100 Most Common Slang Words for Everyday Situations

Imagine you’re watching an exciting new movie with your friends and one of the actors says, “That party last night was lit!”

You’re not sure what “lit” means – was there a fire? And why did he sound so excited?

Lit, in this case, means really good. The character was using a slang word to describe the party he went to.

While they might sound strange, these words are very informal language that people of the same group use to communicate. And when you know these words, you become part of the group, too!

They’re important to learn so that you can understand native speakers in movies, music, conversations, and many other settings.

There are thousands of common slang words in the English language, which can be confusing if you don’t understand them or the context they’re used in.

Even if you wouldn’t personally choose to use them in your everyday conversations, learning it, and learning to speak confidently using slang, is a hallmark of sounding fluent.

Today, I’ll teach you about English, and particularly American slang, words – what they are, when to use them, and when not to use them.

I’ve also listed 100 examples of the most common words that you can use to practice speaking English.

What Are Slang Words?

Slang words are informal words or phrases that are used in certain social settings or by certain groups of people – you can find them used nearly anywhere!

For example, someone may have told you to “keep your cool” during an important meeting.

Slang differs from usual English speaking significantly and breaks a lot of English-speaking rules. It’s also constantly changing and evolving – these words drop out of fashion and new words become slang every year.

At face value, many slang words and phrases don’t make sense, because part of their function is to create an in-group (like some teenagers) and an out-group (like their parents and teachers) who don’t understand the language. But with the right context, they can be a powerful tool to express yourself.

Using these words effectively can help you become a more fluent and confident speaker.

When Is It Okay to Use Slang Words?

Using slang correctly requires that you understand the context it is appropriate for. Using these idioms may be appropriate for the following scenarios:

• Informal situations with friends or family.
• Online communications, such as text messages and social media posts.
• Creative writing.

There are some situations where it is not appropriate to use these words. These can include interactions with people you don’t know, during business meetings or job interviews, or when you’re not sure of the meaning of certain words.

In general, pay attention to what people are saying to know if they are appropriate or not.

But the best way to learn them is to listen to many native speakers using them in different situations – a process I call Naturally Varied Review.

The Most Common American Slang Words

To help you understand slang and the situations in which using it may be appropriate, I’ve put together a list of 100 common words and the context in which you generally use them.

1. Casual Conversations
2. Everyday Life
3. Socializing and Partying
4. Expressions of Surprise/Disbelief
5. Positive Reactions
6. Negative Reactions
7. Expressions of Agreement
8. Expressions of Disagreement
9. Expressions of Excitement
10. Expressions of Frustration/Irritation

Casual Conversations

A casual conversation is different from a formal or professional conversation. It generally happens with a friend or someone you know well and can take place in many different situations such as at a restaurant, bar, or sports event.

Here are some common slang words you’ll hear in casual conversation:

1. Dude

“Hey, dude! How have you been?”

The slang word dude most typically refers to a man, but in some cases can also refer to a woman. You may hear this word used as a greeting when two familiar people are happy to see each other.

2. Bro

“Bro, you should have been there! We had a great time!”

Similar to dude, the slang term bro refers to a male friend. It is also a short form for brother. It’s a casual term that is typically used in informal settings.

Bro can also be used as a form of address. For example, you may hear someone say “Those frat guys are just a bunch of bros,” which points to young men who are especially social and may enjoy unintellectual pursuits.

Depending on the context, the term bro can have positive or negative connotations.

3. Chill

“Wow, she’s so chill.”

We’re not talking about temperature here. In this case, chill is used to refer to someone calm and collected in their demeanor. The speaker may be referring to her in this way because she is very relaxed and not easily upset.

4. Cool

“Cool, thanks for letting me know.”

This slang term can be used in several ways. In the example above, it’s used as a way to say “good” or “excellent.” Alternatively, cool can be used in a sarcastic tone, in the same way as someone might say “greaaaat” and roll their eyes at a less-than-ideal situation.

