Welcome, ESL learners, to our guide on American slang words in 2024! If you’ve ever felt confused when hearing Americans talk casually, you’re not alone. In this blog post, we’ll break down over 100 common slang words and phrases used in the USA, making it easier for you to understand and communicate with native speakers. Let’s dive in!
American Slang Words List and Meaning
1) BAIL
Meaning: To leave abruptly.
I decided to bail when the party got boring.
2) BALLPARK
Meaning: Estimate within a certain range.
His estimate was in the right ballpark.
3) BANG FOR THE BUCK
Meaning: Value for the money spent.
You’ll get more bang for your buck with this deal.
4) BINGE-WATCH
Meaning: Watch many episodes in succession.
We’re going to binge-watch the entire series this weekend.
5) BLOW OFF STEAM
Meaning: Release pent-up energy or anger.
She went running to blow off steam.
6) BOUGIE
Meaning: Aspirational to the wealthy lifestyle.
That designer dress is a bit too bougie for my taste.
7) BREAK THE ICE
Meaning: Start a conversation in awkward situations.
Let’s play a game to break the ice.
8) BUCK
Meaning: One dollar.
Can you lend me a buck for the vending machine?
9) BUDDY
Meaning: Friend.
Hey buddy, long time no see!
10) BUMMER
Meaning: Disappointing or upsetting situation.
Losing my keys was a real bummer.
11) BUZZ
Meaning: Mild state of intoxication.
I just want a slight buzz tonight, nothing heavy.
12) BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH
Meaning: Barely succeeding.
He passed the exam by the skin of his teeth.
13) CATCH SOME Z’S
Meaning: Go to sleep.
I need to catch some Z’s before the big meeting.
14) CHILL
Meaning: Relax.
Let’s just chill at home tonight.
15) CHILLAX
Meaning: Chill and relax.
I’m going to chillax this weekend.
16) CHIT-CHAT
Meaning: Small, casual conversation.
We had a bit of chit-chat before the meeting.
17) CRASH
Meaning: Go to sleep unexpectedly or suddenly.
I was so tired I just crashed on the couch.
18) CRAM
Meaning: Study intensively over a short time.
I need to cram for my final exam tomorrow.
19) CREEP
Meaning: Weird or disturbing person.
That guy at the corner is a total creep.
20) CRUSH
Meaning: Intense infatuation.
I have a huge crush on my neighbor.
21) CUPPA
Meaning: Cup of coffee.
Let’s grab a cuppa and talk.
22) DEADBEAT
Meaning: Someone who avoids responsibilities.
He’s been a deadbeat since he lost his job.
23) DIBS
Meaning: Claim to something.
I call dibs on the front seat!
24) DIG
Meaning: To like, understand.
I really dig this new song.
25) DIME A DOZEN
Meaning: Common and easy to get.
These souvenirs are a dime a dozen.
26) DIRT CHEAP
Meaning: Very inexpensive.
I found these shoes dirt cheap at the sale.
27) DOWN TO EARTH
Meaning: Practical, realistic.
She’s very down to earth, not pretentious at all.
28) DUDE
Meaning: A guy, man.
What’s up, dude?
29) EPIC
Meaning: Remarkable, outstanding.
That stunt was absolutely epic!
30) FIRED UP
Meaning: Excited, enthusiastic.
He’s all fired up for the competition.
31) FLICK
Meaning: A movie.
We watched an old flick last night.
32) FLUKE
Meaning: Accidental success.
Winning the lottery was a total fluke.
33) FOR REAL
Meaning: Seriously.
Are you for real?
34) FREAK OUT
Meaning: To become very upset.
She’s going to freak out when she hears the news.
35) FREEBIE
Meaning: Something given for free.
They gave me a freebie with my purchase.
36) GHOST
Meaning: To suddenly cut communication.
I’m going to ghost him; he’s too clingy.
37) GIG
Meaning: A job, often temporary.
She got a new gig downtown.
38) GO BANANAS
Meaning: Become extremely excited or crazy.
The kids will go bananas over these toys.
39) GOOF
Meaning: Mistake, error.
I made a minor goof in the report.
40) GRUB
Meaning: Food.
Let’s grab some grub before the movie.
41) GUILTY PLEASURE
Meaning: Enjoyable but not typically admired.
Watching reality shows is my guilty pleasure.
42) HANG OUT
Meaning: Spend time casually.
We should hang out sometime.
43) HANGRY
Meaning: Angry because of hunger.
I’m so hangry, I need to eat now.
44) HARD PASS
Meaning: Definite refusal.
That idea is a hard pass for me.
45) HEADS UP
Meaning: Advance warning.
Just a heads up, we’re moving the meeting time.
46) HEART-TO-HEART
Meaning: Sincere, deep conversation.
We had a real heart-to-heart talk last night.
