Revealed: The outdated British slang words that are making a surprising comeback - so, do you use them?

Revealed: The outdated British slang words that are making a surprising comeback - so, do you use them?
By: dailymail Posted On: January 16, 2026 View: 44

From '6,7' to 'vibe–coding', new slang words and phrases seem to pop up on an almost daily basis. 

But it's time to wind the clock back, as new data shows several outdated words are making a surprising comeback. 

Experts from language learning app Preply have discovered a spike in once–forgotten slang. 

This includes 'lass', which has surged in popularity by 211 per cent, as well as 'owt' and 'scran'.

'Regional slang such as "gaff", "owt" or "scran" is often specific to certain regions, holding a unique cultural significance and sense of identity to those who use them,' explained Anna Pyshna, a spokesperson for Preply. 

'While many of these terms were traditionally confined to local, regional communities, they are now starting to spread wider into everyday conversations.

'As these phrases gain popularity, they’re becoming a fundamental part of modern conversation, embracing the diversity of British regional dialects.'

So, are you using any of these terms? 

Experts from language learning app Preply have discovered a spike in once¿forgotten slang. Pictured: Only Fools and Horses

For the study, Preply analysed UK literacy data to identify the outdated slang words that have experienced an increase in usage from 2000 to 2022. 

Topping the list is 'lass' – a term often heard in Yorkshire to mean a girl or young woman – which has seen a 211.6 per cent increase in usage. 

Next is 'nowt' (136.44 per cent increase), a term from North England meaning nothing, followed by 'scran' (113.42 per cent increase), meaning food. 

'Owt' – commonly used in Northern England meaning anything – has surged by 72.45 per cent. 

This is ahead of 'gaff' (Cockney slang meaning house), which has increased by 14.55 per cent. 

While the reason for this increase remains unclear, Preply suggests it's down to a combination of pop culture trends and TV. 

In particular, it highlights rapper Aitch and streamer Angry Ginge, who appeared on the recent series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! 

'The reappearance of traditional regional slang demonstrates a growing interest in heritage and local culture,' Ms Pyshna explained.

The analysis comes shortly after researchers at WordTips revealed the outdated British slang words people want to bring back the most

Outdated British slang making a comeback

  • Lass +211.6%
  • Nowt +136.44%
  • Scran +113.42%
  • Owt +72.45%
  • Gaff +14.55%

'It is not only creating a sense of community amongst those who use it, as we saw on our television screens with rapper Aitch and streamer Angry Ginge bonding over their Mancunian heritage, but also capturing the attention of those outside these regions.

'The Mancunians' use of these phrases displayed how regional slang can still resonate with mainstream audiences, turning once regional words into a part of the national dialect.'

If you've started using any of these outdated terms, you'll be happy to hear that they're probably here to stay. 

'The comeback of regional slang isn’t just a passing trend,' Ms Pyshna added.

'As more people embrace the quirky charm and unique humour that come with these words, we can expect to see the trend continue to gain momentum. 

'Whether it's through television, social media, or simple conversations, Brits are unknowingly helping to ensure that these endangered terms remain part of modern British vocabulary.'

The analysis comes shortly after researchers at WordTips revealed the outdated British slang words people want to bring back the most. 

Their analysis revealed that 'bloody' is the outdated slang word we love the most.

'Chuffed' is next on the list, followed by 'bugger all', 'bruv', 'sod off' and 'curtain twitcher'.

Other honourable mentions in WordTips' analysis include 'chockablock', 'hank marvin', and of course, the classic 'fit'.

In contrast, 'canny' was found to be the least popular British slang word. 

WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER USE FULL STOPS IN TEXT MESSAGES 

You may think of emoji as silly additions to text messages, but a new study has revealed that the characters can help convey meaning.

The study found that far from being annoying, smiley faces, as well as abbreviations and acronyms, are valuable additions to text messages.

But ending messages with a full stop people was found to be a heartless move that changed the meaning of texts.

Researchers from Binghampton University in New York suggest that new additions to written communication called 'textisms' like LOL and CUL8 are not sloppy nor a sign that written language is dying a death, but provide vital clues only usually found in face-to-face meetings.

Even the use of slang such as 'yeah', 'yup' and 'nope' in text messages provides telltale signs of someone's real emotions and feelings.

Professor Celia Klin, lead author of the study, said: 'In contrast with face-to-face conversation, texters can't rely on extra-linguistic cues such as tone of voice and pauses, or non-linguistic cues such as facial expressions and hand gestures.'

In a spoken conversation, the cues aren't simply add-ons to our words; they convey critical information.

'A facial expression or a rise in the pitch of our voices can entirely change the meaning of our words.

'One way that texters add meaning to their words is by using textisms - things like emoticons, irregular spellings (sooooo) and irregular use of punctuation (!!!)', she said.

An earlier study by Dr Klin found that text messages ending with a full stop are seen as less sincere than text messages that do not end with a period.

These results suggest that punctuation can misconstrue or influence the meaning of text messages.

Skipping punctuation indicates you are answering more spontaneously and heartfelt.

The new study found that full stops are increasingly being replaced with abbreviations, emoticons and the even more recent trend of emoji which include pictures of a cake for someone's birthday or a pint of beer for a night out. 

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