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About This Quiz
Although there are many languages spoken around the world, they certainly are not always used in the exact way they were intended. Take English, for example. The phrase, "the Queen's English" refers to its purest form, one that royalty may use. And you can bet your bottom dollar that Queen Elizabeth isn't going to use any slang words... well not in public at least!
That said, slang is a part of just about every language in the world and is found all over the globe. And you know what? Slang can be regional as well. What might a slang word in Australia isn't in England or the United States. But it gets even better than that. What might be a slang word in London, England, might not be a slang word in Liverpool, England! How cool is that?
So let's get to the task at hand, shall we? And it's a fun one, that's for sure. We've found slang phrases from around the world and we want to see just how much you can work out what they actually mean. Make sure you read them carefully, as sometimes their names could be a clue. If you aren't sure, make use of one of our clues! Good luck!
In South Africa, what does the slang term "kiff" mean?
Awesome
Although it is not as much of a slang term as in the '80s and 90s, "kiff" basically means awesome, for example, "That was a kiff wave you surfed there."
Horrible
Food
Beer
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Do you know what the Indonesian slang term "BT" or "bete" means?
Hello
A negative emotion or mood
In Indonesia, the term "BT" or sometimes "bete" is used to refer to a negative mood or emotion. People use it to convey that they might not be in the best of spirits.
Goodbye
None of the above
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In Malawi, the slang term "BT" refers to which city?
Lilongwe
Zomba
Blantyre
Malawians love to shorten their city names to slang terms. Blantyre is known as "BT" while Lilongwe is known as "LS." Interestingly, the city of Zomba is called "Texas."
Liwonda
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From the options below, what do you think a "clope" is slang for in Paris, France?
Croissant
Coffee
Cigarette
Paris has its own set of slang words that you won't find anywhere else in France. And in that slang, someone asking for a "clope" wants a cigarette.
Wine
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When you are a little hot under the collar in Rome, someone might tell you to "scialla." What does that mean?
Relax
As with many major cities in the world, residents have a form of slang that is used daily. When you someone needs to chill out in Rome, they will be told to "scialla."
It's over there
We will call the Pope
None of the above
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While in Australia, you might get offered a "snag" for lunch. What do you think it is?
Lobster
Sausage
It seems like Australians like to rename pretty much everything, because a snag is simply a sausage! 'strewth!
Potato
Liver
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When on a 5-minute "fika" in Sweden, what are Swedish people doing?
Sleeping
Running
Having a coffee break
Coffee culture is huge in Sweden. And they take their coffee breaks seriously. A "fika" will usually include a pastry of some kind as well.
None of the above
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Someone going to "get the messages" in Ireland is going to do what?
Take the train
Wash their car
Check their mobile phone for messages
Buy groceries
Irish slang is just weird. How can "get the messages" mean going to get groceries? We're not sure either, but it does.
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A Spanish person asking for "pasta" in Madrid is _______
Confused
Wanting money
How weird it that? Spanish slang for money, is "pasta." And when you visit there and spend it, it's a case of pasta-la-vista, baby! Except, it won't be back.
A chef
None of the above
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Do you know what the South African slang term "howzit" means?
Goodbye
Hello, how you doing?
"Howzit" is a combination of two phrases, hello and how are you. It is used as a form of greeting when meeting someone you will end up chatting with.
What's the time?
None of the above
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In England, what does the slang term "argy-bargy" mean?
A book club meeting
A fight
"Argy-bargy" is a U.K. slang term for an argument! This generally happens on nights out at the local pub, usually over a game of football!
A meeting
A messy situation
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Someone Poland wanting to "paw" is going to do what?
Drink
Puke
Ok, so "Paw" is actually pronounced "pav" in Polish and means peacock. To let the peacock out in that country means to get sick.
Go number 1
None of the above
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Can you tell us what a slang word for an Octopus is in Japan?
Yen
Tako
Not only is "tako" a slang word for octopus in Japan but it can be used to as an insult as well, inferring a person is stupid.
Nintendo
None of the above
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"Peng" is a term used in the United Kingdom to describe something that is ________?
Of high quality
"Peng" is can be used to describe anything that is of the highest quality. It is often used by men to describe good-looking women, however.
Red
Slightly off
None of the above
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When in the United States, hearing the word "podunk" to describe a town means it is what?
Amazing
Boring
Little towns in America, with one main street are often called "podunk." They are see as boring, not worth visiting and insignificant.
A ghost town
None of the above
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"You little ripper" is an Australian slang phrase meaning what exactly?
Well done, that's fantastic.
"You little ripper" is a classic Australian term. It's a congratulatory saying, along the lines of "That's fantastic." Another similar Australian saying is "Good on ya, mate!"
Who passed gas?
You ripped your jeans.
None of the above.
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In the 1980s, if someone in South Africa told you "bowl me the ages," what would they expect from you?
A burger
The time
Yes, South Africans had some strange slang terms in the 1980s. But if you think about it, "bowl me the ages" sort of refers to time, doesn't it?
The directions to the nearest history museum
None of the above
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If someone in the United Kingdom says they "honked" what did they do?
