British Slang For Breasts (14 Examples!)

Slang can serve many purposes.

Sometimes, the word “euphemism” might slightly better describe what certain colloquial words are attempting to do.

There are some things we just don’t particularly like or need to talk about in certain situations.

Breasts sit in this strange category in that roughly half the population have them, yet talking about them can be taboo.

In Britain, a great deal of slang has arisen both despite of and because of this—so let’s look at some of these terms.

In This Article

British Slang For Breasts

Tits

Without doubt the single most common slang term for breasts in Britain is “tits”.

This one is used across all generations and by all local slangs and dialects in Britain.

Some may more often employ other words, but there is virtually no one in Britain who will not understand what you mean when you use the word “tits”.

That said, it’s not really appropriate for polite conversation, so do be wary.

The plural “tits” is first attested from 1928, although the singular comes all the way from Old English.

There, titt meant a nipple or teat.

The modern slang comes from the same root though apparently without knowledge, as a variant of teat, or potential from the diminutive form titties.

Example in a sentence: “She has great tits!”

Boobs

Next we have one that is just as common as tits though used in a rather different way.

It would be difficult to sum up the differences and would take a long time to go into in detail.

Boobs, though, is effectively a slightly more polite version of “tits”.

It’s again used throughout the entire country by all people, and there will not be anyone who doesn’t understand the term.

Some consider it more childish, though this sentiment is not universal.

This term was originally a U.S. piece of slang.

It is first attested in 1929, most likely deriving from the older term “boobies” from the 17^th Century.

This is related to the term bubby, and most of these all seem to come from the Latin pupa which literally means “little girl”.

Originally, then, it was a childish term and this is what is meant by the relation to little girl.

Example in a sentence: “Stop talking about boobs at the table!”

Baps

Certainly a more uncouth and impolite term but one that many in Britain nonetheless use, next we have “baps”.

It’s much more regional, and mostly limited to parts of the north of England, particularly the North West.

This is one you would use among friends usually as a joke, though there are certainly people who just habitually use the word in place of “breasts”.

However, outside the north, most will likely not even be sure what you mean.

In the north west of England, the term “bap” is one term for what might otherwise be called a bread roll.

This in itself is a heated debate so you may well hear other terms, but this is where the slang for breasts comes from.

The idea is that breasts are shaped like “baps”.

It’s hard to say how long this term has been in use, though it is probably quite some time.

Example in a sentence: “Do my baps look good?”

Bristols

Next we have “Bristols”, which is an example of Cockney rhyming slang.

Cockney rhyming slang, if you don’t know, is a slang used in the East End of London in which you take a word that rhymes with what you want to say and replace the actual word.

This, then, is really only used by a very small portion of the population, and though many examples of rhyming slang are well-known outside of London, this one isn’t.

You may be wondering how “Bristols” rhymes with “breast”.

The full slang is “Bristol City,” as in the football team, though it is usually just said as Bristol.

Bristol city rhymes with “titty”, so this is where you get this particular piece of slang.

It’s hard to say when it was first used.

Example in a sentence: “Blimey! Look at those bristols!”

Breasticles

Not the most widely used, but another slang term for breasts you might hear in Britain is “breasticles”.

This is obviously not very polite and only the kind of thing you would use as a joke term.

However, some do indeed use it and make a habit of using it more commonly than other slang terms.

The term is simply a play on breasts and testicles, and there really isn’t much more to be said about it than that!

Example in a sentence: “My breasticles would look great in that dress!”

Honkers

Again, without doubt not a particularly polite term but one that you will hear from time to time is “honkers”.

This can have a few different slang meanings, including a person’s nose, but in parts of Britain it can also be a slang term for breasts.

It’s far from the most common term in Britain but you will be widely understood if you use this one, especially in the plural—in singular, some might think you mean nose.

There are a few slang terms for breasts related to the idea that they make a “honk” noise when grabbed.

This is true both in American and British slang, and this is where this term comes from.

“Honk” is first recorded in 1814 as imitative of the sound of a horn.

When it came to mean “breasts” is hard to say.

Example in a sentence: “Put your honkers away!”

Hooters

Similarly, another term you might hear for breasts in Britain is “hooters”.

This is less common and much more of an American term than a British, but certainly one that you will hear from time to time.

Furthermore, British people will more or less universally understand what you mean by this term, even if they don’t use it themselves.

Again, it’s certainly not very polite, so be wary of the situations in which you use it!

The term is first attested as having this meaning in 1972.

Though people most commonly associated the Hooters restaurant chain with the term now, those chains did not begin until 1983.

It again relates to the noise, as “hoot” is the noise an owl makes.

Example in a sentence: “Wow! She’s got some great hooters!”

