THE WORD ON THE STREET The Spitfire Guide to Street Slang

The very first glossaries of street slang appeared in England in the 16th and 17th centuries, lists of the exotic and mysterious words used by thieves, tricksters and beggars to converse in secret among themselves and to bluff and bamboozle their victims. Dictionaries of slang became increasingly popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries, still posing as guides to help the public combat the threat of ne’er do-wells, but actually celebrating the racy, rude vocabulary they were recording.

Modern UK street slang’s most striking characteristic is how far, since the later 1970s, it has drawn its vocabulary not so much from white working class speech, old-fashioned latin Polari or Irish as before but from other ethnic groups. The greatest influence by far has been ‘Black British’, a mix of Caribbean patois and slang, hip-hop and rap terminology from the US and expressions probably invented by speakers of Afro-caribbean origin and their imitators within the UK. Most of the best known recent key words in street slang - terms like ‘boyed,’ ‘butterz’, ‘cotch’, ‘hench’, ‘tick’ and ‘tings’ come into this category. Some other words –‘chuddies’, ‘nang’ originate in Asian languages, a few- ‘div’, ‘chav’, ‘dinlo’, ‘wong(a)’- in Roma, at least one important one, ‘wallad’ in Arabic. Minority communities enjoying low status in the mainstream economy and culture rate highest in street credibility, command prestige in the high-rise, in the club or the playground. On an inner-city estate where inhabitants are speaking Somali, Urdu, Turkish at home, their common language these days may not be standard English at all but hybrid slang.

For linguists, this new sound of the street which they call ‘multi-ethnic urban vernacular’ or MLE (‘multi-ethnic London English’), and conservatives deride as ‘Jafaican’ or ‘ghetto-speak,’ is an interesting and important phenomenon. Shared by genuine gangstas and all those would-bes and wannabes, too, its edgy vocabulary; ‘bare’ (lots), ‘blad’ (friend), ‘choong’ (attractive), ‘merk’ (defeat or humiliate), ‘inna’ (nosey or intrusive) and the many terms relating to status may not follow all its users into middle age, but its rhythm and accent show signs of influencing mainstream English, perhaps permanently.

Attitudes to slang may be relaxing, too, as evidenced by the latest survey carried out by Spitfire Ale. This groundbreaking poll reveals that only a minority of adults - 34% across the UK think that street slang is too prevalent, while 28% think it’s a healthy evolution of everyday language.

So…go street, go nang, chat slang! Tony Thorne

[you can send your own slang examples to tony.thorne@kcl.ac.uk]

A ‘ Don’t get ampin with me

every time you fail.’

Actin’ behaving provocativelyAdorkable clumsy but endearingAggy angryAh nam to inform on,

tell tales aboutAhlie synonym for innit or claim

to honestyAiitt! expression of agreement

or a greetingAllow it stop itAlmshouse, alms poor,

inadequate, disappointing difficult or dangerous situation

Amazeballs impressive, admirable, excellent

Amped excited, agitatedAmpin behaving in

an agitated way, rantingAn’t it a newer version of innit

Arms strong, toughAxe to ask

B ‘We don’t want no beef with you guyz.’

B male friendBabe(s) sweetheart, lover, girlBadman(z) ‘big shot’, a

tough guyBae sweetheart, girlfriendBagga-manz bag a lot (of)Bag someone out to criticise,

harassBait obvious, intrusiveBangin’ attractive, excitingBantz banter

Bare much, many.Bars rap song, part of a songBashment partyBayden solvent, wealthyBeast excellent, impressive,

admirable, coolBeef disagreement,

angry altercationBeggin’ talking nonsenseBell to phoneBennin’ overcome by laughterBestie best friendBetty girlBevvie, bev alcoholic drinkBigging up complimenting,

praising, celebratingBlad, blud ‘mate’, friendBlag to steal, trick, bluffBlank to snub or ignore (someone)Blem cigarette Bless expression of approval

or farewellBlonks big person, usually maleBlud close friendBoggin’ stinkingBollerz moneyBonk to exhaust oneself, tire (out)Boom exciting, impressiveBoom-ting party, exciting eventBounce to depart, flounce off.Bovvered unconcerned,

indifferentBoyed humiliatedBoyment humiliationBoyz moneyBraap, blaap a greeting or

expression of approval or agreement

Brass bad

Brassic brokeBredder someone who copies or

imitates someoneBredren friendsBrewski beer or another

alcoholic drinkBro male friendBruv brother, male friendBreeze nonsense, rubbishBruck, brok ruined, in poor

condition, uglyBuff physically attractiveBully van police vehicleBump to trick, defraud, steal fromBusted ugly, unattractive Butterz ugly, unattractive

C ‘You can cotch down at mine after the party.’

