English Insights
Welcome to the English Insights page!
Here you’ll find some advanced tips and tricks for perfect contributions. Nothing here contradicts our Writing Guidelines, so remember to stay up to date with them too. Think of the Insights as English transcription issues which are specialized and niche enough to deserve their own space; a supplement to the guidelines for our most committed and dedicated contributors!
Brand Love
It's very common for artists to give 'shout-outs' to their favorite brands in their songs. This is great for them, as they can show off how much money they have, and great for the brands as they get free advertisement, but it can be tricky for us if we don't know the brand already. To help out, here's a list of commonly used brand names in songs.
Cars | Drinks | Clothing/Accessories |
Rolls-Royce | Hennessy (Cognac) | Gucci |
Cadillac (Cadi) | Patrón (Tequila) | Prada |
Ferrari | Grey Goose (Vodka) | Louis Vuitton (Louis/Louis V) |
Lamborghini | Jack Daniels (Whiskey) | Red Tops |
Chevrolet | Cîroc (Vodka) | Balenciaga |
Mercedes-Benz (Benz) | Dom Pérignon - (Champagne) | Rolex |
Bentley | Cristal (Champagne) | Jordans |
Porsche | Mumm (Champagne) | Versace |
BMW Car (Bimmer) | Adidas (Addies) (Addy can also be used to mean 'Email') | |
BMW Motorbike (Beamer) | ||
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British Bits and Bobs
English is a very diverse language and as English contributors we’re lucky to be able to hear songs from all over the world. Some of these songs, however, can be pretty tricky, as they use English in ways we may not be used to. Songs in British English can be difficult for American or second language speakers of English, and so we’ve decided to prepare a list of common British specific slang for reference when needed.
Word | Meaning | Example |
Aggy | Angry, aggressive | “You’re being bare aggy” |
Baccy | Tobacco | “Got any baccy?” |
Bait | Glaringly obvious | “I know you like me, look at how bait you’re being” |
Bare | A lot of | “There’s bare people here”“I’m bare tired” |
Bevvy | Alcoholic drink - short for beverage | “Met her at the club then took her for a bevvy” |
Bruv | Brother (‘Bro’ in American slang) | "You alright, bruv? What’s up?" |
Chat | Used as noun to mean good at talking (specifically to a date) | “I’ve got the money, I’ve got the chat” |
Chav | Derogatory term, usually for a young, lower-class person. | “Yeah, he’s fit, but he’s a little bit chavvy” |
Chuffed | To be extremely happy/proud | “I’m well chuffed with that!” |
Cuppa | Cup of tea | “Fancy a cuppa, mum?” (Remember, ‘mum’ instead of ‘mom’) |
Fag | Cigarette (in this context it’s not offensive) | “Mate, I need a fag” |
Fit | Attractive (not only in shape) | “He’s well fit” “Look at that fitty over there” |
Grafting | Equivalent of ‘Hitting on’ - trying to gain the attention of a desired partner OR trying to make something up to an existing partner | “Stacy is well pissed with me, I’m gonna have to graft all day” |
Gutted | To be extremely disappointed - opposite of chuffed | “I’m proper gutted we lost the football last night” |
Innit | Short for ‘Isn’t it’ - used to seek confirmation | “You heard this song, bruv?”“Yeah mate, good innit?” |
Mugging someone off | To disrespect someone. To make someone look stupid/pathetic. Also used as noun (to be a mug) or an adjective (muggy) | “You’ve proper mugged me off” “You’ve made me look like Sa mug now” “Mate, that’s proper muggy” |
Peng | Attractive | “She’s peng, bruv” |
Pint | Used to mean ‘Beer’, usually Lager specifically | “Can I have a pint please mate?” |
Piss | Urine/Urinate | “I need a piss" |
Take the piss | Making fun of someone in a harmless manner OR disrespecting someone | “Don’t get upset, mate, I’m just takin’ the piss!” “Nah, it’s not funny, you’re takin’ the piss now” |
To be pissed | Either to be drunk, or to be angry” | “You’ve pissed me off” |
Quid | Pound - currency | “Ticket to Madrid, only cost me 20 quid” |
Racket | Noise | “I’m ready to party, ready to make a racket” |
Shag | To have sex with | “Goin’ out to town, lookin’ for a shag” |
Sick / Bangin’ / Mint | ‘Good’ | “Yo, that’s sick, mate!” |
Slag / Sket | Derogatory term for a female - connotations of sexual promiscuity | “She’s a slag, she’s a sket, the worst girl I’ve ever met” |
Trackies | Track-suit | “Walkin’ ‘round in her trackies” |
Wasteman | Someone you don’t respect - connotations of laziness | He ain’t got no ambition, he a wasteman |
(In order of severity) Tipsy, Wobbly, Pissed, Hammered, Smashed, Plastered, Sloshed, Trolleyed | Drunk (almost any noun can be used to describe a very drunk person by adding ‘ed’ to the end of it) | “Did you see Dave last night? Mate he was absolutely leathered” |
Word | Meaning | Example |
Sapa | Hunger or broke-ness | we are facing a sapa problem |
Lamba | False information / lie | I don give am lamba / all she told me was lamba |
Kolo | Crazy / insane | I dey kolo for your love |
Lepa | A slim person | I met this lepa girl at the club |
Kayamata | A sort of love potion | I believe she used kayamata for her boyfriend |
Banana | Penis | she said she wants my banana |
Wahala | Trouble/Problem | I don enter wahala/ This project is giving me too much wahala |
Wetin / weytin | What | Weytin dey happen? |
Word |
Meaning |
Example |
Likkle more |
See you later |
Mi see you likkle more den |
Wah gwaan |
What’s up? |
Wah gwaan felicia? |
Weh yuh a seh |
How are you doing/where have you been? |
Weh yuh a seh Tobi? Mi look fi yuh a long time |
‘Pon |
Upon |
Look ‘pon mi now |
‘Member |
Remember |
‘Member Jah is watching you |
Gi’ |
Give |
Gi’ dem |
Lef’ |
Left |
Mi lef’ the gun |
Hol’ |
Hold |
Hol’ a vibe |
Iration |
Creation |
Jah Iration |
Cah/becah |
‘Cause/because |
Cah mi unh give up/becah mi unh give up |
Haffi |
Have to |
Haffi give thanks and praises |
Nuff |
Enough |
Nuff a dem badmind |
Dutty |
Dirty |
Get away with yuh dutty mind |
Pickney |
A toddler/a child |
Mi member when I was a pickney |
Likkle |
Little |
Got to have likkle patience |
Bakkle |
Battle |
Mi dey ‘pon di bakkle field |
Woulda |
Would have |
Who woulda think of it? |