WW2 Slang: The Language of the American GI

WWII Slang, GI Expressions, Wartime Lingo, Soldier Sayings

From the sands of North Africa to the hedgerows of France and the jungles of the Pacific, American GIs carried more than weapons and gear—they carried a language all their own. WWII slang was sharp, funny, cynical, and deeply human. It shaped morale, created unity, and helped soldiers turn chaos into something they could understand.

This guide dives deep into the words and expressions that defined the everyday speech of U.S. soldiers, pilots, sailors, Marines, and Allied troops during World War II. From foxhole jokes to radio call signs, here is the unofficial dictionary of the Greatest Generation.

Why WWII Slang Mattered

World War II slang wasn’t just humor—it was survival.
It helped troops:

  • Communicate quickly under stress

  • Build camaraderie across units and branches

  • Lighten the heavy emotional load of combat

  • Create an identity unique to the soldiers of WWII

  • Give nicknames to everything—from the enemy to the rations

Each phrase offers a glimpse into a world where danger and humor lived side by side.

WW2 GI SLANG

All | # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
There are currently 46 names in this directory beginning with the letter B.
B-ache/bellyache.
To complain.
Baby.
Mustard; from its resemblance to that which comes out of the hind end of an infant.
Bags of Mystery.
Sausages.
Bail Out.
Parachute jump from plane; by extension; to get out of a situation like a date.
BAM.
A broad-assed Marine (i.e.; a female Marine).
Bandit
Enemy aircraft
Baptized by Fire.
To have been under enemy fire for the first time; to have received one's first wounds.
Bath Tub.
Motorcycle sidecar.
Battery Acid.
Artificial lemonade powder included in K-rations -considered undrinkable and regularly discarded or used as cleaning solution.
Battle Breakfast.
A Navy term referring to the heavy breakfast of steak and eggs commonly given to sailors and Marines on the morning of a combat operation.
Battle Watch.
To do one's best under difficult circumstances.
Bayonet Course.
Hospital treatment for venereal diseases. Bayonet refers to the male member.
Beachhead.
A beach where invading forces land
Beat Your Gums.
To talk a lot about something. Variations: Gumming; Jawing; Chin Music.
Become a Gold Star in Mom's Window.
A gentle way of saying killed in action.
Bedpan commando
Medical corpsman.
Behavior Report.
Letter to a girl back home.
Belly Cousin.
A man who has slept with a woman you slept with.
Big Time Operator
(BTO)
Big wheel
Anyone with a little authority.
Big-A-Bird
A term sometimes applied by the Port Moresby natives to the B-24s when they first made their appearance in that area.
Bite the Dust.
Killed or wounded.
Blanket Drill.
A nap.
Blind Flying.
A date with a girl you have never seen.
Blister Foot.
Infantryman.
Blister Mechanic.
Hospital corpsman.
Blow It Out Your Barracks Bag!
Shut up! or Go to Hell!
Body Snatcher.
Stretcher bearer.
Bog-pocket
Tightwad.
Bogie
see 'bandit'
Bone.
To study.
Borrowed Brass.
False courage inspired by drugs or drink. Variations: Bought Guts; Drugstore Nerve.
Bottled Sunshine.
Beer.
Boudoir commando
Home-front hero.
Broad With a Heat Wave.
Passionate woman; women with a venereal disease.
Broad With a Load of Lettuce.
A woman of wealth.
Broad With Canned Goods.
A virgin.
Brown-noser.
Ass-kisser. To curry favor; or boot-lick. Variation: Brownie.
Browned off
Annoyed or fed up.
Brush-Off Club.
Men in the armed forces who have been dumped by their girlfriends. Variation: The Ex-Darling Club.
BTO.
Big Time Operator: someone who thinks he's important.
Bubble dancing
Dishwashing.
Buck Private.
The lowest rank in the Army.
Bug Juice.
Insect repellent.
Bunk Lizard.
A lazy solider with a sloth-like attraction to his bed. Variation: Sack Rat.
Burn and Turn.
Game of blackjack.

Why WW2 Slang Still Matters Today

Much of America’s modern military vocabulary—terms like “AWOL,” “snafu,” and “GI”—originated during World War II. These words are more than colorful expressions; they’re pieces of living history. WWII slang gives us: A human connection to the soldiers who fought Insight into how troops communicated under fire A window into morale, humor, and daily hardship A preserved snapshot of 1940s American culture Each phrase tells its own story of courage, grit, and a uniquely American voice forged under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

WW2 Slang Sources:

“Glossary of Army Slang,” American Speech, Vol. 16, No. 3 (Oct., 1941).
“G.I. Lingo,” American Speech, Vol. 20. No. 2 (Apr. 1945)
War Slang: American Fighting Words and Phrases Since the Civil War By Paul Dickson
FUBAR: Soldier Slang of WWII By Gordon L. Rottman

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