Slang – the hidden treasure of language

A wide vocabulary is the Holy Grail of any language learner, but let’s face it – no one speaks like a thesaurus, and some expressions or word forms can only be found in literature. Slang lives on the streets, on websites, at house parties and in supermarket lines at the checkout, and is given special flavour due to it being so specific and only understandable to those who know the language. Slang is found in all languages and is worth knowing to avoid getting into awkward situations. It can range from barbarisms, including borrowings from other languages, to words only used in the professional lexicon. Slang also includes colloquialisms and jargon used by members of particular social groups.

Traditionally, slang has been predominantly used by young people, who have always considered it an honourable thing to fill their speech to the brim with words that their ancestors and other elderly people would certainly no longer understand. It is sometimes said that slang is simply non-literary language, but a little research will give you an explanation and the history behind almost every slang word. Since communication has become increasingly virtual, English slang words have become more and more common in other languages, including Latvian, and are even localised – for example, it’s no longer unusual for someone to call another person a “drama queen” in the heat of a discussion, with the expression translated word for word. Here are some popular English slang words to remember to expand your vocabulary and get along in a wide variety of social settings: