Do you use any social media? You probably have an account on more than one platform. That isn’t surprising since nowadays, this is one of the ways we often choose to meet new people and stay connected with our friends and family. In the era of continuous migration, social media has become the lifeline that connects us to the world.
The fact that you’re reading this article on the internet already makes you part of this world without borders. But do you know how to speak the language of this international house? Do you really know the slang used on social media? Have you mastered the English acronyms used along with their meanings?
English Vocabulary for the Internet and Social Media
Not long ago, studying English in an academy was all that you needed to achieve a level that was good enough to communicate with the world without problems. But all that is changing by leaps and bounds. Nowadays, thanks to the contributions of the thousands of people who use English every day on social media – especially the youngest users – new words and abbreviations are constantly being born. To really be connected in this medium, you also need to know the slang. In this article, we want to tell you the abbreviations, the words, and all the internet vocabulary in English that you’ll need to navigate the cyber ocean. After reading, you’ll know exactly what to say as well as what others are talking about.
Abbreviations in English and Their Meaning
Of everything that happens with English social media slang, keeping up with the acronyms is probably the most difficult. When you find a series of capital letters, it isn’t only necessary to know English, you also need to know the English used on social media networks. We’re going to explore some of the most used and fundamental acronyms so that you won’t miss anything that’s happening around you.
AMA
Meaning: Ask Me Anything
Source: Began as a series on Reddit. When an authority on a subject opens up the possibility of asking questions, they begin with that abbreviation: AMA.
Where to find it: In forums or in conversations with experts
How to use it: “Hi, I’m Sam and I came to tell you everything you want to know about phishing. AMA!”
Bae
Meaning: Before Anyone Else
Source: While Urban Dictionary considers this word to be a Danish term referring to faecal matter, it’s used across social media as an expression of love in English. It’s a replacement for “babe” (baby, love, sweetie, boyfriend, girlfriend, etc.).
Where to find it: In countless memes and posts
How to use it: “I’m meeting bae tonight. I’ve missed him all week!!”
Dafuq
Meaning: (What) the f***?
Source: Created as an alternative to the existing WTF acronym.
Where to find it: In memes and posts that show surprise or astonishment
How to use it: -Wanna go for a picnic in the graveyard? –No, man! Dafuq is wrong with you?
English Social Media Vocabulary
Now that we’ve cleared up your doubts about the most commonly used English abbreviations, let’s see some of the slang that you’ll have to know when browsing the social media networks. This vocabulary will also be very helpful when you post since it will improve the reach of your posts and help increase your followers.
Antonio Banderas: “I knew… yes, no, woman, man.” The famous Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, currently nominated for an Oscar for his role as Salvador Mallo in Pain and Glory, is a clear example showing that to learn English, you need a lot of determination. But above all, you have simply got to believe in yourself. When Banderas took part in the production of The Mambo Kings (1992), he found learning English to be an uphill battle. He used to study English for eight hours a day in an academy and felt that he wasn’t progressing enough. According to Banderas himself, he had to recite his lines phonetically from memory (without understanding exactly what he was saying). To communicate with the director, he had to use a simultaneous interpreter. Banderas remembers that to participate in this film, his agent sent him to London for an interview, and, of course, it was entirely in English. Banderas learned only three sentences: Yes, of course, and I can do that. While the other person spoke fluently, Banderas only nodded and repeated the expressions. Even though it was clear that Banderas didn’t speak a word of English, nothing prevented him from travelling to New York and joining the team of this famous film, which would open the doors of Hollywood to him.
Penélope Cruz: The Spanish star Penélope Cruz has been very successful in recent years thanks to roles in which she has had to use English, but she hasn’t always had it so easy. Originally from a small town near Madrid, Spain, the idea of success in Hollywood wasn’t a realistic goal, especially without knowing English. Penélope has admitted in several interviews that since she studied French in secondary school, English came later and she struggled to learn it. After getting her first English role in the 1998 film Hi-Lo Country, Penélope still couldn’t speak much English and memorised her scripts word for word even without knowing what they meant. Obviously, as her career progressed, she received more help to perfect her English. This is how she managed to become the first Spanish actress to win an Oscar in 2004 for the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona and to have her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When asked the secret of her success when it comes to learning English, Penelope replied that learning phonetics was fundamental for reading the scripts. Rodrigo Santoro:
The most recognised Brazilian actor in Hollywood has participated in films such as 300, Ben Hur, and Pelé: Birth of a Legend. He didn’t learn to speak English until he was 27 years old. Santoro admits that in the beginning, he barely knew how to say basic expressions like “The book is on the table” or “Where is the restroom?” That’s clearly insufficient for the film industry. Faced with the challenge of participating in different productions in the United States, Santoro decided to live in North America for some time to study and really improve his English. Santoro said, “I didn’t grow up speaking in English or Spanish… Working in another language makes me think and does exactly what you don’t want when you are acting.” Although his native language is Portuguese, English has been the key that opened the door to Hollywood; an experience that has transformed his life forever.
Mila Kunis: Actress Mila Kunis has such perfect English that few know that she was actually born in Ukraine. In 1991, when she was just seven years old, her parents decided to move to the United States with her and her brother Michael. They wanted to escape what they thought was anti-Semitism in Ukraine and seek a better future for their children. Kunis will always remember that her first day of school in a foreign country, saying it was like being blind and deaf at the same time since she didn’t understand either the language or the culture. After two years in the United States, Kunis’s father enrolled her in acting classes at the Beverly Hills Studio. Soon after, she got small roles in some ads that led to her adventures in the world of acting. Mila had to work tirelessly on her English even though she spoke Russian at home with her family. Today, she’s a very successful actress and has appeared in television series such as That ‘70s Show and films like Black Swan. In the difficult world of Hollywood, speaking English was necessary for Mila, and it was certainly worth it.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For a couple of weeks every year the world takes on a magic glow, people seem merrier and even winter somehow feels cosy.
Whether you’re celebrating a religious festival, like Hanukkah or Christmas, or a more secular occasion, you’re sure to have your own selection of rituals or customs that make the holiday season so special. Our favorite Christmas traditions around the world are loud, proud, and guarantee oodles of festive fun.
Giant Lantern Festival, Philippines
The Giant Lantern Festival (Ligligan Parul Sampernandu) is held each year on the Saturday before Christmas Eve in the city of San Fernando – the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” The festival attracts spectators from all over the country and across the globe. Eleven barangays (villages) take part in the festival and competition is fierce as everyone pitches in trying to build the most elaborate lantern. Originally, the lanterns were simple creations around half a metre in diameter, made from ‘papel de hapon’ (Japanese origami paper) and lit by candle. Today, the lanterns are made from a variety of materials and have grown to around six metres in size. They are illuminated by electric bulbs that sparkle in a kaleidoscope of patterns.
Gävle Goat, Sweden
Since 1966, a 13-metre-tall Yule Goat has been built in the center of Gävle’s Castle Square for the Advent, but this Swedish Christmas tradition has unwittingly led to another “tradition” of sorts – people trying to burn it down. Since 1966 the Goat has been successfully burned down 29 times – the most recent destruction was in 2016.
If you want to see how the Goat fares this year when it goes up on December 1st, you can follow its progress on the Visit Gävle website through a live video stream.
Krampus, Austria
A beast-like demon creature that roams city streets frightening kids and punishing the bad ones – nope, this isn’t Halloween, but St. Nicholas’ evil accomplice, Krampus. In Austrian tradition, St. Nicholas rewards nice little boys and girls, while Krampus is said to capture the naughtiest children and whisk them away in his sack. In the first week of December, young men dress up as the Krampus (especially on the eve of St. Nicholas Day) frightening children with clattering chains and bells.
Kentucky Fried Christmas Dinner, Japan
Christmas has never been a big deal in Japan. Aside from a few small, secular traditions such as gift-giving and light displays, Christmas remains largely a novelty in the country. However, a new, quirky “tradition” has emerged in recent years – a Christmas Day feast of the Colonel’s very own Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The festive menu will soon be advertized on the KFC Japan website and, even if you don’t understand Japanese, the pictures sure will look delicious with everything from a Christmas-themed standard bucket to a premium roast-bird feast.