Jubblies

This one is certainly more uniquely British and one you won’t hear much outside of Britain.

At the same time, it is also again not the most commonly used slang term in Britain.

Most, again, will understand what you mean by this term, and it’s used mostly as a kind of jokey, impolite and tongue-in-cheek term for breasts.

It is somewhat more common in the south and north of England, though again it will be understood in most places.

The etymology of this term is unknown.

It was originally an Australian word, and has been attested since the 1990s.

Some compare it to another slang term for breasts, “jugs”, but the truth is it may simply be a nonsense word which was invented and caught on quickly.

Example in a sentence: “I do love a pair of jubblies!”

Jugs

Following on from that, then, another slang term for breasts in Britain is “jugs”.

This is quite common and certainly one you’ll hear from time to time among the right people.

It’s more common among older generations and does not seem to have passed down to the younger people as much as other terms have.

Nonetheless, it’s still widely understood—though, once again, far from a particularly polite slang term.

This one, too, originally started out as Australian slang.

The term at first was “milk jugs”, which I’m sure I don’t need to explain to you!

It was then shortened down to just “jugs”.

This term is first attested in the 1920s, and spread to Britain sometime in the 20^th Century where it became very popular.

Example in a sentence: “Do you know the girl I mean? The one with the big jugs?”

Titties

This is another very common one, being simply a variation of “tits”.

However, while it is used and you’ll certainly be understood if you use this one in Britain, it’s also far, far less common in Britain than it is in the U.S.

Tits is the far more likely option for most British people, though many do use this one as something of a joke.

Example in a sentence: “She has got some fantastic titties!”

Rack

Again, another one that is more heavily associated with America but which you’ll definitely hear in Britain is “rack”.

This one will certainly be understood if you use it, and it has taken hold in some parts of Britain to the extent that many will indeed think of it as local slang.

At the same time, the country as a whole still generally regards it as American slang more than British.

It also goes beyond impolite and is just outright vulgar for most people.

It was originally American, and seems to have been related to the term “rack” as it was used for a set of antlers.

This was first attested in 1945, and then the breasts meaning by 1991.

It’s not entirely clear why this gave rise to the next one, though it’s thought it’s simply the fact that deer have two antlers.

Example in a sentence: “Check out the rack on her!”

Milkers

Next we have a very tongue-in-cheek term for breasts, “milkers”.

This one is somewhat common across Britain and again, in the right circles, you’ll certainly be understood if you use this one.

Most people do not really use this term in any serious degree, and it is mostly just used as a joke term for breasts.

That said, many do indeed use it somewhat habitually.

The term simply derives from the fact that breasts produce milk for children.

No one knows when this term started being used, though it’s certainly not all that old as best we can tell.

Example in a sentence: “Milkers is a horrible word for breasts!”

Knockers

A more quintessentially British term next, “knockers” is a very widely used slang term for breasts in Britain.

While it is certainly not as common as it once was, and is much more likely to be used by older people than younger, everyone understands what it means and it does remain still very common.

Again, it is not exactly polite, so you’ll want to be wary of how and when you use the term.

The term is first attested in 1941, and most likely relates to the meaning of “door knockers”.

This is not entirely clear, but most agree it relates to the shape of breasts and how many door knockers, overall, are of a similar shape.

The term may be older than ’41, but we don’t have any documented evidence to go back further.

Example in a sentence: “Look at the knockers on her!”

Norks

Worth mentioning but certainly one that is dying out as a slang term for breasts is “norks”.

You won’t hear this from anyone young and even from most adults under a certain age, but it is still used and understood to some extent.

It’s associated with the south of England and is thought of as a kind of stunted, frigid slang term for breast.

It is still somewhat widely used as a joke.

This term was also originally Australian, and is first attested in the 1960s.

More than that, though, we cannot say for sure.

One theory suggests it derives from the Norco Co-operative, a butter manufacturer that featured an udder on their packaging—most agree this is a fairly dubious claim, though.

Example in a sentence: “My norks are freezing!”

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So, while most of these won’t go down too well in polite conversation, most “polite conversation” probably won’t involve much discussion of breasts to begin with.

If you need a slang word to talk about breasts in Britain, then “boobs” or “tits” is a perfectly fine go-to.

On the other hand, if you wanted to get a bit more creative with it, then there are certainly plenty of options from up and down the country that you can use and be understood.

More in British Slang

Founder - @PollyWebster

Polly Webster is the founder of Foreign Lingo and a seasoned traveler with a decade of exploration under her belt.

Over the past 10 years, she has journeyed to numerous countries around the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and languages.

Drawing from her rich experiences, Polly now writes insightful articles about travel, languages, traditions, and cultures, sharing her unique perspectives and invaluable tips with her readers.

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