Cane it do things to excessCar becauseCBA, ceebs ‘can’t be arsed,’

an expression of indifferenceCheeky alcoholic drinkCheez excellentChenzed exhaustedChief stupid and/or

irritating personChirps chat up, flirt with Chuffed delighted, satisfiedCriss, kriss attractive,

cool, fashionableChuddies underwearChung, choong very attractive Chirpsing flirtingClankin’ stinking, repellentClappin’ out of date or worn out,

usually to describe clothes, when

referring to people: exhaustedClock to look atCo-D accomplice,

fellow wrongdoerCotch (down), kotch to relax,

rest or hang outCray, cray-cray outrageous,

excitingCreasin’ laughingCrepz shoes, trainersCrew gang, group of friendsCrump terrible, excellentCrutterz in poor condition

D ‘Someone hacked my phone I was totes devo’d.’

Da bomb (something) excellentDark negative unpleasantDash to give, pass, throwDeep unpleasant, negative -

impressive, powerfulDeets details, specificsDench attractive, impressiveDeurr (brain) stupid person Devo’d, devs upset,

disappointedDinlo stupid personDiv, divvy foolish or

strange personDon outstanding male, leaderDo one go awayDope excellentDopper foolDrapsin’ intimidating, extortingDred dreadful, terrible,

bad, cruelDrum house, home, Dry boring, unfunny

Duck out to exit, go awayDurkboi stupid maleDuss’ to exit, go away

E ‘Meet me down my endz.’

Endz area, neighbourhoodExtra intrusive, irritating,

exaggerated

F ‘We got well fixed up over that phone contract.’

Fam, famo family, friendFassy, fossy despicable, unmanlyFatboy gym (rhyming slang)Feds police.Feen a male strangerFeenin’ (for) craving somethingFittie an attractive personFive-O the policeFixed up tricked,

defrauded, fooledFlat roofin’ stressed out,

exhaustedFlexin’ showing off,

behaving provocativelyFluff nonsenseFraff nonsenseFrass unpleasant, repellent,

unattractiveFrom endz street-smartFrontin’ showing off,

behaving provocatively

G ‘I tried to get next to her but she just gave me air.’

G male friend- boss, (gang-) leaderGarms clothesGas fast-moving, quick-witted.Gazin’, gazzin’ gazzlin’

staring - relaxingGinnulz/jinelz fraud,

con, con-manGive air to snub,

ignore (someone)Gobby talkativeGobsmacked amazedGoppin’ ugly, smelly, repellentGrimy good, admirable,

authentic, toughGyaldem, galsdem group

of females, girls

H ‘After all those carbs I feel like such a heffa.’

Hammered exhaustedHangin’ ugly, repellentHank starvingHeads peopleHectic, hekka excellent,

excitingHeffa overweight femaleHench strong, fit, toughHomey friend, neighbourHoodie male on the streetHot mess overwrought but

attractive personHotted humiliatedHottie attractive female

Hype excessive, exaggerated, ‘OTT’

Hypin’ showing off, exaggeratingHubz, hubby boyfriend

I ‘I said I want a cab, innit. Not a cabinet!’

Immense excellent, impressiveInna nosy, intrusive, annoying Innit all-purpose question tag

at the end of statementsIzzit? ‘Really?’

J ‘When they saw my new ride they were well jel.’

Jack to stealJacks, jax aloneJakes police officers on footJam to relaxJar alcoholic drinkJel, jelly jealousJokes amusing, enjoyableJook, juke to rob or stealJug alcoholic drink

K ‘Yo, that girl looks kriss.’

Kip (down) to sleepKotch, cotch to chill out,

relax, restKriss attractive, cool- feeling bad, exhausted

L ‘I totally saw those two lipsin’ behind the car park.’

Laterz a farewellLickle littleLinkin’ dating, going out

with someone Lipsin’ kissingLong, longage, long-flex

lengthy, time-consuming, tediousLush good-looking, enjoyable

M ‘Jez just got merked in World of War.’