The Yule Lads, Iceland
In the 13 days leading up to Christmas, 13 tricksy troll-like characters come out to play in Iceland. The Yule Lads (jólasveinarnir or jólasveinar in Icelandic) visit the children across the country over the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. For each night of Yuletide, children place their best shoes by the window and a different Yule Lad visits leaving gifts for nice girls and boys and rotting potatoes for the naughty ones. Clad in traditional Icelandic costume, these fellas are pretty mischievous, and their names hint at the type of trouble they like to cause: Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod), Giljagaur (Gully Gawk), Stúfur (Stubby), Þvörusleikir (Spoon-Licker), Pottaskefill (Pot-Scraper), Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker), Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer), Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler), Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-Swiper), Gluggagægir (Window-Peeper), Gáttaþefur (Doorway-Sniffer), Ketkrókur (Meat-Hook) and Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer). Visit Iceland this Christmas and catch them all!
Saint Nicholas’ Day, Germany
Not to be confused with Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas), Nikolaus travels by donkey in the middle of the night on December 6 (Nikolaus Tag) and leaves little treats like coins, chocolate, oranges and toys in the shoes of good children all over Germany, and particularly in the Bavarian region. St. Nicholas also visits children in schools or at home and in exchange for sweets or a small present each child must recite a poem, sing a song or draw a picture. In short, he’s a great guy. But it isn’t always fun and games. St. Nick often brings along Knecht Ruprecht (Farmhand Rupert). A devil-like character dressed in dark clothes covered with bells and a dirty beard, Knecht Ruprecht carries a stick or a small whip in hand to punish any children who misbehave.
Norway
Perhaps one of the most unorthodox Christmas Eve traditions can be found in Norway, where people hide their brooms. It’s a tradition that dates back centuries to when people believed that witches and evil spirits came out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on. To this day, many people still hide their brooms in the safest place in the house to stop them from being stolen.
Lighting of National Hanukkah Menorah, Washington, D.C. – US
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated with much fanfare across the United States with one of the most elaborate events taking place on a national stage. Since 1979, a giant nine-metre Menorah has been raised on the White House grounds for the eight days and nights of Hanukkah. The ceremony in Washington, D.C. is marked with speeches, music, activities for kids, and, of course, the lighting of the Menorah.
The lighting of the first candle at the White House takes place at 4pm, rain or shine, and an additional candle is lit each successive night. The event is free to attend, but tickets must be booked in advance.
Venezuela
Love Christmas, but think it could be improved by a spot of roller-blading? If the answer is yes, visit Caracas, Venezuela this year. Every Christmas Eve, the city’s residents head to church in the early morning – so far, so normal – but, for reasons known only to them, they do so on roller skates. This unique tradition is so popular that roads across the city are closed to cars so that people can skate to church in safety, before heading home for the less-than-traditional Christmas dinner of ‘tamales’ (a wrap made out of cornmeal dough and stuffed with meat, then steamed).
Day of the Little Candles, Colombia
Little Candles’ Day (Día de las Velitas) marks the start of the Christmas season across Colombia. In honour of the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception, people place candles and paper lanterns in their windows, balconies and front yards. The tradition of candles has grown, and now entire towns and cities across the country are lit up with elaborate displays. Some of the best are found in Quimbaya, where neighbourhoods compete to see who can create the most impressive arrangement.
Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto
In wintry, wonderful Toronto the annual Cavalcade of Lights marks the official start to the holiday season. The first Cavalcade took place in 1967 to show off Toronto’s newly constructed City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. The Square and Christmas tree are illuminated by more than 300,000 energy-efficient LED lights that shine from dusk until 11 pm until the New Year. On top of that, you’ll get to witness spectacular fireworks shows and engage in some outdoor ice skating.
The end of the year is approaching. That feeling of Christmas is beginning to arrive as well. In some countries, people gather together to sing Christmas songs and carols. In others, everyone listens to them at home. If there is anything that exists almost everywhere in the world, that would be Christmas songs.
Have you ever considered using this traditional music to help improve your English level? Learning and developing your skills in this language doesn’t have to be tedious. You don’t need to isolate yourself from the world to study for hours on end. On the contrary, learning should be an opportunity to meet more people and to discover new cultures.
