Slang: Common American Expressions
American slang is the conversational register of US media — and increasingly of global English through film, TV, music, and online culture. Awesome (excellent), cool (good), to be into something (interested in), to hang out (spend casual time), bummed (disappointed), to flake (cancel last minute), legit (legitimate, real, good), no biggie (no problem), bucks (dollars), guys (gender-neutral plural address). Many have entered global English; others remain US-specific. The worksheet trains B1–B2 learners to recognise and selectively deploy high-frequency American slang.
This worksheet builds B1–B2 awareness of high-frequency American slang in conversational and media contexts.
Worksheet preview
What’s inside:
- Slang bank with 30+ high-frequency American expressions, with neutral-English equivalent and example use
- Multiple-choice items in dialogue context
- Register-shifting task: rewrite formal sentences with slang equivalents
- Recognition task: identify the meaning of slang in short scene extracts
- Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes on regional and generational variation
Common challenges: British-vs-American splits are central — biscuit (UK = cookie / US = scone-like bread); chips (UK = fries / US = crisps); trash (US) vs rubbish (UK). Generational variation matters: lit, sus, slay are Gen Z-coded and sound forced from older speakers. Internet origin: many newer American slang terms come from Black American Vernacular English (AAVE) and have specific cultural origins learners should know about before using productively.
For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1 to B2, in intermediate and upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study — particularly learners consuming American media or working with American clients/colleagues. Part of the Health & Body collection — the natural next step is Body Parts and Health Basic, which returns to the literal anatomy-and-health vocabulary base.
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