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 Should you learn slang in English? Probably, everyone who studies English wants to know that. Today I’ll tell you what kinds of slang there are and who should and shouldn’t learn it.

So, what kinds of slang are there?

    1. Shortenings  

Shortenings are often considered to be slang. Everyone who learns English should know this category. It is used practically in all the movies, songs, books, etc. These are words such as  wanna (want to), lotsa (lot of), ye (yes), etc.

    2. Young people’s expressions

This category unites all the words that young (and not very young) people use in the informal speech. These are simple expressions used in everyday speech. You don’t use them at business meetings, conferences, etc. These are words like wicked, awesome, chill, etc. You should be very careful with such words and expressions as they may have several meanings.  

    3. Swearing

How do you get rid of all your English speaking friends? It is very simple! Just learn the words from this category and no one will want to talk to you. I won’t give you any examples here; the Internet if full of different dictionaries for those who want to learn some rude words.  

    4. Abbreviations

Abbreviations used in texting and online chats are also called slang. These phases are very useful and they save time. Besides, you can create your own abbreviations with your friends and make your conversations more fun. Everyone who learns English has to know the abbreviations ttyl (talk to you later), cu (see you), imho (in my humble opinion), etc.   

So, should you learn slang expressions? Let’s start with saying that slang is a difficult thing; it is constantly changing and many expressions come and go very fast. Besides, every city may have its own set of popular expressions. However, dictionaries offer the most commonly used words and phrases and we’ll talk about them.

Who should learn English slang?

-          Those who are moving to the English speaking country. In this case, you need to learn such words, preferably with native speaking teachers. They will tell you what words can be used, what cannot be, and what are considered dated.

-          People who want to communicate with foreigners in the informal way. You will need to know popular expressions to understand you company.

-          Students who are going to study abroad. Slang is the language of young people. You need to know at least some of it to understand what your fellow students are saying. Be sure that during college years your slang vocabulary will grow drastically.

-          Fans of the modern movies, music, shows and books in English..

-          Those who have to pass an exam. You probably won’t have to use slang expressions, but listening to audio texts, they can come up and you’ll need to understand them.

Who don’t have to learn slang?

-          Kids. Teenagers may be interested in learning some popular words. However, remember that a lot of slang words are not very decent, so kids shouldn’t learn them.  

-          Beginners. If you just started learning English, don’t bother with slang expressions. Study basic information, there is no need to fill your head with unnecessary information for now.

-          Those who learn business English for work. You don’t need to know slang. It can even be harmful; in stress situations, you can accidently say something inappropriate.

-          Those who learn English for traveling. You will need a basic set of phrases to communicate with local people. They wouldn’t bother you with numerous slang expressions if they know you are a tourist.   

So, this was my vision of the necessity of slang for English learners. Hopefully, you can take some use out of it.

About the author

Jana Rookard is an experienced educator with 7 years of teaching at school and college. She also writes educational articles for EssayJedii writing service and tutors in her free time.