Learn English With Songs and Movies
One of the fundamental pillars when learning English, or any language, is to also learn about the culture that language belongs to. This will help you know how the language works in context and is something that needs to be present in any learning program.
Listening to songs or watching movies in English will help you improve in many aspects of the language itself. But it will also help you to immerse yourself in Anglo-Saxon culture and context. This is very important! Knowing the culture will help make it much easier for you to know what to say or how to behave in specific situations. This is something you simply can’t achieve through memorising grammar rules.
The Benefits of Learning English With the Lyrics to Christmas Songs
Learning English with traditional Christmas songs or with more modern versions will really help your English. These incredible benefits are similar to those that storytelling gives you. Would you like to learn about them?
You will expand your English vocabulary. You’ll also learn specific words related to this beautiful time of year. ’Tis the season to be jolly!
In some modern songs, but also in slightly older ones, there are some very interesting words and sayings. This is similar to what happens with Cockney rhyming slang. Slang, that is to say, colloquialisms, go beyond the English you learn when you study grammar. This is the English spoken in the streets, which is the part of the language that is most alive and changeable.
Just like what happens when you watch movies, TV series, or programs in English, when you listen to Christmas songs in this language, you’ll also be training your ear to how the language sounds and how different words are pronounced. This is an excellent opportunity to practice understanding different accents!
With each song, you’ll learn a little more about the culture to which that particular theme belongs. You’ll learn about what they eat, the activities they enjoy, the traditions they have, and how they celebrate Christmas.
Learn English With Subtitled Songs As with movies, it can often be difficult to understand what you’re hearing at first. This can happen when you don’t know the language well. It can also happen when your ear isn’t accustomed to the accent or vocabulary of the person speaking.
Don’t despair! There is always a solution. Something that can help you, in the beginning, is to look for subtitled versions of the songs. As you know, there are two ways to subtitle audio, in your language or in the speaker’s original language. The first option can solve many obstacles but it doesn’t present as many challenges as the second.
Short Christmas Songs in English If you like this idea and want to start practicing before December arrives, here are the titles of some of the most well-known Christmas songs. With these short songs, you’ll definitely improve your level of English. You’ll also get into the Christmas spirit at the same time! Let’s sing!
Let It Snow
Silent Night
Deck the Halls
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Jingle Bells
If, after singing, you want to know how much your English has improved, we invite you to find out. You’ll see that after singing these songs (or any others that you want to learn) you’ll have learned new vocabulary. You’ll also learn more about the climate, traditions, food, and Christmas activities of the English-speaking world. This means that not only will your English level improve, but you also will have taken a small Christmas trip without even leaving your home. You can prepare yourself to talk about Christmas in English with people from other countries and learn about their customs just through songs. That’s amazing!
But how can you stay motivated when you’re frustrated or bored?
Try something new.
Here are some ideas to make your studying more fun and effective.
17 Fun and Easy Ways to Learn English for ESL Learners
1.Add Some Music
Listening to music while you study Englishcan wake up your mind and put you in a better mood to learn.Happy songs can help you feel re-energized and motivated if you’re getting bored, while calming music can help you feel more relaxed if you’re feeling nervous about an upcoming test.
Keep in mind, however, that listening to music with lyrics can actually distract you from what you’re studying.The words of the song can take your attention away from the English words you’re trying to learn.If this bothers you, then you can study with music that doesn’t have lyrics, like jazz or classical.
2.Play Scrabble
Scrabble is a classic board game in which players use random lettered tiles to create words in a crossword fashion.It’s a fantastic way tostrengthen your English vocabulary. Playing Scrabble challenges you to really think in English as you try to come up with different words with your set of letters.
If you’re taking an English class, buy the board game and invite your classmates to play with you.You can also play Scrabble online through websites like Facebook, where the game is called Words With Friends.
No matter your preference, you’ll find something to watch with these lists of the greatest TV shows for learning English.If you’re looking for a laugh, here are the10 best modern American sitcoms to learn English.
