Talk like a local with UrbanDictionary.com

While not all of us use dead giveaways like fanny packs and well-thumbed phrase books on our travels (not that there’s anything wrong with that), we can certainly show we “ain’t from around these parts” as soon as we open our mouths. Before your trip, brush up on some of the words not found in those phrase books with UrbanDictionary.com.

Launched in 1999 by Aaron Peckham, then a student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, the website allows users to upload their favorite definitions, and gauge trends in pop culture and urban slang in different regions of the world. It’s now morphed into a mega list of some joking (see “milkshake“) and some serious regional hipster and cultural words and phrases. An obvious example: “Mates” means male friends or drinking buddies in New Zealand, Britain and Australia. In Dubai, you’d call them your shabaab and in Poland, they’re ziom.

Here are a few more of our city- and country-specific favorites. Share yours in our Comments section. Or peruse UrbanDictionary.com, check out their book, or sign up for their Word of the Day e-mail to keep track of the many more examples online.

Please note: Since slang terms can often involve what some might call vulgar descriptions, some of these links as well as other listings on Urban Dictionary may not be suitable for work.

Nuff Good:
English slang for really good.

Eejit:
Irish slang for “idiot,” often used affectionately.

Chida:
Spanish equivalent of cool or awesome.

Pack a sad:
New Zealand slang for throwing a tantrum.

No one is on top of you:
Israeli slang meaning you’re the best.

Yank Moment:
Canadian slang term equivalent of saying “Blond Moment” in the U.S.

Um, gee. Thanks.

— Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[Photo: UrbanDictionary.com]

Permalink | E-mail | Print | Add to My Trips

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 7:00 pm by Whitney and is filed under Arts & Culture, Global, News, Tips & Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.