English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Slang Dictionary — Modern Slang, Decoded

What does that word actually mean? Our slang dictionary explains modern slang clearly — Gen Z, internet, British and street slang — with real definitions, examples and where each term came from.

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Gen Z Slangrizz, delulu, slay Internet Slangbrainrot, based, mid British Slangpeng, bare, peak AAVEbussin, finna, cap

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Latest slang terms

A blade — the tool used for wetting (stabbing). Reverse-derived from the verb. Common in London drill bars where weapons get rebadged with their function.

A neoprene suit worn to stay warm in cold water, often just called 'rubber', sometimes paired with a hood and booties.

Drinks — most often a brew of tea or coffee, but can stretch to any beverage. Royal Navy and Royal Marines slang above all; if someone offers to 'do the wets' they're making the brews. A single 'wet' is one cup.

wetin dey happen

A common greeting or check-in question asking what's currently going on, similar to English "what's up."

The standard Pidgin word for "what," used to ask questions or express confusion or surprise on its own.

To 'wet' or 'wet up' someone is to stab them so they bleed. A 'wetter' can mean a knife.

The first question any Memphis rib joint asks you. 'Wet' = mopped or glazed in BBQ sauce. 'Dry' = no sauce, just the spice rub — the style Rendezvous made famous. Not optional small talk; it's the actual order.

A hairstyle slicked down with gel or oil so it looks glossy and freshly wet.

Soft, gutless, lacking backbone. Someone who folds the second anyone pushes back. The opposite of solid — a wet man isn't trusted with anything serious.

A person from West Auckland, stereotyped as rough-and-ready, into cars, rock music and a laid-back lifestyle.

west coast offense

An offensive philosophy that emphasizes high-percentage short passes under about 15 yards to control the ball and set up the run.

Describes something odd, chaotic or that has gone awry.

Lacking flavour, insipid; or, of taste, sharp and sour.

To worry, fret or get yourself in a state. Often aimed at someone winding themselves up over nothing.

A shout of pure approval, you better werk, thrown at someone performing with confidence and flair. The deliberate misspelling is the point: it marks it as scene language, not the everyday word. As both a cheer and a command, it tells the performer to give everything and keep going.

Werk is a command and a cheer at once. It means own that runway, give the performance everything, put in the labour the look deserves. The respelling carries the punch of how it's actually shouted from the sidelines. You don't walk the floor, you werk it.

From Yoruba 'wèrè' (madness/a mad person). Used both as a genuine insult questioning someone's sanity and as light banter among friends.

A quintessentially Puerto Rican shout of excitement, joy, or approval, thrown out at parties, celebrations, or any good moment. It works like an all-purpose 'woohoo!' or 'let's go!'

A girl or young woman; in the Black Country it is an affectionate, non-derogatory address.

Slang question asking when a coin's price will surge dramatically ("go to the moon"), used to express excitement or to mock a fixation on quick gains.

Ironic phrase asking when crypto gains will be big enough to afford a Lamborghini, used to mock investors fixated purely on getting rich quick.

A meme spelling of 'when', used to impatiently ask about a future event like a listing, airdrop or price rise.

A welsher (welcher) is someone who reneges on a debt or gambling bet; in some cant it also tags a quitter or informer.

well, i'll be a monkey's uncle

Used to convey great surprise or disbelief.