10 common informal words (for elementary learners)

We use a lot of informal words when we speak with friends or people we know well. In more formal situations we usually use more ‘standard’ words.

To get you started, here is a list of common English informal words versus their more ‘standard’ equivalents.

‘standard’ word	informal equivalent	example
a child, children	a kid, kids	We have two kids* – a son and a daughter.*
mother	mum	My mum’s* name is Anna.*
father	dad	My mum* and dad met in 1992.*
money	cash	I can’t go to the cinema – I don’t have any cash.
a bicycle	a bike	My brother got a new bike* for Christmas.*
a telephone	a phone	I need to call home; can I borrow your phone?
goodbye	bye	Bye – see you later!
a man	a guy*	That’s the guy* that works in the garage.*
fashionable, attractive	cool	That’s a really cool* hat – where did you buy it?*
my house, my flat	my place	I’m having a party at my place* on Saturday.*

* A guy is usually a man, but we can use guys when we speak to a group of girls or women, or to a mixed group of people:

Hurry up, guys! It’s time to go.

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