American slang words add flavor to language, expressing emotions and attitudes uniquely. They foster connection, enhance communication, and reflect cultural trends, making conversations engaging and relatable.
What are the Slangs?
Slang is a very informal language or some specific words used by a particular group of people. You’ll usually hear slang spoken more often than you’ll see it put in writing, though emails and texts often contain many conversational slang words. Though slang sometimes gets a bad rap for being inappropriate or incorrect, it’s also highly creative and shows that the English language is constantly evolving over time.
American Slang Words
Must check: Australian Slang Words for Food
1. Up (happy cheerful)
Meaning: happy and cheerful
Example: I’m feeling up after that great news!
2. Pig out
Meaning: eat a lot or overeat
Example: After Thanksgiving dinner, we all pigged out.
3. Goof up
Meaning: made a serious mistake
Example: He’s so goofy; always cracking jokes.
4. Meltdown
Meaning: total collapse
Example: The reactor’s in danger; it’s a meltdown situation.
5. Quick buck
Meaning: some easy money
Example: I need a quick buck right now.
6. Racket
Meaning: noise
Example: The construction noise is such a racket.
7. Shot down
Meaning: disagreed with
Example: He shot down my idea during the meeting.
8. Hang it up
Meaning: quit
Example: I’ve decided to hang it up.
9. In the bag
Meaning: settled
Example: Victory is in the bag.
10. Knocked up
Meaning: pregnant
Example: Looks like she’s been knocked up.
11. Tool around
Meaning: drive around
Example: Let’s tool around the town this evening.
12. Airhead
Meaning: stupid person
Example: She’s a total airhead.
13. Flick
Meaning: movie
Example: Let’s catch a flick tonight.
14. Pro
Meaning: professional
Example: She’s a true pro at her job.
15. Smoke eater
Meaning: fireman
Example: The smoke eater arrived quickly at the scene.
16. Chicken
Meaning: coward
Example: That’s such a chintzy gift.
17. Pig
Meaning: eats too much
Example: He’s become a real pig lately.
18. Blow one’s cool
Meaning: becomes angry
Example: He blew his cool when the computer crashed.
19. Freebie
Meaning: a free thing
Example: These samples are freebies.
20. Hyper
Meaning: overexcited
Example: Calm down; don’t get hyper.
21. Pain in the neck
Meaning: annoying
Example: His constant complaints are a real pain in the neck.
22. Mean
Meaning: performs well on
Example: He’s mean in the boxing ring.
23. Boo-boo
Meaning: mistake
Example: That’s a painful boo-boo.
24. Carb
Meaning: carburetor
Example: The carb in my bike needs tuning.
25. Threads
Meaning: clothes
Example: Check out my new threads!
26. Chow down
Meaning: eat a lot
Example: Let’s clip through this topic quickly.
27. Straight
Meaning: honest
Example: She’s always straight with her opinions.
28. Maxed out
Meaning: exhausted
Example: After the marathon, I’m completely maxed out.
29. Screw around
Meaning: waste time
Example: Stop screwing around and focus.
30. Action
Meaning: Excitement
Example: The party was full of action.
31. Red hot
Example: The new gadget is a red hot item.
32. Crack open a bottle
Meaning: open
Example: Let’s crack open a bottle and celebrate!
33. Take a hike
Meaning: leave
Example: It’s time for you to take a hike.
34. Dope (Drug)
Meaning: drug
Example: He’s been dealing with dope for years.
35. Blow
Meaning: leave
Example: His plan was about to blow.
36. Kook
Example: Don’t mind those kooks on the street.
37. Flashback
Meaning: Remembered
Example: That memory was a real flashback.
38. Rat hole
Meaning: run-down place
Example: That place is a real rat hole.
39. Jam
Meaning: trouble
Example: He’s always in some sort of jam.
40. Paw
Meaning: hands
Example: Wash your paws before dinner.
41. Glitzy
Meaning: fashionable
Example: The party was so glitzy.
42. Zip
Meaning: nothing
Example: I’ve got zip interest in that movie.
43. Steamed up
Meaning: angry
Example: Don’t get steamed up over small issues.
44. Goofy
Meaning: silly
Example: Use your gourd and think.
45. In
Meaning: fashionable
Example: His outfit is totally in.