5. Awesome

“You got an A+ on your test? That’s awesome!”

Awesome can be used as a way to describe something that inspired awe or great admiration, apprehension, or fear. In this example, the test may have been incredibly difficult, and receiving an A+ is very impressive.

6. Sweet

“That Tesla is so sweet, dude!”

I promise you, that Tesla car does not taste sweet! The slang term sweet is used to describe something that is great, awesome, or cool. A brand-new Tesla with all of the fancy upgraded features is very, very sweet.

7. No worries

“You won’t make it to dinner on time? No worries!”

Similar to saying “It’s not a problem” or “Don’t worry about it.” “No worries” is a slang way of telling someone not to worry, but in a short, casual way.

8. Hang out

“Want to hang out with me?”

If you want to spend some quality time with someone, you can ask them to hang out with you. Imagine hanging with someone like a bunch of bananas in a tree.

9. Catch up

“Let’s catch up sometime!”

Catching up with someone means spending time together talking. Typically, people catch up while having coffee or a bite to eat.

The idea of this phrasal verb comes from racing, where you might be behind another runner. So you need to run faster to catch up with them. In the same way, if you haven’t seen someone for a while, you two are behind on the other’s life. So you need to catch up by talking and reach the present.

10. What’s up?

“Hey man, good to see you. What’s up?”

This phrase is used as a casual greeting. What’s up is a slang way to ask someone “How are you?”

You’re not literally asking what is above the person you’re speaking to. You’re inquiring about what’s happening in their life or how they’re feeling at that moment.

Everyday Life

Everyday life situations are those that happen, well, every day. This might be at work, on the way to school, at the grocery store, or anywhere in between!

Here are some of the most commonly used everyday slang words:

1. ASAP

“I need this document on my desk ASAP!”

You pronounce this either ay-sap or spell it out – ay es ay pee.

ASAP is used when there is a sense of urgency. It’s a way to tell someone that you are going to either do something or something that needs to be done As Soon As Possible.

In the above example, the boss is asking for a document to be sent to them in the shortest amount of time possible.

2. Wanna

“I don’t wanna do that.”

This is a casual way to tell someone that you are not interested in doing what they’re asking you to do. This slang word combines the words “want to” together.

You’ll often hear words blended like this to make them faster and easier to say.

You might also say something like, “You wanna hang out tonight?”

3. Kinda

“That sounds kinda fun. I’ll have to check my schedule first.”

Similar to the above example, kinda comes from combining the words “kind of.”

Using kinda can indicate that you are hesitant to commit to saying “yes” when asked to do something.

In this above example, the person is not sure if they want to say yes because they may already have other plans.

4. Lame

“I can’t believe he didn’t come to the party. He’s so lame.”

Lame literally means disabled or handicapped. But in this context, lame is used as a way to describe someone or something that is boring or uncool.

In the above example, the speaker isn’t unhappy because their friend couldn’t walk, but rather because by not coming to the party, the speaker felt he was boring. 

5. Yikes

“I can’t believe she wore that… Yikes.”

Yikes is an informal expression of surprise, fear, or alarm. In this context, it’s because she wore something offensive or unappealing.

6. Bummer

“The game got rained out today so we won’t be able to go. What a bummer.”

If something doesn’t go as planned and you’re disappointed about it, you can use the slang phrase “bummer.”

In this context, the speaker is disappointed that the weather ruined the chance for them to attend a game.

7. Gotta

“Good to see you, gotta go!”

The words “have got to” are combined to create gotta. You can use gotta in any informal situation where “go to” would be appropriate. In this case, it is used as a way to say goodbye.

8. FYI

“I’ll be there on Friday, FYI.”

FYI means “for your information.” This slang is typically used over text messages or chat. It is used in personal and business correspondence to show that information is being shared and that no immediate action is required or expected.

9. Outta

“I can’t stay here any longer. I’m outta here.”

Outta is a quick way to say “out of.” This slang abbreviation can be used online, in text messages, or in person.

