This list has been compiled from feedback from previous international nurses who have joined our Trust. If you come across any words or phrases that aren’t on this list please contact your pastoral support or practice education team to have these added to the list.

Here are some commons British terms you may come across.

Brew: cup of tea or coffee. Most people in the UK drink tea with milk unless it is a fruit or herbal tea.

Squash: flavoured juice added to water such as Vimto, orange or blackcurrent.

Crisps: fried or baked potato snacks which come in different flavours such as salt and vinegar, cheese and onion or beef. 

Chips: potatos cut up and fried or baked in the oven, often served with salt and vinegar on them. Chips can also be referred to as fries. 

Wa'er: water.

Jacket potato: an oven baked potato. Often cut in half and filled with foods such as beans, cheese, chicken and mayonnaise. 

Butty or sarnie: a sandwich. 

Meal times

Breakfast: first meal of the day, eaten in the morning.

Lunch: a meal eaten from midday to early afternoon.

Tea/dinner/evening meal: the last meal of the day, eaten in the evening. 

What is Slang? Slang is language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as informal and more common in speech than writing.

Hold your horses: wait a moment.

Chuffed: pleased or happy.

Take a gander: take a look.

Bonkers: crazy or mad.

Tosh: rubbish.

Spend a penny: to pass urine. 

Doin' my head in: getting on my nerves or annoying me.

Throw a spanner in the works: brought an issue or problem.

Put the wood in the hole: close the door.

Were you born in a barn?: shut the door.

Grab us that will ya: please pass me the...

Give over: you're joking?

Quid: one pound sterling.

BM: machine we use to measure blood glucose. 

Bursting: desperate for the toilet.

Number 1: pass urine.

Number 2: pass feces. 

Bobble: elastic hair tie.

Pinny: apron.

Soz: sorry.

Ta: thank you.

Slap: facial make up. 

Sick: vomit or really good.

Nice one: thank you.

Hey/Hiya/Hi: hello.

Buddy/mate/pal/chuck: friend.

Milking it: spending more time on a situation or illness in order to get sympathy. 

Whatchamacallit: used when someone cannot remember the correct term for something.

Me missus: my wife or girlfriend.

My hubby: my husband. 

Sound: perfect or good or excellent. 

Yeah: yes.

Nah: no.