47) HIT THE HAY
Meaning: Go to bed.
I’m going to hit the hay early tonight.
48) HYPED
Meaning: Very excited.
I’m so hyped for the concert!
49) ICKY
Meaning: Unpleasant, disgusting.
This fish smells kind of icky.
50) JACKED
Meaning: Very strong or muscular.
After the gym, he looks really jacked.
51) JAM
Meaning: A favorite song.
This song is my jam!
52) JERK
Meaning: An unpleasant person.
Stop being such a jerk.
53) JONESING
Meaning: Craving intensely.
I’m jonesing for some chocolate.
54) KICK BACK
Meaning: Relax, take it easy.
Let’s kick back this weekend.
55) KILLER
Meaning: Fantastic, awesome.
That performance was killer!
56) KNOCK
Meaning: Criticize.
Why do you always have to knock my ideas?
57) KUDOS
Meaning: Praise, accolades.
He deserves some kudos for his hard work.
58) LEGIT
Meaning: Authentic, real.
This is a legit antique.
59) LEMON
Meaning: Defective car.
I got stuck with a lemon of a car.
60) LIT
Meaning: Exciting, fun.
The party was absolutely lit.
61) LOONY
Meaning: Crazy, insane.
That movie was completely loony.
62) LOUNGE
Meaning: Relax, recline.
We’re just going to lounge around today.
63) LOW KEY
Meaning: Understated, restrained.
I prefer a low-key celebration.
64) MACKED
Meaning: Dressed very stylishly.
She was all macked out for the party.
65) MICKEY MOUSE
Meaning: Unimportant, trivial.
This assignment is so Mickey Mouse.
66) MOOCH
Meaning: Borrow without intending to return.
Don’t mooch off my snacks.
67) MOOLAH
Meaning: Money.
I need to make some more moolah.
68) NAILED IT
Meaning: Did something perfectly.
You nailed it with that presentation!
69) NERD
Meaning: Intellectually obsessed person.
He’s such a nerd for comic books.
70) NIX
Meaning: Cancel or forbid.
Let’s nix that idea.
71) NO-BRAINER
Meaning: Easy decision.
Choosing pizza for dinner is a no-brainer.
72) NUTS
Meaning: Crazy, insane.
You’re acting completely nuts!
73) ODDBALL
Meaning: Strange person.
He’s a bit of an oddball, but nice.
74) ON THE FENCE
Meaning: Undecided.
I’m still on the fence about moving.
75) OUT OF THE BLUE
Meaning: Unexpectedly.
It happened out of the blue.
76) OUT OF WHACK
Meaning: Not functioning properly.
My phone is totally out of whack.
77) PAD
Meaning: Home, apartment.
Welcome to my pad!
78) PEEP
Meaning: Look, glance.
Let’s have a quick peep at the new store.
79) PEEVED
Meaning: Annoyed, irritated.
I’m peeved about missing my favorite show.
80) PHONY
Meaning: Fake, not genuine.
That knockoff bag looks phony.
81) PIECE OF CAKE
Meaning: Very easy.
This puzzle is a piece of cake.
82) PIG OUT
Meaning: Eat a lot.
I’m going to pig out on pizza tonight.
83) PIT STOP
Meaning: Short break during a journey.
Let’s make a quick pit stop at the store.
84) PLASTERED
Meaning: Extremely drunk.
He was plastered at the party.
85) PLAY IT BY EAR
Meaning: Improvise, go with the flow.
We’ll just play it by ear.
86) PUMPED
Meaning: Very excited, enthusiastic.
I’m really pumped for the game.
87) PUSHING UP DAISIES
Meaning: Dead.
Old Mr. Henderson is pushing up daisies now.
88) RAIN CHECK
Meaning: Postpone a plan.
Can I take a rain check on dinner?
89) RIPPED
Meaning: Having well-defined muscles.
He’s totally ripped after all that training.
90) ROCK
Meaning: To wear something confidently.
She can really rock a red dress.
91) ROOKIE
Meaning: Beginner, newcomer.
He’s just a rookie on the field.
92) SAVAGE
Meaning: Ruthless, fierce.
Her response was absolutely savage.
93) SCAM
Meaning: Deceptive scheme or trick.
That email sounds like a scam.
94) SCREW UP
Meaning: Make a mistake.
I really screwed up the order.
95) SHADY
Meaning: Suspicious or dubious.
Something about this deal feels shady.
96) SHOOT THE BREEZE
Meaning: Casual conversation.
Let’s just shoot the breeze for a while.
97) SHOWBOAT
Meaning: Brag, show off.
Don’t showboat just because you won.
98) SICK
Meaning: Cool, impressive.
That skate trick was sick!
99) SLACKER
Meaning: Someone who avoids work.
He’s such a slacker at work.
100) SLAY
Meaning: Do something very well.
She absolutely slayed her performance.