In this example, the speaker doesn’t have any more time to spend at a gathering and has decided to leave.

10. Sick 

“Wow, those are sick dance moves!”

If you’re on the dance floor and someone says that you have sick dance moves, take that as a compliment! Sick in this context means that something is cool or excellent.

In this case, the speaker is complimenting someone about being a really good dancer.

Socializing and Partying

Here are some useful phrases to learn about socializing and partying, so that you can understand what all the excitement is about!

1. Party

“Get ready to party!”

A party literally refers to a gathering of people, but in this case, when someone says “get ready to party” it means we’re getting ready to have a good time.

2. Lit

“This party is lit!”

Lit is defined as meaning cool or exciting, or something that is something you would want to experience. In this case, the party is a really fun gathering.

3. Turn up

“It’s going to be a wild Friday night. Turn it up!”

In this example, we’re not looking for lost people to show up out of nowhere, we’re talking about getting wild and letting loose – turning up the volume/amount (of fun)!

4. Squad

“I’m going to the mall with my squad.”

Squad refers to a group of friends, which was historically known as a posse or crew.

So when you say that you’re doing something with your squad, it means that you and your friends are doing something together. Think of a squad of jet airplanes flying together.

5. BFF

“Emily? She’s my BFF.”

This is an informal and light-hearted way of saying “best friends forever.” You would use this phrase to describe your best friend.

6. Chillin’

“I’m just chillin’ over here.”

Here, we’re not talking about being literally chilled – we’re referring to being relaxed and stress-free.

7. Booze

“I’m ready to go to the party. Did you remember to bring the booze?”

Booze refers to alcohol, and this slang term is used in very casual settings. You would use this phrase when speaking to your friends, for example, but wouldn’t talk about booze in a formal, work situation.

8. Crash

“I’m crashing at Devin’s house tonight.”

Crashing doesn’t literally mean falling or running into objects. In this case, it means that you will stay at someone else’s house. You may also hear it as “crashing the party” which means that you have arrived uninvited.

Someone “crashes” when they’re feeling tired. So this is like falling down and going to sleep right where you are – rather than in your own bed – because you’re so tired.

9. Rager

“The party on Friday was a rager.”

Calling an event a rager (pronounced ray-jer) is a way to describe a wild party and is typically associated with having a good time. It doesn’t mean that the party was angry or mad, but that it was very energetic and a really good time.

10. Pre-game

“We’re going to pre-game at my house.”

To pre-game means to enjoy some pre-event beverages, typically alcoholic, with friends. So if you say that you’re going to pre-game, it means that you’re meeting up before the official party to have a few drinks.

This comes from sports, where you might stretch or prepare in some way before the actual “game.”

Expressions of Surprise/Disbelief

Sometimes, plain English doesn’t fully describe your feelings of surprise or disbelief. Try these slang words and phrases instead:

1. OMG

“OMG. I can’t believe that happened!”

OMG is the slang version of “Oh my God,” and is typically used when you are shocked or surprised.

2. Holy cow

“Holy cow, I can’t believe that person cut you off in traffic!”

Holy cow is a way to express extreme surprise or disbelief. In this case, the speaker is shocked that someone pulled in front of their friend while they were driving.

3. Are you serious?

“There’s no way that your boss spoke to you like that in the meeting, are you serious?”

When something happens that is so shocking that you can’t believe it you might ask, “Are you serious?”

This slang phrase is a rhetorical question, which means that you don’t actually expect an answer. In this context, the speaker is in disbelief that their friend’s boss spoke to them in such a manner during a meeting.

4. Mind-blowing

“I went to watch the new Avatar film last night. It was mind-blowing.”

The new Avatar film might have been really good but it certainly didn’t cause anyone’s head to explode.

When you say “mind-blowing” in this context, it means that something is surprising, incredible, or unexpected, like it actually caused your brain to explode.