46. Hungry
Meaning: eager to make money
Example: He’s always hungry for success.
47. Nark
Meaning: drug police
Example: Watch out for the narks on the corner.
48. Bad
Meaning: intense
Example: The meeting was such a bad experience.
49. Cool down
Meaning: calm down
Example: Time to cool down and relax.
50. Put the moves on
Meaning: seduce
Example: He tried to put the moves on her.
51. Sharp
Meaning: intelligent
Example: She’s not only fashionable but also quite sharp.
52. Grass
Meaning: marijuana
Example: The deal was a real gravy.
53. Cram
Meaning: study hard
Example: I need to cram for the exam.
54. Shot
Meaning: try
Example: Give it a shot and see what happens.
55. Junkie
Meaning: drug addict
Example: He used to be a junkie in his past.
56. Call
Meaning: prediction
Example: That’s a bold call about the economy.
57. Rag
Meaning: newspaper
Example: Check out today’s headlines in the local rag.
58. GrossÂ
Meaning: disgusting
Example: We had a gross-out comedy night.
59. Blimp
Meaning: a very fat person
Example: That guy’s a blimp; can barely fit through the door.
60. Taken
Meaning: cheated out of
Example: He got taken by that scam artist.
61. John
Meaning: bathroom
Example: I’ll be in the john for a moment.
62. Lame
Meaning: an inadequate
Example: Your plan is so lame.
63. Line
Meaning: story
Example: What’s the line on that movie?
64. Huffy
Meaning: angry
Example: He got huffy after the argument.
65. Get with it
Meaning: hurry up
Example: Come on, get with it; we’re running late.
66. Hole up
Meaning: hide
Example: She decided to hole up for the weekend.
67. Split
Meaning: leave
Example: Time to split; see you later!
68. Get into something
Meaning: became seriously interested in
Example: I’ve really gotten into painting lately.
69. Mega
Meaning: Large
Example: That’s a mega burger!
70. Pickled
Meaning: intoxicated
Example: He was pickled after a night of drinking.
71. Blow a fuse
Meaning: loses your temper.
Example: Don’t blow a fuse; calm down.
72. Deck
Meaning: knocked down
Example: He was decked by that unexpected punch.
73. I.D
Meaning: identification
Example: Can I see some I.D?
74. Rule
Meaning: dominates
Example: He rules the school’s basketball court.
75. Kick
Meaning: enjoy
Example: I really kick this new recipe.
76. Stink
Meaning: is repulsive
Example: The garbage stink is unbearable.
77. Earful
Meaning: a lot of gossip
Example: I heard an earful of gossip yesterday.
78. Go
Meaning: try
Example: He’s about to go bananas.
79. Raw
Meaning: new
Example: Check out my raw talent in painting.
80. Goof
Meaning: fool
Example: Don’t goof up on this assignment.
81. Rough time
Meaning: hard time
Example: He’s going through a rough time.
82. Keep one’s cool
Meaning: remained calm
Example: He managed to keep his cool during the argument.
83. Booze
Meaning: Alcohol
Example: He’s been hitting the booze hard.
84. Cuffs
Meaning: handcuffs
Example: He’s in cuffs; they put him in cuffs.
85. Dork
Meaning: strange person
Example: Stop being such a dork.
86. Fix
Meaning: a dose of drugs
Example: Can you fix me up with a drink?
87. Bummer
Meaning: bad experience
Example: The rain ruined our picnic; what a bummer.
88. No sweat
Meaning: no problem
Example: “Can you help?” “No sweat.”
89. Bent
Meaning: angry
Example: He’s bent after that argument.
90. Big gun
Meaning: powerful people
Example: He’s a real big gun in the industry.
91. Smashed
Meaning: intoxicated
Example: We got smashed at the party last night.
92. Klutz
Meaning: stupid and clumsy person
Example: Don’t be such a klutz in the kitchen.
93. High
Meaning: intoxicated on drugs or alcohol
Example: He got high at the party last night.
94. Riot
Meaning: funny
Example: Her jokes always turn a boring event into a riot.
95. Bombed
Meaning: intoxicated
Example: The party was a real bomb.
96. Beat
Meaning: exhausted
Example: He’s beat after the long hike.
97. Bent out of shape
Meaning: become upset
Example: He’s really bent out of shape about the new policy.
