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Useful American Slang for International Students

American English can be a bit of a rollercoaster, especially when you throw slang into the mix. One minute you’re trying to figure out the difference between “chill” and “chill out,” and the next, someone’s saying your shoes have “drip.” American slang words can be confusing at first, but they’re an important part of learning the language. 

While learning American slang is fun and can help you connect with people, slang words aren’t appropriate in every situation. You definitely wouldn’t want to use slang in a formal academic paper, during a job interview, or when presenting in front of the class. 

When in doubt, don’t use slang! It’s always safer to stick to standard English. As you spend more time in the U.S. and interact with different groups of people, you’ll naturally start to get a feel for when and where slang fits in.

Here’s a guide to useful American slang you will come across on the MIU campus and beyond. 

ASAP: This acronym stands for “as soon as possible,” meaning immediately or without delay. 

“I need that assignment done ASAP!”

Banger: This term describes something really good or exciting, often used for a song. 

“That new song is a total banger!”

Bet: This simply means “yes,” you’re in agreement. 

“Want to meet up after class?” 

“Bet!” 

Broke: To have no money. 

“I can’t go out tonight, I’m totally broke.”

Bussin’: This word means “amazing” or “delicious,” especially when talking about food.

 “These nachos are bussin’!”

Boujee: This describes something rich, luxurious, or fancy. 

“That restaurant is so boujee.”

Cap / No cap: “Cap” means a lie, while “no cap” means you’re telling the truth. 

“No cap, that was the best movie I’ve ever seen.”

Chill: “Chill” means to relax or take it easy. “Chill out” means the same thing.

“I’m so tired from studying, I’m just gonna chill at home tonight.”

Cram: To study intensively for a short period of time, usually right before a test. 

“I have to cram for my exam tomorrow.”

Crash: To sleep. 

“Can I crash on your couch after the concert?”

Cringe: To feel embarrassed or awkward. 

“That TikTok my mom posted was so cringe.”

Down: If you’re “down” for something, you’re interested in doing it.

“Want to go to the park?” / “Are you down for going to the park?”

“Yeah, I’m down.”

Up for: Similar to “down,”  If you’re “up for” something, you’re interested in doing it. But unlike “down”, you must always add the word “for”.

“Are you up for going to the park?”

“Bet!”

“No thanks, I’m gonna stay at home.”

Drip: If a person or their clothes/accessories/shoes has “drip,” it’s very fashionable, stylish, and cool.

“That new dress has amazing drip!”

Fire: This describes something really good, cool, or impressive. 

“That concert was fire!”

For real: This is used to agree with someone, emphasize a statement, or ask if someone is serious. 

“This is my favorite class.” 

“For real?”

Gas up: To encourage or praise someone.

 “My friends always gas me up before a presentation.”

GOAT: An acronym for “Greatest Of All Time.” 

“Michael Jordan is the GOAT of basketball.”

Go Dutch: This means that each person pays for their own food or drinks.

 “Let’s go Dutch on this bill.”

Hang on: Wait a little bit.

 “Hang on, I’ll be right there.”

Hang out: Spend time or do something with friends. 

“Let’s hang out this weekend.”

Have beef: To have a problem with someone. 

“Those two have beef with each other.”

Hit the books: To study. 

“I need to hit the books, I have a big test coming up.”

Hit the spot: Very satisfying food or drink. 

“That cold lemonade hit the spot.”

I feel you: I understand.

 “I feel you, that class is really tough.”

Lit: This describes something that is really fun, awesome, or exciting.

“This festival is lit!”

Living rent-free in my head: Something you can’t stop thinking about. 

“This song is living rent-free in my head.”

Mid: Average or unimpressive. 

“That pizza was mid.”

Off the chain: Really good. 

“That party was off the chain!”

Play it by ear: To see what happens, instead of making a plan. 

“We don’t have any set plans for Saturday, we’re just going to play it by ear.”

Salty: Bitter or upset. 

“He’s still salty about losing the game.”

Shady: Something or someone suspicious or untrustworthy. 

“The company sounds kind of shady. Lots of red flags in the interview process.”

Sus: Short for suspicious; same meaning as shady. 

Sick: Cool, awesome. 

 “That’s a sick car!”

Slay: To do something exceptionally well, especially in terms of style or performance. 

“You slayed that presentation.”

Study buddy: A friend or classmate you study with. 

“I’m meeting my study buddy at the library.”

Pull an all-nighter: To stay awake and study all night long. 

“I had to pull an all-nighter to finish that paper.”

Take a rain check: To postpone an invitation or plan. 

“I can’t meet up tonight, can we take a raincheck?”

Vibe check: To make sure someone is having a good time. 

“Hey, vibe check! Are you enjoying the party?”

What’s up? / Sup?: A casual greeting, like “hello.” 

“What’s up?”

“Not much, just chilling. How about you?”

Wrap up: To finish something. 

“Let’s wrap it up, I want to go to bed early.”

You do you: Make the choice that’s best for you; do what makes you happy; be yourself. 

“I like to do it this way, but you do you!”

So, there you have it: a crash course in American slang! While this list is a great starting point, remember that slang is constantly evolving. The best way to learn is to listen to how native speakers use these words in context. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you hear a term you don’t understand. People generally love talking about slang. Another good resource is UrbanDictionary.com, but it’s not completely reliable. People can make up their own definitions, so what you see on the website may not actually be commonly used words or definitions. To verify, double-check by asking a friend or listening for others using the word before you incorporate it into your vocabulary.

With a little practice, you’ll be using slang like a pro in no time, connecting with your American peers on a whole new level. Good luck, and have fun!

FAQ

How can I learn an American accent?

While pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation are very important to pay attention to and practice, an easy way to sound more American is to use American slang words. It’s not just how you say things, it’s the words you use. 

How can I speak American English?

Immerse yourself in the language, either by moving to the United States (and studying at MIU, for example) or by watching American TV and movies. Listen for contractions and slang words — these are very common in American English, and using them will help you sound more American. Remember, listening is only step one. You’ve got to practice using American slang when you speak.