5. Insane

“I can’t believe he didn’t show up to your date, that’s insane.”

You might refer to something as being insane if it is extremely wild or wacky. In this example, the news we received was so surprising that I thought it was insane.

Here, the speaker thinks that it is unbelievable that someone didn’t show up to their friend’s date even after making plans with them.

6. No way!

“There’s absolutely no way that I’m jumping in that lake – it’s freezing!”

If there is a 0% chance that something has occurred or will happen, you can use the slang phrase“no way” to indicate that you believe it will not be happening.

7. You’ve gotta (got to) be kidding me

“I’m about to get pulled over (by the police)! You’ve got to be kidding me…”

When something so out of the usual or unexpected happens you may hear someone use this phrase as a way to express disbelief or shock.

While “kidding” usually means to joke about something, here the speaker is shocked that they are about to get pulled over by a police officer (like because they’re driving too fast).

8. Unbelievable

“The steak is unbelievable!”

Unbelievable can help you describe a situation in which something unexpected occurred – like a steak being so delicious that it is hard to believe.

9. Can’t even (explain)

“That quiz was so hard, I can’t even…”

The abrupt ending may have you wondering what they can’t even… But this slang phrase implies that something is too amazing, frustrating, surprising, or exciting to handle. It leaves them speechless. They can’t even find the words to express how they feel.

10. Mind-boggling

“Interstellar was mind-boggling. I need to think about what I just watched.”

This slang phrase is similar to mind-blowing in that it is intellectually overwhelming and that it has boggled your mind, leaving you speechless.

Positive Reactions

Responding positively to something means that you react with excitement, enthusiasm or happiness. Here are several ways to react positively to something or someone:

1. Yasss

“We’re going out tonight, yasss!”

This slang word is used as a way to express excitement and celebration. It’s a slight variation on the word “yes,” which is a term of agreement.

2. Sick 

“I couldn’t believe how good the concert last night was – it was sick!”

Sick, in this context, doesn’t mean that someone is ill or doesn’t feel well. Rather, it’s used as a way to express excitement or enjoyment. In the above example, the speaker said the concert was sick because she really enjoyed it.

3. Hella

“That pizza was hella good.”

Hella is used as a way to describe something as very or extremely. In this case, the pizza was extremely, or hella, good.

4. Legit 

“I promise we’ll be back before 10 pm. Legit.”

Legit is the short form of legitimate. It can be used informally as a way to confirm something as being true.

Here, the speaker is confirming that their promise is legitimate and that they’ll be back home at the agreed-upon time.

5. (On) Fire

“That concert was fire.”

This doesn’t literally mean that the concert was set ablaze. Rather, fire is another way to describe something as amazing or excellent. It is particularly popular among the younger generation.

6. On point

“His outfit is on point.”

This slang phrase is used to describe something as being perfect, great, or awesome. If your outfit is on point, you may also be called very stylish.

7. Dope

“Those shoes are dope.”

Dope translates to describing something as being awesome or amazing. You can use dope in many different contexts, but it’s always associated with being extremely positive.

8. Killer

“That lecture he gave was killer.”

Killer is used as a way to describe something as great or impressive. So if the lecture is killer, it doesn’t mean that it was in any way deadly or harmful, but that it was delivered with a lot of skill.

9. Baller

“He’s the CEO now. He’s such a baller.”

Describing someone as a baller means that they are a very successful person. Anyone who is a baller is also extremely wealthy or has a lot of money at that time, like a professional athlete.

10. Crushing it

“Tammy is crushing it at her new job!”

This means that someone is doing exceptionally well. Tammy, in this example, is excelling in her new role, and so she’s crushing it.

Negative Reactions

If something negative happens and you want to try a different way of reacting, try these responses:

1. Cringy

“Did you see her video? It’s so cringy.”

If something is cringy, that means it’s embarrassing or uncool. In this case, the video that the speaker is describing wasn’t particularly well made.

2. Meh

“Meh, I thought the meal was okay.”

