“Uncover the Secret Language of the Vietnam War: 15 Slang Terms That Defined a Generation”
Ever wondered how American soldiers in Vietnam managed to keep their spirits up amidst the chaos? Well, they did it with a unique form of communication—packed with slang and shorthand so distinctive it could easily pass for a dialect of its own! This lingo, often tinged with a dash of flippancy and dry wit, reveals much about their coping mechanisms in a time of distress. From terms that make you chuckle to those that evoke a deeper reflection on the impact of war, here are 15 memorable phrases used by these brave men, ranging from the playful *ball game* to the pragmatic *unbloused*. Curious to uncover the stories behind these terms? You’re in for a wild ride! For a deeper dive into this fascinating topic, LEARN MORE.
American soldiers in Vietnam communicated using so much slang and shorthand that it almost seems like its own English dialect. Their language, often both flippant and matter-of-fact, sheds light on how they coped with the horrors of war. Here are 15 memorable terms, from ball game to unbloused.
- Ball game
- Band-Aid
- Butter bar
- Dap
- Didi mau
- Funny papers
- Klick
- Lurp
- Monday pill
- Number ten thousand
- Peanut
- Shake and bake
- Turtle
- Two-stepper
- Unbloused
Ball game
Any military operation.
Band-Aid
A medic.
Butter bar
A second lieutenant, the lowest-ranking officer. The uniform insignia for second lieutenants is one gold bar, which looks like a stick of butter. Second lieutenants were also known as brown bars, since the bar on their camouflage uniform was sometimes brown.
Dap
