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 8 names in this directory beginning with the letter E.
Eager Beaver.
A soldier is so anxious to impress his superiors that he volunteers for every job that's offered; or otherwise displays unusual diligence.
Eagle Day.
Payday; also known as the day the eagle shits. A reference to the American eagle that appears on some coins.
Ear Beater.
A person who doesn't let you get a word in edgewise.
Egg in Your Beer.
Too much of a good thing.
Eggs
Bombs.
Eight Ball.
A solider who gets into trouble so much that he's a liability to his unit; from the old notion that it is bad luck to be behind the eight ball in pocket billiards.
Eisenhower Jacket.
A short; fitted; belted jacket of the type made popular by General Dwight D. Eisenhower during the war.
Emily Posters.
Naval cadets; so-called because they were given a condensed edition of an etiquette book by Emily Post.

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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