Meh is used to show that you’re not particularly interested in someone or something. It is unimpressive or mediocre.

In this case, if you’re at a restaurant and the food isn’t up to your standards, you might say meh to describe it.

3. Facepalm

“Can you believe what was said in the family group chat? Total facepalm.”

Facepalm is usually expressed via emoji or written as #facepalm in text or social media. It literally refers to putting your face in the palm of your hand, as an expression of frustration.

4. Fail 

“I thought he had prepared for that gig, but honestly, it was a huge fail.”

If a project goes terribly, you could call it a “total fail”, meaning that it was a failure. In this context, the person didn’t prepare adequately for their show, and it ended up being a disaster.

5. Ugh

“Ugh, I am so annoyed that my boss didn’t let me have this weekend off.”

This is an interjection used to show that you are annoyed or upset about something. It’s understandable that you would use ugh to show that you’re annoyed that you couldn’t get time off to spend the weekend with your friends.

6. Faceplant

“I watched him try to grind that rail, but he face-planted straight into the ground.”

Faceplant literally means to fall flat on your face. This is used as a way to express an embarrassing failure. This term was originally used by snowboarders and skateboarders when they would not execute a trick properly.

7. Lousy

“The weather is lousy today.”

Lousy is used as a way to describe something rotten or awful, not that you are infested with lice. So if the weather is lousy, it means that it is less likely rainy or windy – conditions that are less than desirable.

8. Buzzkill

“I really don’t want to hang out with Mark anymore. He’s such a buzzkill.”

A “buzz” is a good sensation you get, like when you’re feeling positive, or had a bit of alcohol. So when someone, or something, ruins the fun of a particular situation, they could be called a buzzkill. Another way of thinking about it is something that takes the spirit out of a situation.

In this case, Mark is a buzzkill because he takes the fun out of every interaction he has with the speaker. He killed the buzz.

9. Flop

“I pitched my idea to my manager about a new product, but it was a complete flop.”

If something doesn’t go as planned, you might call it a flop. You can imagine something simply falling to the ground and laying there without any movement, or when you jump into a pool and do a painful belly flop instead of a graceful dive.

Movies that perform poorly are often referred to as flops.

10. Bleak

“I was so bleak that I got sick right before the dance – there’s no way I could have made it.”

Bleak literally means that a piece of land is barren – nothing grows there. But when used as a slang word, it means that something is not hopeful or encouraging. So if you are unable to make it to dance before you’re sick, you might feel bleak about it.

Expressions of Agreement

There are many different ways to agree with someone other than saying “I agree.” Try these slang words and phrases instead:

1. Absolutely

“I absolutely agree.”

This is another way to say that you are in 100% agreement – it’s a forceful way of saying “yes.”

When your boss says “It’s time to take a lunch break”, and you are very hungry, you might say, “Yes, I absolutely agree.”

2. For sure

“I thought for sure he was going to be at the restaurant.”

When someone uses for sure, they are using an informal way of saying “definitely” or “without a doubt.” In this case, the speaker was certain that he would be at the restaurant.

3. Totally

“Tina, that car is totally awesome!”

Tina’s car is very cool looking – maybe it has a sunroof and is painted bright pink! Using totally can emphasize how awesome it is.

4. You bet

“Will I be at the party later? You bet!”

You bet is another way to say “certainly” or to emphasize a statement.

When someone asks if you’ll be attending an exciting social event, and you want to emphasize how excited you are, you can say “You bet!”

5. No doubt

“There’s no doubt about it!”

No doubt is used when you think something is likely true. You are emphasizing that something seems certain.

Imagine being on a hike in an area with a lot of birds. If someone were to ask you whether you’ll see birds during a hike, you can respond by saying “Yes! There’s no doubt about it!”

6. Definitely

“Definitely! I’d love to go to the movies with you!”

The word definitely can be used in speech as a forceful way of agreeing or saying “yes.”