98. Have a buzz on
Meaning: was slightly intoxicated
Example: I had a few drinks and got a buzz on.
99. Fox
Meaning: very attractive
Example: She looks like a real fox tonight.
100. Break it up
Meaning: stop
Example: Let’s break it up; the fight’s getting ugly.
101. Bomb
Meaning: bad
Example: The party was a total bomb.
102. Vibes
Meaning: feelings
Example: The party has good vibes.
103. Puke
Meaning: vomit
Example: I felt like I was going to puke.
104. Intense
Meaning: serious
Example: The movie’s intensity is intense.
105. Gourd
Meaning: head
Example: The new TV cost a grand, or 1,000 bucks.
106. Negative
Meaning: bad things
Example: I don’t want to hear any more negatives.
107. Gravy
Meaning: easy money
Example: The money’s coming in; it’s all groovy.
108. Dicey
Meaning: chancy
Example: The situation is getting dicey.
109. Hit
Meaning: successful
Example: Your idea is a real hit!
110. Damage
Meaning: cost
Example: The repairs are going to cost a fortune, a real damage.
111. Nip
Meaning: a quick drink
Example: Let’s have a quick nip before the show.
112. Road hog
Meaning: takes up too much of the road
Example: That driver’s a real road hog.
113. Psycho
Meaning: mentally ill
Example: That guy is a total psycho.
114. History
Meaning: something in the past
Example: That incident is ancient history now.
115. Beemer
Meaning: B.M.W. car
Example: I wish I could afford a Beemer.
116. Up for grabs
Meaning: available.
Example: The prize is up for grabs in the contest.
117. Grub
Meaning: food
Example: Let’s grab a bite; I’m hungry for some grub.
118. Rocks
Meaning: with ice
Example: I’ll have a whisky on the rocks, no rocks.
119. Sack
Meaning: go to bed
Example: I’m exhausted; time to hit the sack.
120. Veg out
Meaning: relax and do nothing
Example: Let’s just veg out and relax this weekend.
121. Hang loose
Meaning: relax
Example: Just hang loose and enjoy life.
122. Cut out
Meaning: leave
Example: I’ve got to cut out early today.
123. Rinky-dink
Meaning: inferior
Example: This place is so rinky-dink.
124. Go down
Meaning: happening
Example: He’s acting like a total goof.
125. Mush
Meaning: nonsense
Example: His explanation was just a bunch of mush.
126. Bread
Meaning: money
Example: Can you lend me some bread?
127. Deep pockets
Meaning: is a good source of money
Example: He’s always got deep pockets for charity.
128. Push off
Meaning: leave
Example: It’s time to push off and head home.
129. Nick
Meaning: arrested
Example: He got nicked for shoplifting.
130. Hip-shooter
Meaning: always talking without thinking
Example: He’s such a hip-shooter; always saying whatever.
131. Gut (basic)
Meaning: basic
Example: This is the gut of the problem.
132. Honcho
Meaning: boss
Example: He’s the company’s new honcho.
133. Break
Meaning: opportunity
Example: I see a great break in your future.
134. Chintzy
Meaning: cheap
Example: This place is chow down central!
135. Cool
Meaning: good
Example: This ice cream is so cool.
136. Party-hearty
Meaning: celebrate
Example: Let’s party-hearty tonight!
137. Nuke
Meaning: heat up in the microwave
Example: I’ll just nuke some leftovers for lunch.
138. Quarterback
Meaning: lead
Example: He’s the quarterback of our team.
139. Hammer
Meaning: accelerator
Example: Hit the hammer to speed up.
140. Far-out
Example: The job’s pretty far-out.
141. Grungy
Meaning: dirty
Example: The basement’s so grungy.
142. Pop for something
Meaning: buy
Example: I might pop for that new gadget.
143. Guts (courage)
Meaning: Courage
Example: He showed real guts facing danger.
144. Antifreeze
Meaning: liquor
Example: This antifreeze will warm you up.
145. Schmuck
Meaning: jerk
Example: What a schmuck he turned out to be!
146. Run out of gas
Meaning: lost interest or momentum
Example: I’ve run out of gas for this project.
147. Psyched up
Meaning: mentally ready
Example: I’m feeling psyched up for the game.
148. Barf
Meaning: vomited
Example: The smell made me barf.