Sitting in the same place, in the same room, every time you study can start to get boring very quickly.If you always study at home, try going to a library or a coffee shop.The change of scenery will improve your enthusiasm, plus changing locations has been shown to improve memory.
Your brain makes connections between what you’re studying and where you are.When you study somewhere different, you force your brain to make new connections to what you’re studying.The more connections your brain makes, the more likely you are to remember what you learned!
6.Find a Conversation Partner
Get more English conversation practice by searching for English friends online.You might be able to connect with another language learner in your area, or even just exchange emails, instant messages or have Skype conversations in English.
TryConversation Exchange, a free website that helps language learners connect for language exchange.
In a language exchange, you have conversations with an English speaker who is studying your native language.This way, your partner practices speaking your native language with you, and then you get to practice speaking English with him or her.
Of course, you can add words to your own vocabulary list.Not only that, FluentU’s “Learn Mode” turns videos into learning experiences. “Learn Mode” teaches you new vocabulary by using video clips that are personalized for you.How are they personalized for you?Based on the words that you have been learning.
9.Use English Resources for Children
Pick up some English children’s books from your local library to use for reading practice.The simple language will be easy to follow, and the stories are usually more entertaining than the typical dialogues you find in English grammar books.You could also play some interactive games that are geared towards young English readers, like educational video games or evenfree online ESL games.
10.Get a Book of English Jokes
While at the library, you could also look for joke books, which are surprisingly useful learning tools.In order to have English conversations, not only do you need to speak the language, but you also have to understand English culture.
Humor is very culture-specific; something that’s funny in one country might not make sense in another.Reading a joke book is also a good way to practice tricky concepts like puns and idioms. You might find the joke book entertaining, and they will teach you how English speakers laugh and have fun.
11.Learn English Slang
One of the most fun parts about learning English is the slang.Slang is more informal and interesting, plus you’ll sound less robotic and have more of your own personality when using it.
Learn a few English songs and sing along with them.It might be interesting to finally learn the meaning of the lyrics to some of your favorite English songs.BothFluentUandLyrics Trainingare great online platforms to learn the lyrics to your favorite English song.
You can sing at home while you’re cooking or taking a shower, or gather some friends and go sing at a karaoke bar.Singing English songs is a great way to practice speaking and intonation, plus you can have fun singing songs that you already know and enjoy.
13.Read Blogs About Learning English
Following a blog is an excellent way to add some fun to your English learning.And lucky for you, there are lots offantastic blogs out there about learning English! With a selection that spans from “ESL Hip Hop” to “English with a Twist,” you’re sure to find a blog that interests you.
14.Start Your Own Blog in English
Once you’re familiar with the idea of a blog, why not start your own in English?Spend a little time writing in English every day.It doesn’t have to be exciting; you could write about what you did that day or how your English studies are going.
While you certainly could publish the blog for all to see, keep in mind that you can always keep it private too – or you could even just write in a journal.This exercise is a perfect way to become more comfortable describing your interests and hobbies in English.
15.Get an English App for your Phone
You’re probably constantly on your phone, right?So why not use it as an opportunity to practice English?There are dozens of great apps, and so the hardest part is simply narrowing it down to just a few.Here are the current eight best smartphone apps for ESL learners.
16.Make a Mnemonic Device
A mnemonic device helps you remember information by associating it with words, images or sounds you already know.For example, to remember how to spell “because,” you could think of the phrase “BigElephantsCanAlwaysUnderstandSmallElephants.”
You can find many examples of mnemonic devices online, but mnemonics are most useful when you make up your own.You can connect the mnemonic device to your native language, and you’re more likely to remember something that has personal meaning for you.
17.Track Your Progress like “Giveit100”
“Giveit100” was a community of people all striving to get better at something in 100 days.They would record a 10-second video every day that showed them practicing their skill.
You’ll be able to see and hear your progress over time, while creating some accountability for yourself.Share the videos with your friends or on social media—it’s very motivating to have other people rooting for you (hoping for your success)!
Welcome to English at LERNFORUM Chur.
We teach English one to one or in small, personalised groups at every level and for every English language need.
Cambridge and Swiss qualified, we're mother-language speaking, and most importantly, have a passion for helping you speak English.