If someone you’re interested in dating asks you to go on a date to the movies, you can say “Definitely!” as a way to say yes and express your excitement.

7. 100%

“100%! I will get it done!”

This slang is used when you are referring to something as being completely or entirely true. Here’s an example:

Boss: “Are you going to be able to finish this project by Friday?”

Employee: “100%! We will get it done!”

In this example, a boss has asked an employee whether or not he will be able to complete a project by the Friday deadline. The employee is completely certain that he will be able to complete it, and that it will be 100% done.

8. I’m with you

“I’m with you, 100%.”

This is an informal way to express support.

A: “Ugh, why did we have to leave the house so darn early for work?” 

B: “Hey, I’m with you—I’d rather sleep in.”

A: “Me too. If it weren’t for the traffic, we could leave the house later.”

Few people enjoy waking up early in the morning to head to work, and Person B is showing support for Person A’s frustration, as indicated by their use of “Ugh.”

9. You nailed it

“That report was great. You nailed it.”

You nailed it can be used to express that someone did a great job or successfully did something. In this case, someone presented a report that went above and beyond the speaker’s expectations – they nailed it!

10. Couldn’t agree more

“I couldn’t agree more, we need to hire another manager.”

There may be too much work for the current managers in the office, and they need another one to share the workload. The speaker is indicating that they completely agree – they need another manager to help them.

Expressions of Disagreement

Disagreement is inevitable, but your English doesn’t have to be boring or plain. There are several different slang expressions you can use to get your point across – read them below.

1. Nah

“Nah, let’s do something different.”

Imagine you’re planning a trip with some friends, and one suggests an outing you’re not interested in doing – like kayaking. You might say “Nah” to express that you disagree with their suggestion and would rather do something else.

This is just a more relaxed way of saying “no.”

2. Not really

Server: “Did you enjoy dinner tonight?”

Guest: “If I’m being honest… No, not really. The steak was a little overcooked and my salad had too much dressing on it.”

If you’ve asked for a medium rare steak and it arrives on your plate well done, there’s a good chance you’ll be a little disappointed. The guest could have said no in a rude way, but in this case, the guest used a less forceful and indirect way of saying no.

3. I’m not so sure

“I’m not so sure I understand your question.”

This phrase is used to indicate uncertainty in something, the opposite of the phrase “for sure.” If someone has asked you a question, and you’re unsure of what they’re actually asking you, you can reply by telling them you are not so sure you understand.

4. I beg to differ

“I understand that you’re the CEO, but I beg to differ. I think you’re downplaying the severity of the situation. We need another plan of action for this problem.”

I beg to differ can be used as a way to disagree. In this example, the employee is respectfully disagreeing with the decision they have made and is suggesting that there needs to be another solution.

5. I see your point, but…

“I see your point, but I think we should go with the first plan.”

If a coworker presents a plan of action to increase sales revenue, but you think your original plan was more likely to be successful, you might use this phrase. You understand the point the speaker is making but want to present an alternative thought.

6. I’m on the fence

“I can’t choose, I’m on the fence about it.”

When given two choices, it can be hard to decide between them! For example, a student might say “I’m on the fence about going to graduate school” because they are unsure if that is the right decision for them.

Imagine sitting on a fence between two yards. You have to choose one side to get down in, but you can’t.

7. I’m not buying it

“That can’t be true, I’m not buying it.”

When you’re in the market to buy a used car, you may hear a salesman say something so unbelievable that it can’t be true!

If he told you that a used Honda Civic will get 50 miles to the gallon, you might respond with: “There’s no way it gets 50 miles to the gallon! That can’t be true, I’m not buying it.” I’m not accepting what you’re telling me.

8. That’s debatable

“I think pineapple belongs on pizza, but that’s debatable.”

Pineapple on pizza is a hotly contested topic. Some people believe it belongs there, and others are really against it. Saying “that’s debatable” in this example means that there is no clear consensus on whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza. You can debate about it.

