UK/British Slang and Street Words for Dummies

baarkmann

Britain and England in general has seen a rise in colloquialism and borrowed words from various ethnic communities all over the world. Most notably is the Jamaican diaspora and Caribbean Africans that immigrated to England and major English cities in the 1950s and 60s.

Since then Jamaican and Caribbean people have influenced the popular music, fashion, food and culture of England. More importantly language has been assimilated into British slang, many cities in England such as London have a large Jamaican and African community. It's been found that the "cockney" and "eastend" accents are dying out and becoming what is now known as multi-cultural English.

This is is a dictionary for that...

1. Bun de Pagans

Literally means "fuck the haters". It comes from the Jamaican patois word "bun" which is derived from burn.

"Pagan" is a common word Jamaicans use to refer to unbelievers or anti-christian or atheists. But in it's colloquial sense it's used to refer to people against you or that dislike you.

It became a thing more recently in London.


2. Battyman/Battyboy

UK/British Slang and Street Words for Dummies

Battyman refers to a homosexual or bisexual man. The term comes from Jamaica and is derived from the patios word "batty" which is Jamaican for bottom or anus.

As you can see, it's obvious why it gets it's name from it.

4. Breadrin/bredda

Breadrin is a common name for friend or someone who is your pal.

5. Man

Man is used to describe oneself or to put yourself in a sentence, for e.g.

"Man need I eat"

Basically say's I'm hungry and need to eat.


6. Blud/Blood

UK/British Slang and Street Words for Dummies

This one really isn't from Jamaican language in a sense. I believe it came from America. Where there was blood and crips and gangs, you can dispute that if you want.

But it seems to be quite popular over here, especially in the poorer, more gang parts of London.

People say it in a friendly way, usually to a friend or some wannabe gangster like themselves.

7. Fam

Another one which I'm sure also came from America. This word may not be as popular in the States anymore.

But it's very popular in the U.K. People like using it every sentence and finish it at the end of every sentence, usually to a friend or someone they are talking to.

8. Bait

UK/British Slang and Street Words for Dummies

This one is not really Jamaican but I'll say it anyway. It refers to when once has done or said something that puts someone at risk or given something away.

If you didn't want someone to find something out, it's like a fish bait; you given away the bait to the fish.

9. Bruv

This one's more common in London than anywhere else. It's basically an English version of "Bro".


10. Geezer

My favourite of all, this one's a native English one and refers to a guy or acquaintance or someone you barely know.


11. Bud

Most yanks know it as "weed" "kush" or "marijuana". We prefer to call it bud or by it's proper scientific latin name, cannabis.

12. Bear/Bare/Ber

UK/British Slang and Street Words for Dummies

Americans will get confused by this one as they think we are referring to a actual bear.

When we say bare, we mean as in "a lot of", it's derived from Jamaican English and it's used to put a emphasis on something or say you had a lot of or quantity in something.

"I had Bare Girls last night, Gal dem love me"

UK/British Slang and Street Words for Dummies
9 Opinion