Americans Favorite British Words

We asked Americans which British words they'd like to export to America

[@skierdude95]

Disappointed nobody said wanker.

[@zaftra5126]

I was waiting for it

[@bluemeanie4208]

They already have one.....Donald Trump.

[@russcattell955i]

Tommy, don't be a wanker, they would never understand LOL

[@mimicmimic5931]

Or Bollocks!

[@OldeJanner]

Perhaps they never met you!

[@redsquirrel1086]

I love the guy who has acquired the practice of apologising to people when he has bumped in to them. That is so British.

[@hayleychable1085]

Red Squirrel so true and I apologise to people who bump into me too, what’s that all about? 😆

[@hornkraft9438]

And very American and very Canadian, too. I guess these guys don't get out much, do they?

[@DivinesLegacy]

Doesn’t any normal person apologise after bumping into someone though...?

[@billyshire5482]

It's common worldwide to apologise after bumping into someone. A true Brit will apologise when someone else bumps into them!!

[@LandJYT]

No one in egland apologises because thers no point

[@rbeck3200tb40]

"my favorite word is knobhead .It sort of sums it all up " A quote by the great British thinker Karl Pilkington

[@sharonlangham4253]

rbeck3200tb40 ;

[@span89]

KP The K Man great British thinker. DONT TALK SHITE play a record.

[@wendyharper9454]

A knobhead is a dickhead! I'll explain when you're older....

[@eleanor3323]

AY sorted

[@Katie-B]

@@span89 play a record lmaooo love the podcasts

[@davedave4918]

I remember once using 'blimey' in conversation with an American. When I explained what it meant and its etymology he still didn't get it. Mind you, there was quite a lot he didn't get.

[@Vasyla]

Also, “I’ll tell you what mate”

[@martintabony611]

A "Cat" was the "Cat o' Nine Tails" a whip used for corporal punishment in the Royal Navy.

[@evildead1949]

Martin Tabony thank you Martin......anyway, back to the topic........

[@graemewright9584]

Not enough room to swing a cat !!

[@mac22011964]

As a Yank married to a Brit and been here for 10 years now I am still amazed by the richness of slang and how much of it goes back to olden times....I heard a phrase the other day “caught red handed” ....didn’t have a clue! I also have to agree with others that the versatility and use of the word “bollocks” is unparalleled by any nation.....and what the hell does “going ten to the dozen” mean?

[@danhodson7187]

Haha love getting these outside views of our vernacular! Going ten to the dozen means to go very fast. “Blimey, he was going ten to the dozen!” No idea on the etymology, but that’s what it means 😇

[@marvinc9994]

@@danhodson7187 "entomology" Don't wish to sound like Peter Pedant, but are you SURE that's the word you meant to write ? If I don't ask - someone else will soon enough ;-)

[@danhodson7187]

@@marvinc9994 haha thanks, I think I might be an auto-correct victim there, I of course meant etymology. I have edited. Thanks!

[@keefsmiff]

You are not British until you call your best mate a twatt lol

[@cameronhirtle7316]

"knackered" and as a football fan the phrase "get in!!" is catchy and addictive as hell.

[@MrDaiseymay]

'back of the net'

[@baskervillebee6097]

Phrase: "On your bike"

[@EddyBunter]

"On yer bike" is more accurate.

[@brillsmith2207]

off you pop

[@mattybuividas9929]

Why don't you bike it you old bag

[@festivve]

@@brillsmith2207 Brilliant

[@claytonskids6764]

I’m glad some of our words and phrases are travelling to the US since we’ve absorbed so many US terms over here haha.... friends forever 🤗 🇺🇸🇬🇧

[@throngcleaver]

My favorite, is "ball ache". "Would you mind picking up something from the store, if it's not too much of a ball ache?"

[@GeeCeeWU]

@@leareeves7236 Maybe he's American.

[@mogznwaz]

I say that all the time

[@graemewright9584]

Yeah that’s just descriptive!