9. It’s not my cup of tea

“I don’t really like reality TV, it’s not my cup of tea.”

Sometimes being blunt isn’t necessary, but you still want to explain that you don’t like something.

This phrase originated in the 17th century when having a cup of tea was a social activity. If someone didn’t like the taste of tea, they would state that it wasn’t their “cup of tea.”

10. I respectfully disagree

“You made a great point, but I respectfully disagree.”

Disagreeing with someone can always be done respectfully, especially if the relationship is important to you. During a business meeting, you can respectfully disagree with someone while maintaining respect for their opinion by saying “You made a great point, but I respectfully disagree.”

Expressions of Excitement

If you experience something that warrants extreme excitement, here are several expressions of excitement to try.

1. Woo-hoo!

“Woo-hoo! I won the game!”

Woo-hoo is a fun expression of excitement – especially if you’ve just won at bingo! While it is typically used in a positive way, it can also be used in a more sarcastic or ironic way to express disbelief or annoyance. Here’s an example of it being used in a sarcastic way: “Woo-hoo! I just got fired!”

Pro Tip: Pay attention to what native children say when they’re excited, and you’ll learn this vocabulary easily.

2. Hooray

“We made it to our destination! Hooray!”

What a relief it would be to arrive at your final destination after driving for 10 hours STRAIGHT! You might be soexcited and happy that you shout “HOORAY!” when you arrive.

3. Yahoo!

“I passed the test! Yahoo!”

Imagine you’ve just taken the final test for a very difficult class – you’re so glad to be done! What’s even better is when you get your test results, and you passed! Shout “Yahoo!” to express your excitement and triumph.

4. I’m psyched!

“Did you hear that the Offspring is in town this weekend? I’m so psyched to see them!”

Psyched most likely gets its origin from the word psychology. However, it has nothing to do with the study of human behavior, but means that someone is really excited! In this case, the person is psyched that their favorite band is coming to town!

5. Let’s do this!

“Alright team, let’s do this!”

This expression of excitement can be used to mark the beginning or initiation of something fun. A soccer coach may get the team excited to start their game by shouting “Let’s do this!” as they run excitedly into the field.

6. I can’t wait

“I can’t wait to go on vacation.”

Imagine sitting in your office cubicle, planning your next trip to an exciting destination. You’re really looking forward to that trip, you wish you could go today! So, you say to yourself “I can’t wait to go on vacation.” Use this phrase when you’re eager to get started with something.

7. Excited AF 

“This weekend is going to be so fun! I’m excited AF!”

Excited AF is short for “excited as fuck” which can be used in a variety of contexts, but remember – it isn’t appropriate to use this in professional settings and can be considered offensive by some people. Err on the side of caution if you’re unsure of who you’re speaking with.

This is typically used in social media or text messages and is used to emphasize extreme excitement. In this case, the weekend makes you excited/scared/nervous/etc. AF!

8. OMG, I’m so pumped!

“We got concert tickets! OMG, I’m so pumped.”

Pumped or pumped up is a way to illustrate that you are full of excitement. In this example, getting concert tickets to a band you really like can make you very excited, or pumped up! When OMG and I’m so pumped are used together, it becomes a really expressive way to share your excitement.

9. I’m stoked

“I’m so stoked to go to Coachella this year!”

The term stoked is one of the classic American slang words that arose out of the 1960s. It means that you are in an enthusiastic or exhilarated state – you’re really happy to be going to Coachella this year! It is not used in professional settings, such as a job interview or speaking with your boss.

10. This is gonna be epic!

“This road trip is gonna be epic!”

If you’ve planned an incredible road trip, that is full of adventure and all the things you like to do, you can describe it as “epic” like our example above. This informal phrase can be used to describe something very impressive, memorable, spectacular, or awesome.

Expressions of Frustration/Irritation

Feeling frustrated can leave you at a loss for words. Try some of these slang expressions the next time you’re feeling irritated or frustrated.

