United Kingdom

British Slang for Greetings & Address

4 British slang terms for greetings & address, each with its meaning, how it is pronounced and an example of it in use.

How people open a conversation and what they call each other. These terms carry the most social information of any slang category: one wrong choice marks you as an outsider, or worse, as rude.

cheers

interjection · Informal

Thanks. By far its most common use in Britain — far more often than as a toast.

+2 more senses

mate

noun · Informal

A friend. The most common word for one in British English.

+2 more senses

Use with care

safe

interjection, adjective · Informal

Thanks; cool; understood. A general-purpose acknowledgement.

+2 more senses

interjection · Colloquial · TAH

Thanks. Very casual and very short — for small favours, not large ones.