What are some examples of slang terms?

Slang is very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid, and ephemeral than ordinary language. Slang words depend on the language used, country or area, ethnic background, subculture, and specific occupation or part of society - in other words, everyone has their own slang.

Here are some basic examples of slang terms, and some Related Links to take you to Slang Dictionaries that can help you find any slang term you want!
American Slang:
The USA is a huge country, so there is not a lot of "American" slang that is used across the country. You are more likely to see regional slang or ethnic slang. Some terms that would be recognized by any American would include

• Dude, Pal, Buddy - man or friend
• Cash - paper money
• Bread, Dough - any money
• Cool, Hot, Hip - very popular, something or someone that others want to emulate
• Spud - potato
• Cop - police officer
• Bathroom, Restroom, john, can - toilet
• Chicken - afraid
• Mad - angry
• Dirty - obscene
• Nuts, A Nut- crazy, eccentric
• Pissed - urinated

African-American Slang
The African-American subculture has spawned many slang terms that are recognized in most parts of the country. These include

• Yo - greeting, hello, attention-getting word
• Homie, brotha - friend, comrade
• Sup - what's up, what's going on
• Hood - neighborhood
• Tight - close, good friends
• Dawg - man, friend
• Word - true
• Dis - to disrespect, to insult
• Gangsta - gangster or gangster-immitator

British Slang
For a small country, the UK has a lot of slang! It is always interesting to compare words between the US and UK, where often the same term has totally different meanings. Some common Brtitish slang terms that would be recognized across the country include

• Bobby - police officer
• Dosh, Ackers - money
• Good Egg/ Bad Egg - moral person/immoral person
• Bloke, Chap - man
• Mad - insane
• Chuffed - pleased, happy
• Bags - claiming something because you are first to say so
• Whinge - to complain or whine
• Pissed - drunk
• Spud - potato
• Fag - cigarette
• Quid- pound money
• Bird - girl

Cockney Rhyming Slang
Rhyming slang is a subculture slang originating in the Cockney east end of London. It is perhaps the most recognized and most colorful slang in the world. Rhyming slang terms include

• apples and pears- stairs
• trouble and strife - wife
• rosey lee - tea
• frog and toad - road
• bees and honey - money
• mince pies - eyes
• old joanna - piano
• Barnet Fair - hair
• plates of meat - feet
• Rub-a-dub - pub
• tit for tat - hat
• whistle and flute - suit

Modern slang of 2011 include:

• Cool-Dope
• Mad-Ained
• Sad-Dowy
• Stupid-Lollipoop
• Fun-Fubby
• Bad-Mobtastic
• Awesome-Awestriking
• Happy-Lobtastic
• Crazy-Saddish
• Boring-Boresome
• Small-Lork
• Big-Lormind