1. I’m about to lose it!

“This traffic is ridiculous! I’m about to lose it!”

When rush hour traffic is so bad, it may start to make you feel angry or upset. Rightly so, no one enjoys sitting in traffic! Someone that says this, like in our example, may be at an emotional breaking point – they may be about to yell, scream, or even cry, because of the situation they’re in.

2. This is driving me crazy!

“My computer keeps crashing. This is driving me crazy!”

When you’re working on an important report for your job, the last thing you want to happen is your computer crashing. It keeps you from getting the report done, and it makes you feel very frustrated, and maybe even a little crazy.

3. Gimme (give me) a break

“That is such a ridiculous story. Give me a break.”

If you have a friend that is known for telling stories that are largely fabricated or entirely made up, you may get frustrated hearing them.

The word “break” has several meanings, but in this context, it is used informally to express disbelief in a story being shared. Think about letting something have a break or rest, because something is too unbelievable.

4. I’m so fed up with this

“This math test was so hard. I’m so fed up with this!”

To feel fed up with something means that you’re about to give up on it because you feel so frustrated. 

When it comes to particularly difficult math tests, you may be so frustrated that you want to give up!

5. What a pain

“All Jerry does is complain about work. What a pain!”

This is a shortened version of “what a pain in my side,” indicating frustration or annoyance that you’re unable to escape. Jerry in this case complains a lot about work, and it’s begun to annoy or frustrate you, so it’s become a pain.

6. That’s so annoying

“This grocery store line is so long. That’s so annoying.”

Being in the grocery store should be an enjoyable experience – you’re buying delicious food to eat after all! But when the line to the cash register is very long, you might become annoyed at how long it takes to reach the cashier and pay for your groceries. You might say to yourself, “That’s so annoying.”

7. FML 

“I got a speeding ticket while driving home from work today. FML.”

This is an acronym that means “fuck my life,” and is typically used after someone has shared a negative story. It sounds like eff – em – ell when spoken aloud. In our example, the driver received a speeding ticket from the police on their way home from work.

This phrase is typically used in text messages and social media. If you got a speeding ticket, you might text someone to share the bad news and use the phrase FML.

8. I’m going to explode

“I’m so angry, I’m going to explode!”

You might be wondering why we use the word “explode” when we mean that we are very angry or upset. Explode literally means to burst or shatter violently. When we say “I’m going to explode”, we mean that we have so much pent-up emotion that we are about to BURST!

9. I’m done

“I’m done with this conversation. We’ll never agree on this.”

I’m done has several meanings depending on the context. It can mean that you are finished doing something, like a task, or that you are no longer interested in something, like a conversation.

In this example, two people are having a conversation about a topic that they do not agree on. The speaker is no longer interested in discussing because the two people do not agree. The conversation has become frustrating or irritating, and they are finished with it.

10. I’ve had it

“I’ve had it with this job. I’m quitting.”

When you use this phrase, you mean to say that you are very tired of something or annoyed about it and want it to end. You’ve had enough of whatever you’re annoyed by. In the example above, their job has become so frustrating that they intend to quit.

Learn Common Slang Words for Everyday Situations

New English slang words appear constantly, and learning to use them in appropriate situations can be tricky. But don’t worry about trying to learn the absolute newest words and phrases, because even natives don’t know most of these.

Even if you wouldn’t personally choose to use these phrases in your everyday conversations, it’s still important to learn them so you understand natives.

Doing this will help you enjoy more conversations and movies, and start speaking more confidently, right away.

You don’t have to do this alone, either. We can help you get the practice you need, even if you don’t have a partner to practice with.

My English fluency course is designed to help learners who know a lot of English but still lack fluency. It’s the ONLY course that teaches you English as a first language – that’s why it’s so effective.

Other English Language Learning Articles You May Be Interested In:

How to Think in English: 7 Ways to Change Your Inner Language

Foreign Language Anxiety: How to Not Get Nervous When Talking

AEP 7 – Conversational English Phrases