• Quintessential American English
• Greetings and Salutations
• Chatting up/ Macking
• In the bar
• That's Cool
• Sayings
• Explain Yourself
• The Weather
• Money matters
• Songs

American English Slang by Street Talk Savvy

Yo this is American English

The most commonly heard form of English is American English. Because of Hollywood it is heard all around the world, and has had an affect on all the other spoken forms of English.

The United States has a large population and a variety of different accents, i.e New York, California, Texas, Deep South, Chicago, Boston, to name a few. Also the slang that occurs in the United States changes rapidly, so it is hard to keep up with the new talk on the street.

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Quintessential American English

American English is quite varied, so the most common words you could think of to tell someone is American is for the terms “friend”. Pal and buddy, are purely American words, as is the word dude which is a male person.

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Greetings and Salutations

Give me five

High five

Hire you? – How are you?

Howdy partner?- Short for ‘How do?’, which is already short for “how do you do?’

Later- Short for see you later

Peace out- Goodbye

Thanks a bunch (a lot)

Wakey wakey, hands off snakey

Wassup?- What’s up?

What’s happening?

What up ese?

Yo! (Hey-you, can be impolite)

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Chatting up/ Macking

Did you see the six packs on that hunk there? (great abs on that attractive male)

I got to first base (to get to kiss with someone and nothing more)

She’s a cool chick! (to be a nice/interesting woman)

She’s a real babe (to be quite attractive)

She’s a real fox (to be quite attractive)

Shake your booty hot mama! (move your hips/butt to the music)

I’ve got to practice my pick-up lines tonight

I’m all hung up on my ex-girl/boyfriend (to be infatuated with someone to the point where you can’t think of anything else)

I just scored with that blonde girl over there (to have the luck to be passionate with someone)

I’m going to catch up with an old flame- (an ex-lover)

I’m as randy as a rabbit (to  be feeling lusty)

Nice buns
Nice butt/posterior/tush/backside

What a hottie (an attractive person)

You’re such a sleaze bag (to have no morals when it comes to treatment of women)

You wanna go on a date?

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In the bar

I feel like having a bender tonight. (to have a big night)

Jimmy is such a boozehound (a big drinker)

Oh my God! I got so blitzed last night that I had a ralph. (totally drunk) (to vomit)

You want to have a few brewskis? (alcoholic beverages)

Jim Bob is having a shindig tonight (a small celebration)

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That’s Cool

Cowabunga dude!

Dat’s da bomb! (excellent, the best)

Dynamite! (great)

Gnarly dude!

Jim Dandy- Very good

It’s groovy man- (good)

Neat- (not too bad at all)

That shit is phat! (that’s good stuff)

That’s far out (great)

That’s some fly shit- (fashionable or cool thing)

That’s just swell- that is good (so old it;s uncool, but still funny)

That’s gold! (good stuff)

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Sayings

You’re barking up the wrong tree- To accuse or look for the wrong person or thing

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Explain Yourself

Chill out!/Take a chill pill (relax, take it easy)

Chill with the homes ese? (calm down)

Darn straight it is! (there is no doubt about it)

Did you cut the cheese? (to fart)

Fat chance! (no way!)

Fess up! (confess now {to what you done wrong})

Get me out of here I’m freaking out (to not be able to handle a situation, and then lose control)

Go take a hike! (get lost)

Just mosey on down to the shop and buy me some milk- (to stroll down to the shop)

He gave me the bird. (to show someone the middle finger)

How’s the new pad/crib Randy?
How’s the new place of residence?

I feel like pigging out on Mickey D’s
I feel like having a big feed at McDonalds

I got diddly squat. (nothing at all)

I got sweet FA and Jack shit. (nothing and nothing else)

I like hanging out on the beach
to spend time in a relaxing way (originally an American word it is now common in most forms of English)

I know Jack Shit! (this could be a play on words, to either know nothing at all, or to know Jack Shit the real person)

I’ll get my posse to fix you up

In your face homes. (that’ll show you)

Let’s veg out in the van! (to do nothing at all)

Oh my gosh!