Mans I, me, myselfMandem, mansdem boys, a

group of males, friendsMan up to be more manly,

resoluteMarvin very hungryMcfittie physically attractive

individualMeaty excellentMeffa ‘low-life,’ Meg socially awkward,

unglamorous girlMeh an expression of

indifference, boredomMerk, murk to insult, defeat or

trick (someone)Messed up incapacitated,

dysfunctionalMessy excellentMingin’ stinking, repellentMint coolMis-sion, mish task, projectMoist bad, disappointing

…much? expression of ironic emphasis as in ‘desperate, much?’ mocking a friend’s romantic failures

Mug someone off (to attempt) to trick, make a fool of

Mullered exhausted, destroyedMunter ugly, unattractive personMuppet foolish, irritating person

N ‘Dat DJ is bare nang.’

the Nads excellentNang, nangin’ goodNeg to criticize, denigrateNeek, neeky earnest,

awkward, unfashionable (a blend of nerd and geek)

New tediousNext man unimportant personthe Nipples (something)

excellentNyam (up) to eat, relish

O ‘Don’t worry, the olders got your back.’

Obvs obviouslyOff the hook cool,

appealing, fresh, exceeding one’s expectations

Older senior companion or sibling

Om-nom-nom expression of relish, satisfaction

On top (of a situation) out of control.

On your ones aloneOwned humiliated,

ridiculed, defeated

P ‘She’s not just overly hot, she’s peng.’

Ps moneyPar something unfairPeng attractive, excellentPhat excellentPiff, piffy, pith excellentPo-po policePrang frightened

R ‘I totally rinsed my credit cards an’ now I’m brassic.’

Radio outdatedRaggo, ragoflex improvised,

hasty and/or flamboyant, provocative

Rammed overcrowded, full (of a venue)

Random(er) unknown and/or uninteresting person

Raps fast-moving, quick-wittedRated goodRaw, rah harsh, unfairReem excellentReh teh teh ‘et cetera, et

cetera’, an expression of impatience or indifference

Renk (displaying) an over-confident, domineering attitude

Rents, rentals parentsRep reputationRepresent to behave

impressively, self-confidentlyRide carRinsed used up, emptied,

overdone

Ripped muscular, physically well-toned

Road street-smartRock to wear, displayRoll with keep company with,

hang out withRude boy, rude-boi street-

smart maleRuffen street-smart male,

S‘The way he busted those moves on stage was like so sick.’

Safe, safa ‘cool, good, sweet’Scran foodScrappers underwearScrew-face, screw to look

in a hostile wayScrutzy dirty, unkemptSeckle settle downSeen, skeen expression of

agreement or solidarityShabby impressive,

fashionable, coolSharking chasing femalesShook nervousShorty girlfriendShower excellentShrapnel moneySick, sick up excellent,

inter-est-ing, coolSkanky disreputable, poor qualitySkeen expression of agreement

or solidaritySlack immoral, disreputableSleb celebritySlipped trespassed on

someone else’s territory, left one’s neighbourhood

Snash moneySnarky sarcasticSoz, sowwy an apologySpit lyrics/bars to sing

or performSpud good- stupid person- to high-five (someone)Squallay to leave, exitStabby irritated to the point

of violenceStabz police officersStandard expression of

agreement or approvalStill said at the end of a statement

to add emphasis or finalityStush, stoosh keep quiet, shut upSucked stolenSwag confident, cool attitude- extreme, scary- bad, disappointingSwear down expression

of agreementSweet pleasing, satisfactorySwiftie alcoholic drinkSwitched angry, agitated

T ‘Don’t mess with him, bruv, he’s tonk.’

Tax to steal Teek old, old-fashioned, outdatedTek mobile phoneTell over to inform on

someone or talk about them behind their back

Tick excellent, coolTidy excellent, satisfactory

Tight impressive, skilful - friendly, close

Time a long timeTing(s) object, person, stuffTinnie, tin alcoholic drinkTonk heavily built (person)Totes completely, veryTrek long, tedious journeyTrue-dat expression

of agreementTwos (someone) to go halves,

share with

V ‘Man that last-minute goal was vicious.”

Vexed, Vexin’ irritated, angryVicious excellent, impressiveVom to vomit, or an expression

of disgust

W ‘Dat new bro-step track is well wafty.’

Wack bad, inferior, disappointingWafty unsound, second-rateWagwan, wag1 greetingWaldo foolWallad foolish and/or

despicable maleWaste, wasteman, wastage

worthless maleWatch a warning, ‘beware’Wettin’ running

Whotevs expression of indifference

Wicked excellent, coolWifey girlfriendWhip carWong money

Y ‘Those posh yatties really do my head in.’

Yard homeYatty, yat female, girlYOLO ‘you only live once’,

expression of defiance, indifference or bravado

(the) Youth, yoot young peopleYounger junior companion

or sibling

Z ‘Man I need to grab some zeds, I’m flat-roofin’.’

Zeds sleep‘zup? greetingZoned, zonked exhausted,

distracted

[This compilation copyright Tony Thorne and Spitfire Ales 2014]