, this is still not a nice thing to say to someone.
Gutted - If someone is really upset/disapointed, like failing their driving test. (a really useful term)
Knackered - Basically worn out, good for nothing, tired out, knackered. (good one to use)
Naff - basically uncool.
Nowt - This is Yorkshire/Manchester slang for 'nothing'. Similarly 'owt' means anything. Hence the expression "you don't get owt for nowt". Roughly translated as "you never get anything for nothing" or "there's no such thing as a free lunch".
Pants - This is quite a new expression but quite trendy to say that something which is total crap is "pants". For instance you could say the last episode of a TV show was "pants".
Pear shaped - If something has gone pear shaped it means it has become a disaster.
Posh - Roughly translates as high class, often used in a derogatory sort of way.
Pukka - Used by a certain young UK TV chef; it means super or smashing, which of course is how he describes all his food.
Quid - A pound in money is called a quid, equivalent to the 'buck' in North America. A five pound note is called a fiver and a ten pound note is called a tenner.
Snog - a kiss! (used as either a noun or a verb)
Sorted - When you have fixed a problem and someone asks how it is going you might say "sorted" or "get it sorted" when you are telling someone to get on with the job (note: another word that sounds better with an English accent, especially when you don't pronounce the 't'!)
Strop - If someone is sulking or being particularly miserable you would say they are being stroppy.
Suss - If you heard someone saying they had you sussed they would mean that they had you figured out! If you were going to suss out something it would mean the same thing.
Ta - Northern slang, short for thanks. Used all the time.
Taking the mickey - What I love about the Brits is the sense of humour, mainly based on irony, sarcasm and an in-built desire to "take the mickey out of someone/thing"...making fun of someone. I love this phrase!
Tara - Pronounced "ta-ra", this is another word for cheerio or goodbye used a lot in the North of England. A lot of people kind of slur it to t'ra.
Whinge - to whine. (another really good word to use!)

Like I said, this is just a teensy sample of BritSpeak. Go and look at the dictionary, find some slang you like, then go practice on your mates and make yourself look really fab...maybe!