Shake a leg! (hurry up)

Shit happens! (you can’t help bad luck)

That’s a whole lot of tree hugging hippy crap (Eric Cartman)

That’s a no brainer dude! (something completely obvious)

That booger is gross!
That’s a disgusting snot/boogie!

What’s going down? ( what’s happening?)

What’s that funky smell? (what’s that bad smell around here?)

Wedgie- to lift someones underwear until they nearly cry

Where’s the can? (where’s the toilet)

You’re such a downer! (to be someone who makes things seem more depressive than they are)
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The Weather

Fall- Autumn

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Money matters

I don’t have a dime

I’m the one bringing home the bacon- (the person who earns the money)

My credit card is maxed out (to have used all your credit)

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Twisting the rules of English

Y’all- you all or everyone

All y’all- all of everyone (as if the previous one wasn’t bad enough)

Ain’t- Am not or Aren’t

Taint- hillybilly talk for “There ain’t” (taint nuttin you can do bout it)

Anyways- this word is never plural

Songs

New York, New York- Frank Sinatra

Songwriters: BERNSTEIN, LEONARD / COMDEN, BETTY / GREEN, ADOLPH

Start spreading the news, Im leaving today
I want to be a part of it – new york, new york
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it – new york, new york

I wanna wake up in a city, that doesnt sleep
And find Im king of the hill – top of the heap

These little town blues, are melting away
Ill make a brand new start of it – in old new york
If I can make it there, Ill make it anywhere
Its up to you – new york, new york

New york, new york
I want to wake up in a city, that never sleeps
And find Im a number one top of the list, king of the hill
A number one

These little town blues, are melting away
Im gonna make a brand new start of it – in old new york
And if I can make it there, Im gonna make it anywhere

It up to you – new york new york

American Pie- Don McClean

Songwriter: DON MCLEAN

A long, long time ago…
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.

But february made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn’t take one more step.

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.

So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
“this’ll be the day that I die.”

Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock ‘n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you’re in love with him
`cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes.
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.

I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died.

I started singin’,
“bye-bye, miss american pie.”
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
“this’ll be the day that I die.”

Now for ten years we’ve been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone,
But that’s not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from james dean
And a voice that came from you and me,

Oh, and while the king was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict was returned.
And while lennon read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.

We were singing,
“bye-bye, miss american pie.”
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
“this’ll be the day that I die.”

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune.
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance!
`cause the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singing,
“bye-bye, miss american pie.”
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
“this’ll be the day that I die.”

Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again.
So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the devil’s only friend.

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan’s spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singing,
“bye-bye, miss american pie.”
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
And singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
“this’ll be the day that I die.”

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I’d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.

And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.

And they were singing,
“bye-bye, miss american pie.”
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
“this’ll be the day that I die.”

They were singing,
“bye-bye, miss american pie.”
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.”

Sweet Home Alabama- Lynyrd Skynyrd

Songwriters: Ronnie Van Zant;Edward King;Gary Rossington

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don’t need him around anyhow

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I’m coming home to you

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I’m coming home to you
Here I come Alabama

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they’ve been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I’m feeling blue
Now how about you?

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I’m coming home to you

Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor’s true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I’m coming home to you
Yea, yea Montgomery’s got the answer

Born in the USA

Artist(Band):Bruce Springsteen
Born down in a dead man’s town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Got in a little hometown jam so they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land to go and kill the yellow man
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says “son if it was up to me”
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said “son don’t you understand now”
Had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They’re still there he’s all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now
Down in the shadow of penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I’m ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain’t got nowhere to go
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I’m a long gone daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I’m a cool rocking daddy in the U.S.A.

Related articles

• Americanisms in British English (virtuallinguist.typepad.com)
• Britishisms: cataloging how they’re infecting American English. (slate.com)

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