Slang
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a type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people:
The Brighton School of English is a great place to learn English, but not all that learning happens in the classroom. After all language doesn’t come from books but from people, as a live transient organism that is recorded by people as time goes on. Slang has it’s place at the heart of cultures, but recently some great English slang has been added to the dictionary. These words have become a familiar enough part of informal English language to be recorded by the dictionaries as official words:
Bromance –
A close and often romantic or emotionally intense, but non-sexual relationship between two males or ‘bros’. The word is clearly a Portmanteau of ‘Brother’ and ‘Romance’, but more subtly expresses the increasing openness of Western society to tenderness and plutonic intimacy between males. Ex. ‘Former Presidents Obama and Clinton described their relationship as a Bromance’
Chillax –
Another Portmanteau, this time of two words meaning near enough the same thing. While the later half stems from ‘Relax’ an official word for relieving tension and being calm, the former half ‘chill’ which officially means cold or to make cold, can also be used to mean relax. Popularised as a title for a song by Farruko, this doubly – relaxed word is now official English. Ex. ‘chillax with your friends in front of the t.v’
D’oh –
Here is one you probably recognise. D’oh is a catchphrase of beloved character from world class animated t.v show ‘The Simpsons’. I personally remember almost every child in my primary school using this word at one point or another, as the show took the world by storm and became the most popular animated t.v show in the 90’s.
Hater –
Someone who hates something or someone in particular is a hater. Usually they would be considered of having false assumptions about whom or what they hate, or that the hater is someone who is particularly negative towards many areas. Ex. ‘Don’t be a hater’ or ‘Haters gonna’ hate’
Noob –
From the computer gaming community comes the word ‘Noob’. In computer gaming a Noob is someone who is either a beginner in a game or a beginner to gaming in general, but the word has been appropriated to describe a beginner of anything. It roughly derives from New, New – Newbie – Noob. The term is usually a negative one and a Noob is not only a beginner but displays signs of their inadequacy in typical ways. Ex. ‘I lost at a card game because I didn’t know the rules, I’m such a noob!’
OMG –
One of the earliest messaging acronyms, in a world now overflowing with text speak this original is a beloved one and is now an official English word. O.M.G. Oh. My. God. It’s a quick expression of shock and surprise. Ex. ‘OMG that was crazy!’
Jeggings –
A fashion item emerging in the late 00’s that took the form of soft womens trousers known as leggings and gave them a look of jeans. It followed the resurgence in skinny jeans but offered a more comfortable option. Jeggings is a registered brand name for a trademark Turkish company ISKO Ex. ‘My jeggings fit really well’
Grrrl –
Grrrl is pronounced as girl perhaps with more emphasis on the R and less on the I. This word is used to describe young adult, independent and progressively minded women. The word is derived from the underground feminist punk movement of 90’s Washington D.C; ‘Riot Grrrl’. This movement combined feminist consciousness with punk politics and style, while the music contains many male associated punk themes of power, rage and frustration, addressing issues such as rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, patriarchy, and female empowerment.
La La Land –
A frequenting term in music and cinema, such as the 2016 musical comedy drama. La La Land is a place that doesn’t exist in reality but in the realms of ones mind, a silly place where nothing practical is happening. Ex. ‘She’s not concentrating, too busy floating around in La La Land’
Totes –
A small abbreviation of the very overused word ‘totally’. Just like ‘literally’, ‘actually’ and ‘seriously’, the word totes has evolved to quickly express just how absolute and encompassing your opinions are. Totes is a term probably most used by teenage girls. Ex. ‘Lets go shopping, this shoe shop is totes amazing’