149. Rug
Meaning: wig
Example: His wig, or should I say rug, looks so fake.
150. Move on someone
Meaning: pick up and seduce
Example: He’s trying to move on me at the bar.
151. Heave
Meaning: vomited
Example: I had to heave after that roller coaster ride.
152. Catch some z’s
Meaning: get some sleep
Example: I need to catch some z’s tonight.
153. Blade
Meaning: Knife
Example: Pass me the blade to cut this rope.
154. Con
Meaning: deceive
Example: He’s such a con artist.
155. Spud
Meaning: potatoes
Example: Let’s make some mashed spuds for dinner.
156. Grubby
Meaning: unclean and untidy
Example: Don’t touch that; it’s grubby.
157. Mickey mouse
Meaning: nonsense and a waste of time
Example: This task is just Mickey Mouse work.
158. Pit stop
Meaning: stop and go to the bathroom
Example: Let’s make a pit stop before continuing.
159. Knuckle sandwich
Meaning: punch in the mouth
Example: Keep it up, and you’ll get a knuckle sandwich.
160. Rack
Meaning: bed
Example: I’m tired; hitting the rack.
161. Get it
Meaning: understand
Example: Did you get it? Understand?
162. Cruise
Example: He’s always driving like he’s in a cruise.
163. Hardware
Meaning: weapons
Example: Watch out for his hardware collection.
164. Scam
Meaning: swindle
Example: That online offer seems like a scam.
165. Big stink
Meaning: big issue
Example: That was a big stink about nothing.
166. Prod
Meaning: reminder
Example: Give me a prod if I forget.
167. Catch some rays
Meaning: get some sunshine.
Example: Let’s catch some rays at the beach.
168. Big mouth
Meaning: talk too much
Example: She’s got a big mouth; always gossiping.
169. Bashed
Meaning: crushed
Example: His car was bashed in the accident.
170. Pad
Meaning: a place to live
Example: I got a new pad downtown.
171. Paper-pusher
Meaning: bureaucratic office workers
Example: The office is full of paper-pushers.
172. Bonkers
Meaning: Crazy
Example: The situation’s getting bonkers.
173. Can
Meaning: bathroom
Example: Time for a quick trip to the can.
174. Dead
Meaning: quiet
Example: The classroom is dead silent.
175. Buy it
Meaning: die
Example: He’s acting strangely; he’s gonna buy it soon.
176. Knockout
Meaning: a stunning person
Example: She’s a real knockout at the party.
177. Hot
Meaning: stolen
Example: That car seems a bit hot.
178. Gig
Meaning: job
Example: He’s performing at a jazz gig.
179. Blown away
Meaning: greatly impressed
Example: I was blown away by her performance.
180. Make waves
Meaning: cause trouble
Example: His actions always make waves.
181. Joint
Meaning: cheap bar
Example: Let’s hit the local joint for a drink.
182. Repo
Meaning: repossess
Example: They had to repo his car due to nonpayment.
183. Hairy
Meaning: dangerous
Example: Climbing that mountain was quite hairy.
184. Knock
Meaning: criticize
Example: He’ll knock your idea no matter what.
185. Pooped out
Meaning: quit
Example: I’m pooped out after the long hike.
186. Sucker
Meaning: be deceived
Example: I won’t be a sucker for their tricks.
187. Do a snow job on
Meaning: deceive
Example: He’s always trying to do a snow job on me.
188. Plastered
Meaning: intoxicated
Example: He got plastered at the party.
189. Flip side
Meaning: another side
Example: Let’s consider the flip side of the argument.
190. Have it all together
Meaning: feel mental all there.
Example: She seems to have it all together.
191. Just off the boat
Meaning: naive
Example: Fresh off the boat, she seems naive.
192. All-nighter
Meaning: after studying all night.
Example: I stayed up all night, pulling an all-nighter.
193. Scarf
Meaning: ate quickly
Example: He scarfed down his meal in no time.
194. Nut
Meaning: crazy person
Example: That guy’s a complete nut.
195. Bust
Meaning: failure
Example: His plans have suffered a bust.
196. Clip
Meaning: cheat
Example: His car is such a clunker.
197. Cop
Meaning: stole
Example: He cop the wallet from the counter.
198. Cushy
Meaning: easy
Example: Their job is so cushy.