101) SNOOZE
Meaning: Nap, short sleep.
I might just snooze for a bit.
102) SPACE OUT
Meaning: Become distracted, and unfocused.
I tend to space out during meetings.
103) SPILL THE BEANS
Meaning: Reveal a secret.
Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party!
104) SQUAD
Meaning: Close group of friends.
We’re going out with the squad tonight.
105) STOKED
Meaning: Very excited.
I’m so stoked about our trip!
106) STRAIGHT UP
Meaning: Honestly, truly.
I’m telling you, straight up, it’s true.
107) SUCK UP
Meaning: Flatter someone excessively.
He’s just a suck-up to the boss.
108) TAKE A HIKE
Meaning: Go away, leave.
If you’re angry, why don’t you take a hike?
109) THROW SHADE
Meaning: Disrespectfully criticize or gossip.
Did you hear her throwing shade at the meeting?
110) TIGHT
Meaning: Very good, excellent.
That new phone is really tight.
111) TOSS UP
Meaning: Decision that’s hard to make.
Choosing a dessert is a real toss-up.
112) TRIPPIN’
Meaning: Overreacting or being irrational.
You’re trippin’ if you think that’s a good idea.
113) TUNE OUT
Meaning: Stop listening or paying attention.
Sometimes, I just tune out during lectures.
114) TURN UP
Meaning: To party or celebrate.
Let’s turn up for my birthday!
115) VEG OUT
Meaning: Relax, do nothing.
I’m going to veg out this weekend.
116) WANNABE
Meaning: Poser, imitator.
She’s just a wannabe influencer.
117) WHACK
Meaning: Crazy, not good.
That plan sounds totally whack.
118) WING IT
Meaning: Improvise, act without planning.
I’m just going to wing it in the interview.
119) WOKE
Meaning: Socially and politically aware.
He’s very woke about social issues.
120) YAP
Meaning: Talk a lot, chatter.
She can yap for hours about her vacation.
121) YO
Meaning: Hello, hi.
Yo, did you see that shot?
122) ZILCH
Meaning: Nothing, zero.
I’ve got zilch left in my bank account.
123) ZONKED
Meaning: Exhausted, very tired.
After the hike, I was completely zonked.
124) ZIP
Meaning: Energy, vigor.
He’s got so much zip in the mornings.
125) ZONK OUT
Meaning: Fall asleep quickly.
I’ll probably just zonk out as soon as I hit the bed.
126) CHILL PILL
Meaning: Relaxation, calming down.
You need to take a chill pill and relax.
127) GHOSTED
Meaning: Someone who suddenly stops communicating.
I was completely ghosted after our date.
128) FLEX
Meaning: To show off.
He loves to flex his new car.
129) SALTY
Meaning: Bitter, upset.
Why are you so salty about the game?
130) SICK
Meaning: Extremely cool, awesome.
That trick was sick!
131) SNACK
Meaning: Attractive person.
Did you see her? She’s a total snack.
132) SPICY
Meaning: Exciting, lively.
The party last night was spicy!
133) SWOLE
Meaning: Extremely muscular.
After the gym, he’s looking really swole.
134) VIBE
Meaning: Atmosphere, mood.
The vibe at the café is so cozy.
135) YEET
Meaning: To throw something.
I’m going to yeet this ball across the yard.
136) LOWBALL
Meaning: Underestimate, offer a lower value.
They always lowball their initial offers.
137) FLEX
Meaning: Show off something proudly.
He did a total flex with his graduation speech.
138) GLOW UP
Meaning: Dramatic improvement in appearance.
She had an amazing glow-up over the summer.
139) GO-GETTER
Meaning: Ambitious, proactive person.
He’s a real go-getter in his career.
140) HUSTLE
Meaning: Work hard, ambitious effort.
She’s always on the hustle for new opportunities.
141) IFFY
Meaning: Uncertain, questionable.
The outcome of the game is still iffy.
142) JANKY
Meaning: Of poor quality, unreliable.
That car looks kind of janky.
143) JUICED
Meaning: Excited, thrilled.
I’m juiced for the concert tonight.
144) KICK ROCKS
Meaning: Go away, leave.
If you don’t like it, you can kick rocks.
145) LIT
Meaning: Exciting, amazing.
The DJ last night was lit!
146) MEME
Meaning: Viral internet concept or joke.
That meme you sent was hilarious.
147) NOOB
Meaning: Beginner, inexperienced.
He’s a total noob at this game.
148) OG
Meaning: Original, respected elder.
He’s the OG of street art here.
149) PREGAME
Meaning: Activities before an event.
Let’s do a little pregame before the concert.
150) SHOOK
Meaning: Shocked, surprised.
I was completely shook by the news.
You may like to learn: Different ways to say I LOVE YOU
Download PDF
You can Download PDF of American Slang words list with meanings.
