UK English vrs US English - light thread

salt

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 5:59 am

Chickensoupprof wrote:

The British are really generous with the word 'gorgeous' like 'Oh she is GORGEOUS' Americans are only using that in my experience as ''pretty'' or handsome'' while British use 'gorgeous' as ''she is everything'' like when they are all over some one. Next thread I will give a little Dutch lesson ok? =)

You're probably right. And Americans are similarly generous with the word 'awesome' - Brits save that only for G-d Smile

הגדול והנורא

Brits also say 'brilliant' - at least we did as kids. Probably means the same as the American 'awesome'.

amother

Pansy

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 7:00 am

amother [ Oatmeal ] wrote:

Someone told me recently that 'chuffed' which means 'flattered' in British, means the opposite in American.
Is this true?
eg. in British English we would say "I'm so chuffed that you like the cake I baked".

Yes but we also use the word flattered Smile

amother

Pansy

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 7:02 am

amother [ Snowflake ] wrote:

Are there stinging nettles in the USA? My american friend was in the UK for a few months when she realised that stinging nettles were not a fictional plant from Harry Potter but actually exist. In far too large numbers I might say.

That's right, you do not want to wade through a nettle bush. Ouch! For hours/days afterwards it stings and is itchy.

amother

Pansy

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 8:32 am

Sesame wrote:

We definitely say flip flops in the U.K.

Tube got me for a while until I figured out it’s a rubber ring!
Tube in England is the underground train.

Yes a thong is a type of underwear 😂

amother

Pansy

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 8:33 am

doodlesmom wrote:

Is it an English thing to say expiry date instead of expiration date?

Ice lolly for ices? Or freeze pops?

Yes we say expiry date, or best before end.

Ice lollies (with a stick) or ice pops.

Amelia Bedelia

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 9:09 am

A lot of these words listed here are used in the US too, although perhaps not in everyday speech. Some other words are common but not in frum circles, or at least not in my circles.

Hosiery
Outing
Exams
Bugs (everyone I know says bugs!)
Sofa
Cutlery
Film
Autumn is interchangeable with fall
Even corridor

amother

Viola

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 9:31 am

amother [ DarkYellow ] wrote:

Haha I say cheerio also, but I’m not your sons teacher!
Anyone else have this issue…. August comes along, the school supply lists are sent, and you look at it and wonder what on earth they want????
Each year I suffer!! A 1 inch binder, a 2 inch binder, a folder with pockets, without pockets, a this a that, I never know if I’m getting the correct item!
When we were kids in England the school supplied our exercise books (here in the US they’re called composition books or marble notebooks or something else confusing!) and we brought a pencil case with whatever we thought was necessary and that was about it. No?
I’m a very normal, well adjusted, extremely capable woman, but American school supply lists will forever confuse me!! LOL

Yes!
Schools supplies!!!
Even when referring to them I get them wrong to my kids despair.
Its in your folder / file. What are you talking about?!

I do remember exercise books and wrapping them at home so we definitely had to bring them to school.
School didn’t supply. But I may be aging myself.
Also Maths books were squared. One number a box. I think it really would help my little kids in math actually. Helps everything line up. …

amother

Whitewash

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 9:33 am

Amelia Bedelia wrote:

These aren't all British. We say couch for sofa, I don't know anyone who says bugs, I believe that's the American term.

amother

DarkGreen

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 9:38 am

Oh and in England, if you're not feeling well, you have a tummy ache and make sick
In America, you're not feeling good, have a stomach bug and throw up.
And don't tell an American that it's spitting outside (very lightly raining). They'll think that you've gone mad! (Crazy)

Amelia Bedelia

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 9:53 am

amother [ Whitewash ] wrote:

These aren't all British. We say couch for sofa, I don't know anyone who says bugs, I believe that's the American term.

In America everyone I know says couch. But sofa can be used too.

And the bugs post sounded like she was referring to it being a British term

amother

Viola

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 9:53 am

amother [ DarkGreen ] wrote:

Right.

I think its , are you going to be sick?( throw up)

Also.having a temperature Rather than fever

Some may be locarion based in england ro. North and South have their own dialects and phrases.

Car related:. Indicater vs blinker
Boot vs trunk
And what did we call the horn? I cant remember but it wasnt horn.

Also my dad called the radio the wireless. That is probably an age thing.

Amelia Bedelia

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 9:54 am

amother [ DarkGreen ] wrote:

Tummy ache is used in America. I think stomach bug may be used too but I personally don't know anyone who does.

CatLady

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 10:37 am

I'm from Montreal, and Canadian English is a hybrid of British and American. Of course, we've added French to the mix. So we call a stomach virus a "gastro" and if you hear us discussing a "grippe", it's the flu.

I was once in the presence of a British person who cut themselves cooking and said "I need a plaster." I freaked out, because I thought they meant that the injury was so severe that it needed a cast instead of... wait for it... a bandaid.

amother

Steelblue

Wed, Jun 23 2021, 11:04 am

I remember years ago my Australian sil, newly graduated, tried to reach a friend and said, "she's engaged."
I said, "Oh, your friend is engaged?"
She explained that she meant that her phone line was busy.