199. Run off at the mouth
Meaning: talking too much
Example: She wouldn’t stop running off at the mouth.
200. Cheesy
Meaning: cheap
Example: Don’t be such a chicken; take a risk!
201. Totaled
Meaning: completely wrecked
Example: His car got totaled in the accident.
202. Gross-out
Meaning: disgusting time
Example: Grab some grub before we leave.
203. Mellow
Meaning: calm down and relax
Example: “Can you help?” “No sweat.”
204. Dough
Meaning: money
Example: Can you lend me some dough?
205. Love handles
Meaning: rolls of fat around my stomach
Example: Those love handles are hard to shed.
206. Go bananas
Meaning: go crazy
Example: The stock market is going down.
207. Cream
Meaning: beat
Example: He’s determined to cream the competition.
208. All wet
Meaning: completely wrong
Example: Your argument is all wet.
209. Couch potato
Meaning: a lazy person
Example: He’s a total couch potato.
210. Party animal
Meaning: love parties
Example: She’s a real party animal.
211. Stressed
Meaning: upset
Example: I’m so stressed about the upcoming exam.
212. Foxy
Meaning: sexy
Example: She’s looking quite foxy in that dress.
213. Hang tough
Meaning: stick with
Example: We need to hang tough through the challenge.
214. Jock
Meaning: an athlete
Example: He’s a dedicated jock on the field.
215. Hyped
Meaning: excited
Example: She’s hyped for the concert.
216. Grand
Meaning: thousand dollars
Example: They found some grass in his backpack.
217. Neat
Meaning: good
Example: That’s a neat trick you’ve got there.
218. Put-on
Meaning: deception
Example: His excuse was just a lame put-on.
219. Peanuts
Meaning: practically no money
Example: I’ve got peanuts in my wallet.
220. Ream someone out
Meaning: got angry with him
Example: The boss really reamed him out today.
221. Gut (stomach)
Meaning: stomach.
Example: I’ve got a pain in my gut.
222. Cut
Meaning: dilute
Example: That song is cut with some new beats.
223. Croak
Meaning: die
Example: Unfortunately, the old computer croaked.
224. Hustle
Meaning: hurry up
Example: Hustle, we’re running late!
225. Pop
Meaning: hit
Example: He threw a pop at the bully.
226. Rap
Meaning: talk about
Example: Let’s rap about our weekend plans.
227. Ammo
Meaning: ammunition
Example: He’s got plenty of ammo for the debate.
228. In deep
Meaning: deeply involved
Example: He’s in deep with the criminal gang.
229. Bummed
Meaning: depressed
Example: I’m feeling really bummed out today.
230. Clunker
Meaning: old car
Example: That car is such a clunker.
231. Cold fish
Meaning: dull
Example: That guy’s a real cold fish.
232. Slammer
Meaning: jail
Example: He landed himself in the slammer.
233. Ace
Meaning: very good
Example: I aced that test; got an ace!
234. Down
Meaning: drink quickly
Example: Let’s all down these shots together.
235. Megabucks
Meaning: a lot of money
Example: The lottery prize is worth megabucks.
236. Laid-back
Meaning: calm and relaxed
Example: He’s so laid-back about everything.
237. Screw up
Meaning: make a mistake
Example: Don’t screw up the presentation!
238. Flip out
Meaning: lost control
Example: Don’t flip out over this; it’s fine.
239. Spook
Meaning: frightened
Example: His ghost stories always make me spooked.
240. Ditch
Meaning: leave
Example: He decided to ditch the party.
241. Flaky
Meaning: unreliable
Example: He’s always been a bit flaky.
242. Bench
Meaning: taken out of the game
Example: He’s been benched for the next game.
243. Rack out
Meaning: Sleep
Example: After a long day, I’m ready to rack out.
244. Drag
Meaning: boring
Example: The party was such a drag.
245. Piece of cake
Meaning: easy to do
Example: Solving this puzzle was a piece of cake.
246. Hooker
Meaning: prostitute
Example: He’s been visiting hookers again.
247. Dynamite
Meaning: powerful; great
Example: The party was such a drag.
248. Loser
Meaning: annoying and useless
Example: Stop being a loser; contribute something.
249. Rug rat
Meaning: Children
Example: The park was filled with energetic rug rats.
