American Slang

What is… Formal Language  Grammatically correct English  The English you find in books Informal Language  Slang  How people usually talk

When to Use… Correct English  In your other English classes  When you write  When you speak in formal situations Slang  When talking to your friends!

Making words shorter  Do you want to eat lunch?  Do you wanna eat lunch?  D'you wanna eat lunch?  Wanna eat lunch?

Ain’t = am not/are not/is not  I am not sure. → I ain't sure.  You are not my boss. → You ain't my boss  He is not leaving. –He ain ’ t leaving.

Gonna = going to  What are you going to do? → What are you gonna do?  I am not going to tell you. –I am not gonna tell you. –I ain ’ t gonna tell you.

Gotta = Have to  I have to leave. → I gotta leave.  I have to do my homework. –I gotta do my homework.

Wanna = want to  I want to go home. → I wanna go home.  I want to play table tennis. –I wanna play table tennis.

Kinda = kind of (a little)  I am kind of tired → I am kinda tired  She is kind of mad –She is kinda mad

Gimme = Give me  Give me your money → Gimme your money  Can you give me a hand? –Can you gimme a hand?

Lemme = let me  Let me go! → Lemme go!  Let me see. –Lemme see.

Ya = You  What are you thinking? → What are ya thinking?  Do you want to play basketball? –Do ya want to play basketball? –Do ya wanna play basketball? – Wanna play basketball?

Whad’ya = What do you  What do you think? → Whad ’ ya think?  What do you have to do? –Whad ’ ya have to do? –Whad ’ ya gotta do?

Slang Terms  How we say things

Hello  Hey  Yo

How are you?  What is up? → What ’ s up? → Wassup?  How is it going? → How ’ s it going? How ’ s it goin?

Response to “What’s up?”  Not much, wassup with you?

Response to “How’s it goin?”  Good → Awesome  Fine/ok → Not bad  Not good → Sucky

Friend  Buddy  Pal  Dude  Homie

Hello friend, how are you?  Hey dude, what ’ s up?  Yo homie, how ’ s it goin?

“I really like ______!”  _______ is cool!  _______ is awesome!  _______ rules!

“I don’t like ______”  _______ sucks!  _______ is lame!

To pass the time  Hang out  Kick it

Calm down  Chill  Take it easy

I am sorry/excuse me  My bad  My fault

It is OK  It ’ s all good  Don ’ t worry about it

Goodbye  See ya later → See ya  Catch ya later → Later  Peace out → Peace

Conversation A) Hello, how are you. B) I am good, friend, how are you? A) I am fine. What are you going to do after school? B) I want to watch Kung Fu panda. A) I really like that movie! But I have to go to the dentist at 5:00. B) Oh, that/ that is (word that means bad)! Do you want to pass the time together after that? A) Sure! Hey, when are you going to give me the money you owe me? B) I ’ m sorry! I forgot, I will bring it tonight. A) Calm down, friend. It is ok. See you tonight. Goodbye. B) Goodbye.