Top 9 Tips and Tricks That Will Help Improve Your Spoken English
Here are some tips and tricks to help you improve your spoken English in a fun, fast and easy way!
Today’s teenagers have come up with tons of new slang terms that we have trouble understanding. Let's see what they all mean.
As technology advances and we get closer to the possibility of a Black Mirror-esque scenario becoming real, the world enters a new chapter dominated more and more by the internet culture. Most of our social interactions are now influenced by memes, dynamic social media platforms and our desire to be unique, heard and belong to a certain group of people who we perceive as “cool”. And slang words are a great way to show everyone around us just that!
Lexico powered by Oxford defines “slang” as “a type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people”. For example, the slang words and phrases we are going to talk about today are defining for two generations known as “millennials” and “gen z” – but mostly “gen z” because – let’s face it – today’s teenagers have come up with tons of new slang terms that even I, as a millennial, have trouble understanding. Praised be the mighty internet for slang dictionaries!
So whether you millennial desperately trying to stay cool – like me, a Gen X-er striving to understand the new generations or a baby boomer who wants to be the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) grandpa or grandma, you’ve come to the right place. Why? ‘Cause we’re about to absolutely slay this list of popular slang words! And not just with English slang terms, but also with Spanish, French, German and even Japanese slang. You never know when you might need them. So… Yas! Let’s do this!
Does Gen Z slang sometimes look like some secret unbreakable code to you? Well, you are not alone. But TBH (To Be Honest), once you get the hang of it and realize how relatable and fun it is, it becomes quite addictive to use in your day-to-day conversations.
So get ready to hear new meanings for words you thought you knew and prepare for heavy eye-rolling every time you’ll use your newly acquired lingo around teens. Here are some of the most common slang words used in the English language today:
When something is very good, enjoyable, or exciting, you can say it’s “lit”.
Dude, the party last night was lit! Where were you?
When someone is “extra”, it means they are unnecessarily dramatic, excessive, over the top or a “drama queen”.
She invited the entire school to her birthday. She’s so extra!
You can say someone is salty when they get upset or angry over something minor.
Nick is so salty since his parents took away his car!
When you cut off communication with someone you’re no longer interested in.
OMG! Did you hear Cristina ghosted Matt?
Another way of saying someone is showing off.
Nowadays, teens have started using the slang phrase “weird flex but OK” as a snarky and mocking response to someone bragging about something considered questionable, bizarre or unusual.
– Andrew’s trying to flex with that new no-name smartphone of his.
– Yeah. Like weird flex but OK.
Lowkey is the opposite of highkey and it can be used as a way of saying that you liked or done something secretly, modestly or quietly.
I lowkey rooted for Danaerys to remain on the iron throne.
Paul is highkey trying to learn Spanish for Elena.
When someone is shook it means they are shocked or incredibly surprised.
– Did you see? The new season of Lucifer just landed on Netflix!
– OMG I’m shook! I need to watch it ASAP!
When someone is “spilling the tea”, it means they are gossiping.
What happened at Jessica’s birthday party? Come on, spill the tea!
To respond to another person’s criticism.
Maria is quick to quick to clap back at everyone who says she doesn’t have a nice British accent.
A cold way of dismissing someone.
– You were rude. I’m gonna leave now.
– Bye, Felicia!
Used to express something that is relatable.
– Ugh! I wish I was in Bora Bora right now.
– Mood!
When you are so hungry that you are angry! (probably the most relatable slang word Gen Z taught us).
I’m so hangry right now I could eat five burgers in one sitting!
Other lit mentions: gucci (good, doing well, feeling fine), TFW (that feeling when), squad (a group of friends), JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out), fam (a group of friends that feels like family), dank (really cool), basic (interested in mainstream or very popular things), woke (being aware of current events), receipts (proof or evidence of something that happened).
It may be indecent, colorful or obscene, but slang is a crucial part of any language. Just think about how criminals started using slang so police or other people who are not in their crime circle would not understand what they are saying. Isn’t that great evidence of how creative people can be? Regardless of their social status or intentions.
But besides being understood only within a particular group, slang can also be general. For instance, almost every native English speaker knows that to be “filthy rich” doesn’t mean to be dirty, but to have a lot of money. In this situation, slang changes its objective of being limited to a certain group to, as Eric Partridge observes, easing the social intercourse and to reducing the solemnity, the pomposity, the excessive seriousness of a conversation. So slang brings us closer and enriches the language.
That being said, let’s continue with some very common slang words in some of the most spoken languages in the world. Slang you’ll probably hear and later use if you decide to learn any of these languages.
As you may expect, the Spanish language isn’t short on slang words. On the contrary! Each Spanish-speaking country often has its own slang. But today we are going to learn only the most common of the Spanish slang words, the ones you are more likely to hear during your trip to a Spanish speaking country.
Slang words and phrases are like the inside jokes of any foreign language you are trying to learn. Once you get them, belonging to that particular group gets easier. So… do you want to sound comme un natif (like a native)? Well then, French slang is the way to go!
Just as full of fun slang words as English, Spanish or French, German is rocking this top with just three slang words that I always hear during my trips to Berlin. Especially when I’m hanging out with younger people.
We already talked about 20 Italian expressions Italians love a while ago, so here are some of the most popular ones:
Brazilians are probably of the most creative people when it comes to slang, so here are some of the most popular Brazilian Portuguese slang words:
You studied the Japanese alphabet, the Japanese numbers and learned basic Japanese with Mondly. Still, there are five more slang words you’ll need to know before your first trip to Japan.
Do you want to put some dank context around those foreign slang words and shook your squad from abroad? Well, this is your lucky day! Because with Mondly, the fastest way to speak new languages, you’ll speak any language from day 1. It’s fun, easy and effective!
Want more? With Mondly, you’ll get more every day! Quick Daily Lessons. 5 minutes a day. It’s so fun, you’ll become addicted. The best part? You’ll speak like your native fam in no time! Yaas!
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Here are some tips and tricks to help you improve your spoken English in a fun, fast and easy way!
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