If you thought you had a handle on British English after years of watching Downton Abbey and The Crown, prepare to feel ancient. British Gen Z has developed a linguistic universe that bears little resemblance to the “cheerio” and “brilliant” vocabulary most Americans associate with the UK. This new wave of slang, heavily influenced by London’s multicultural communities, grime music, and social media, has left even older Brits scratching their heads.
Here’s your guide to the bewildering world of young British slang.
Peng
Pronunciation: Just like it looks – “peng”
Meaning: Attractive, good-looking, or high quality. Originally used to describe an attractive person, it’s now applied to anything desirable, from food to clothing.
Example: “That curry was absolutely peng, mate.”
Bare
Pronunciation: “Bear”
Meaning: Very, a lot of, or many. It’s essentially an intensifier that replaces words like “really” or “lots of.”
Example: “There were bare people at the concert last night.”
Wagwan
Pronunciation: “Wag-wahn”
Meaning: Derived from Jamaican Patois “what’s going on,” this is a casual greeting equivalent to “what’s up?”
Example: “Wagwan, bruv? You coming out tonight?”
Mandem / Gyaldem
Pronunciation: “Man-dem” / “Gyal-dem”
Meaning: Mandem refers to a group of male friends or guys in general. Gyaldem is the female equivalent, referring to a group of women or girls.
Example: “I’m heading out with the mandem later.”
Allow It
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Let it go, forget about it, or stop doing something. Can be used as a request or a dismissal.
Example: “Allow it, yeah? I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Peak
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Confusingly, this can mean either something that’s really good OR really bad, depending on context. When something unfortunate happens, it’s “peak.” When something is excellent, it’s also “peak.”
Example (negative): “You failed your driving test again? That’s peak.”
Example (positive): “This party is peak!”
Roadman
Pronunciation: “Road-man”
Meaning: A young man who spends a lot of time on the streets, often associated with urban culture, certain fashion choices (puffer jackets, Nike trainers), and a particular way of speaking.
Example: “He thinks he’s a proper roadman with that North Face jacket.”
Moist
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Weak, pathetic, or overly emotional. Used to describe someone being soft or embarrassing themselves.
Example: “Stop being so moist, it’s just a bit of rain.”
Piff / Piffting
Pronunciation: “Piff” / “Piff-ting”
Meaning: Very attractive. A piffting is an extremely good-looking person.
Example: “Did you see her? Absolute piffting.”
Dead
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Something that’s boring, unfunny, or has failed. Also used when something is so funny you’re figuratively dying.
Example: “That joke was dead, man.”
Or: “I’m dead!” (meaning “that was hilarious”)
Sket / Sketty
Pronunciation: “Sket” / “Sket-ee”
Meaning: A derogatory term for a promiscuous person. Worth knowing so you understand it, but definitely not one to use yourself.
Ends
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Your neighborhood, area, or territory. Where you’re from or where you hang out.
Example: “I grew up in these ends.”
Moving Mad
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Acting crazy, doing something outrageous, or behaving in an unexpected way.
Example: “She broke up with him over text? She’s moving mad.”
Bait
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Obvious, exposed, or risky. If something is “bait,” it’s too conspicuous or likely to get you in trouble.
Example: “Don’t do that here, it’s too bait.”
Cheeky Nando’s
Meaning: While “cheeky” is classic British slang, Gen Z transformed “cheeky Nando’s” into a cultural phenomenon. It refers to an impromptu trip to the Nando’s restaurant chain, but became a meme representing British youth culture itself.
Example: “Fancy a cheeky Nando’s with the lads?”
Jarring
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Annoying, irritating, or frustrating.
Example: “It’s so jarring when people don’t reply to texts.”
Fam
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Close friends or family. A term of endearment for your inner circle.
Example: “What’s good, fam?”
Big Man Ting
Pronunciation: “Big man ting”
Meaning: Adult matters, serious business, or grown-up behavior.
Example: “We’re talking about careers now – big man ting.”
Sus
Pronunciation: “Suss”
Meaning: Suspicious or suspect. While this exploded globally thanks to the game Among Us, British youth were using it well before.
Example: “That excuse is well sus.”
Lit
Pronunciation: Standard English
Meaning: Exciting, excellent, or fun. When a party or event is amazing, it’s “lit.”
Example: “Last night was absolutely lit.”
Understanding the Origins
Much of this slang emerged from Multicultural London English (MLE), a dialect that developed in London’s diverse communities, blending Caribbean Patois, West African languages, South Asian influences, and traditional Cockney. Through grime music, YouTube, and social media, this language spread beyond London to become the dominant youth dialect across much of urban Britain.
Artists like Stormzy, Skepta, and Dave have popularized this vocabulary, and British YouTubers and TikTokers continue to evolve it at a rapid pace.
A Note for American Visitors
If you’re visiting the UK and encounter younger Brits, don’t worry if you can’t follow everything they say. Even their parents struggle. A smile and a “sorry, what does that mean?” will usually get you an amused explanation.
Just avoid trying to use these terms yourself unless you want to come across as deeply uncool. There’s nothing more cringe (see, even that word has shifted!) than a tourist saying “wagwan” to a confused teenager in Camden Market.
The beauty of language is its constant evolution, and British Gen Z slang is proof that English continues to be shaped by culture, community, and creativity. Even if it leaves the rest of us feeling decidedly old.
Are there British slang terms that have left you baffled? Share your experiences in the comments below!
