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.

Browse slang by category

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

Browse slang by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Latest slang terms

A native of South Shields. Two theories run side by side: one credits the town's long sandy beaches, the other points to the early-1900s music-hall act Wilson, Keppel and Betty, whose Sand Dance was a national hit. Either way, Shields folk own it.

A rich, thick soup made with ground provisions, split peas, and meat, a hearty one-pot meal. Also 'sancoch'.

Old-school Chicano Caló name for San Antonio. The origin is darker than it sounds — back in the 40s through 60s, 'San Quilmas' was discreet street code for the Bexar County Jail (modeled after San Quentin). Saying someone was 'in San Quilmas' meant locked up. The name eventually escaped the jailhouse and got applied to the whole city.

The shorthand locals — especially in the Chicano community — use for San Antonio. Quicker, warmer, and more in-group than 'San Antone' (which reads more country/Anglo). Rolls naturally into 'puro San Anto.'

The default respectful name-suffix, roughly equivalent to Mr., Ms. or Mrs., used in most polite everyday interactions between adults.

samsonite positive

Mock 'sign' where a patient arrives with a suitcase, signalling they expect (or want) to be admitted.

A memory aid for taking a focused history: Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last oral intake, Events leading up.

A sandwich, said in the broad Chicago accent.

An older male fan, outside the typical youth demographic, who follows (usually female) idols and often spends generously. Their support can significantly boost sales.

A name-suffix expressing great respect or deference, used for people of high status, customers, deities or those one deeply admires. A step above -san.

The Salvation Army, or a Salvation Army charity shop.

A standardized reconnaissance/contact report format spelling out Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, and Equipment — the six data points to pass when reporting an enemy sighting.

You lose, you're salty, you immediately run it back — same characters, same stage, no breaks, just to prove that result was a fluke. Whether it's a money match or a casual set, the salty runback is a scene tradition.

Coarse or profane language, the kind picked up over years at sea or in the ranks.

salt pepper ketchup

The rapid-fire condiment instruction tacked onto a bacon egg and cheese order at a NYC deli.

The scam version. He poses as a sugar daddy, gets the date, gets the sex, then disappears before the envelope changes hands, or hands over half what he promised. Often broke, sometimes married, sometimes just enjoys the power play. The bowl's number one warning to new babies: screen for salts.

Out of money, out of luck, or having come up empty.

A commotion or blow-up where people scatter; also used as 'get out of here!'. Literally 'salt outside'.

salmon and trout

Tobacco — rhyming with 'snout', which is itself old prison slang for baccy. Heard most in nick (jail) contexts and old-school East End talk. Clipped to 'salmon' once everyone knows the score.

An affirmation meaning 'okay' or 'let's do it'; often 'sale y vale'.

A humorous, mildly insulting term for someone overweight.

Sequences where the animation quality spikes dramatically — fluid, detailed and expensive — usually reserved for climactic action or emotional beats. Fans track and celebrate these moments.

The illicit practice of inflating a song's chart position by mass-purchasing or bulk-streaming it. A serious accusation in the industry.

The Welsh word for an English person — specifically a man. Saesnes is the female form, Saeson the plural, Saesneg the English language. Can be neutral description or pointed depending entirely on tone and who's saying it.