Pressed their car's horn
Threw up
"Honk" is a term used throughout the United Kingdom to describe someone throwing up. This usually happens after a night at the local pub or nightclub, when someone consumes a few too many! Just keep their hair out of it!
Ran a red light
Drank a beer
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In New York, what is a "dirty water dog"?
A stray
A hotdog from a sidewalk vendor
They're a New York classic, but the locals have a name for their city's favorite fast food - a "dirty water dog" and that's because the water they cooked in doesn't get changed that often during the day (if at all).
Someone you don't like
None of the above
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When invited to "have a gargle" in Ireland, you will be _______?
Going out for a drink
If you "have a gargle" in Ireland, you are going to have a drink. If you have "been on the gargle" you have been out drinking. Gargling seems fun!
Visiting the dentist
Going around to a friend for tea
None of the above
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In London, the cockney rhyming slang for "brown bread" means someone is what?
Hungry
At the shop
Dead
Cockney rhyming slang has many terms like this. And it's simply based on rhyming. So "brown bread" is dead and "Adam and Eve it" is believe it. Strange!
None of the above
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Spending a night in the "idiot box" in the United Kingdom means keeping ________ company?
Your wife
Your husband
The television
No, don't worry, it's not your significant other! Another word for it is the "telly." Yes, the "idiot box" is simply a television. Is it still an "idiot box" if you watch general knowledge game shows? Now there's a question...
Your mother
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What does the Australian term, "no drama" mean?
Don't worry, its fine
Most people in Australia are pretty chill. "No drama" is something someone might say to you if you stood on their toe at a concert and apologized. All it really means is, don't worry, it's cool.
Go away!
Have a beer
None of the above
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In the United Kingdom, who are the "fuzz"?
Hospital staff
Police
"The fuzz" is United Kingdom slang for the police imported from North America. Interestingly, the ordinary policeman is not armed with a pistol. And that noisy neighbor? He might call the policeman a "copper," yet another slang term for law enforcement in the U.K.
Aliens
Your parents
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What animal would be called a "mozzie" in Australia?
Mouse
Mosquito
They come out at night... and in droves, looking for blood. No, it's not a zombie invasion, it's just mosquitos! In Australia, they simply call these pests "mozzies."
Magpie
Macaw
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Someone suffering from a "babbelas" in South Africa has a ______?
Cold
Foot injury
Hangover
In South Africa, "babbelas" is an Afrikaans language term for a severe hangover! Steer clear of the person who has it!
None of the above
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From the options below, what does the slang term "gaffer" mean in the United Kingdom?
Son
Co-worker
Friend
Boss
Not so much in the corporate world, but in construction and other industries such as that, workers will call their boss "the gaffer." It is also a term that soccer players use for their manager.
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New Orleans residents often wrench their vegetables. What does that mean?
Bash them with a spanner
Run them under water to clean them
What a strange term for the act of cleaning vegetables. Does a mechanic "wrench" food as well? How confusing!
Cook them by covering them with coal
None of the above
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In England, what would be a person's "ivories"?
Their teeth
Yes, your "ivories" are your teeth in the U.K. But in both countries, as well as in the U.S. and beyond, the word can also be used for piano keys (tickling the ivories) or even to describe dice. Why? Well, the keys of a piano and dice were made out of ivory in days gone by.
Their shoes
Their nails
Their ears
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In Sweden, what does the term "ursäkta" mean?
Dress
Leg
Toes
I'm sorry
"Ursäkta" can be used in many ways. For example, you could use it to call your waiter or when you hurriedly pass people while running for a train.
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"Thongs" in Australia are a slang term for what?
A skimpy men's bathing suite
Sandals
No, "thongs" are not what you think, and yes, you can wear them to the beach. Thongs are simply sandals or flip-flops, the perfect footwear for the beach or all summer long down under!
A bar snack
A beer
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“Ganbatte" is a Japanese slang term of encouragement meaning which of these below?
Don't walk now
Better go home
Do your best
“Ganbatte" roughly means do your best in or keep it up in Japanese. It is often shouted at sports events in support of a team.
None of the above
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In the city of Boston in the United States, someone refered to as a "chowdahead" would be said to be ______
Old
Young
Stupid
"Chowdahead" is a form of an insult in Boston, United States. It is used to refer to someone who is seen to be doing something stupid, as in "Don't be a chowdahead, you can't park in the disabled zone."
Missing
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Australians in the Outback love their bush tucker. What is it?
Beer
Food
"Tucker" is an Australian term for food, along the lines of "tuck in." Bush tucker is found in the Outback, a vast region of Australia that is largely uninhabited. An example of bush tucker would be something like witchetty grubs, or perhaps even crocodile meat.
Candy
None of the above
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If someone says they going to "bliksem" you in South Africa, what are they going to do?
Hit you
"Bliksem" is an Afrikaans language word that means that some is going to do some bodily harm to you, as in "I am going to bliksem you." Interestingly, it can also be used to show amazement as in "Bliksem, did you see that?"
Buy you a beer
Take you to the supermarket
None of the above
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You Got:
/35