250. Groovy
Meaning: pleasant
Example: That movie was pretty gross.
251. Square
Meaning: old-fashioned
Example: His taste in music is a bit square.
252. Kegger
Meaning: beer party
Example: The frat is throwing a kegger tonight.
American Slang Related to Insults
- Jerk: A rude or obnoxious person.
- Douchebag: Someone arrogant or self-centered.
- Asshole: A highly offensive term for a rude person.
- Bitch: A derogatory term for an unpleasant or difficult person.
- Dipshit: A foolish or stupid individual.
- Loser: Someone perceived as unsuccessful or inept.
- Moron: An insulting term for someone unintelligent.
- Punk: A person who is disrespectful or rebellious.
- Idiot: Someone lacking common sense.
- Wanker: A foolish or obnoxious individual (British slang).
Funny American Slang Words
- Bamboozle: To confuse or deceive someone in a playful way.
- Cattywampus: Askew or awry, often used to describe something that’s out of place.
- Gobbledygook: Confusing or nonsensical language.
- Lollygag: To dawdle or waste time aimlessly.
- Nincompoop: A playful term for a foolish or silly person.
- Brouhaha: A noisy and chaotic situation or commotion.
- Flibbertigibbet: A frivolous or flighty person who talks a lot.
- Hooey: Nonsense or something untrue.
- Kerfuffle: A minor disturbance or fuss.
- Malarkey: Meaningless talk or nonsense.
- Noodle: To think or ponder, often used humorously.
- Scooch: To move or adjust slightly.
- Snickerdoodle: A type of cookie, also used playfully to refer to a silly person.
- Spiffy: Looking sharp or stylish.
- Wackadoodle: Someone eccentric or a little crazy.
- Whatchamacallit: A term used when you can’t remember or don’t know the name of something.
- Yammer: To talk incessantly or loudly.
- Zonked: Exhausted or extremely tired.
- Giggle water: Slang for alcohol, especially during the Prohibition era.
- Gobbledygook: Confusing or complicated language that’s difficult to understand.
Black American Slangs
- Fam: Short for “family,” often used to refer to close friends or people you’re close to.
- Lit: Used to describe something that’s exciting, cool, or impressive.
- On fleek: Something that’s perfectly done or looking great.
- Savage: Describes someone who is brutally honest or has an intense attitude.
- Dope: Another term for something cool, impressive, or excellent.
- Woke: Being aware and conscious of social and political issues.
- Sis: A term of endearment used to address a friend or someone you’re close to.
- Bae: An affectionate term for a significant other, short for “before anyone else.”
- Haterade: Negative attitudes or jealousy directed towards someone’s success.
- Lowkey: Doing something subtly or secretly; not drawing attention.
- Turn up: To have a good time, party, or enjoy yourself energetically.
- Hustle: To work hard, often used to describe someone’s dedication to their goals.
- Thirsty: Eager or desperate for attention, often romantically.
- Chill: To relax or hang out casually.
- Gucci: Everything is good or okay; derived from the luxury brand name.
How To Speak American Slang?
American slang is a collection of informal and colorful expressions that are often used by native English speakers in the United States. If you want to learn how to speak American slang, here are some tips to get you started:
Watch American TV shows and movies: One of the best ways to pick up American slang is by watching American TV shows and movies. Pay attention to the words and phrases that are commonly used by the characters, and try to incorporate them into your own vocabulary.
Listen to American music: American music is full of slang and idiomatic expressions. Listen to different genres of music, and pay attention to the lyrics. You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn from popular songs.
Read American books and magazines: Reading American books and magazines can also help you to learn American slang. Look for publications that are popular in the United States, and pay attention to the words and phrases that are used.
Interact with native speakers: If you have the opportunity to interact with native speakers of American English, take advantage of it. Ask them to teach you some slang words and phrases, and practice using them in conversation.
Use online resources: There are many online resources that can help you to learn American slang. Look for websites and apps that provide lists of common slang words and phrases, and practice using them in sentences.
Remember, slang is informal and should be used appropriately in the right context. Be mindful of the people you’re speaking with, and make sure you’re using slang that is appropriate for the situation.
Infographics (American Slang Words)
Download PDF
Download the PDF of the Slang words list.
American Slangs You Need to Know – Video