[@mana3735]

BOLLOCKS!!! Best word and most meaningful too.

[@jackbeswick3338]

It's really weird seeing people being suprised by the words, because I use them everyday

[@chrishall7915]

Can't believe no-one suggested 'Dog's bollocks'.

[@latinasawntop]

"Bloody hell" "thats mad that" "alright mate?" "you have got to be joking me"

[@largol33t1]

my favorite is "taking the piss"!

[@christopherfairs9095]

It's not fath, it's faff (at about 1.17)

[@paulpalmtree9295]

I am English, and I must confess, I have not quite mastered the English language myself yet. I have been reliably informed that I sound like, the late great actor Terry Thomas, I find this most certainly complimentary. And I feel that I must say, Americans have a wonderful accent, and it goes without saying, are highly respected by myself, and all of my friends, cheers.

[@busterruff9369]

I would say to all British people ,if you ever get the chance to go on holiday to America, then please do, as they are all very polite and friendly like in this video ,

[@hp2385]

I went to america and i was told to speak english. I was speaking english but i am from Birmingham so if u aint from Birmingham then u wont understand. And someone said to me death to the queen. Which is treason. So they didnt seem so nice. Not saying all americans are bad but they are defiantly not all nice.

[@nigellancaster8259]

I'm going to florida in March should be fun lol 😆

[@boblordylordyhowie]

You do know, Americans don't have accents apparently, only others have them, pillocks.

[@SuperNoX86]

You know you're British when you kill their entire family and they say they're sorry. Kind of like Diet Canadian. I'm British and most of the phrases are totally spot on accurate.

[@andrewcurtis100]

Numpty ?

[@kevinfroude8679]

" A sandwich short of a picnic" is another good one....not used so much these days though?

[@narutodssunny]

Bloody hell! Is one of my favorite British words.

[@anghinetti]

narutodssunny: That's two words....

[@plop961]

Arse biscuits 😉. That's a Fart for you ". And remember a biscuit is also what you refer to as a cookie lol.. But all biscuits are dipped in coffee and tea old by ". Not for gravy. You're biscuits are scones. Similar to dumplings. Also dumplings are a nice set of boobs 😉. Nice dumplings luv

[@stayarmy753]

Enrico Volpi Yeah but people say it so quickly it sounds like one😂

[@nigellancaster8259]

Up hill down Dale lol 😆

[@nigellancaster8259]

U make a better door than a window lol 😆 😂 🤣

[@blanked_out_chin]

I've always loved mingin'

[@kevinfroude8679]

Wazzock has always been one of my favourite UK words. Pillock is pretty good as well. Both words have similar meanings.

[@liamwood797]

“This party is very safe” 😂😂

[@hitemhard1991]

Used it wrongly That man is safe or Oh safe, nice one

[@leemarsh6014]

Americans still use a lot of middle English words, Trash is a word we used to say in England, now its rubbish, another is for that part if the year called the fall, we now say autumn.

[@GiaGRitter]

The British guy's commentary caught me off guard and I couldn't stop laughing, "Very good."

[@vikinghex]

I love gobsmacked for surprised

[@Mr._Magee]

Gobbledegook is word I use at work a fair bit. There's a lot of people who talk it.

[@thunder-hedge]

1:28 What a Roadman

[@owencampbell7956]

I had to check I wasn’t on another episode of the undateables

[@talboyovGY]

Tru dat, I lol'ed as it didn't cross my mind initially but it is so accurate

[@graemewright9584]

I love this, it’s genuine and enlightening, thanks!

[@marmadukewinterbotham2599]

I'm English and just moved to Cornwall from the Midlands and although I knew about 'd'rectly' (my Devonshire grandma used it a lot), I'm finding that d'rectly is actually a thing here - meaning a Cornish tradesman, electrician, builder, etc. probably means they're not actually going to get around to the task at all!

[@poppyneese1811]

Nicked, for stolen, my car was nicked.

[@plop961]

Poppy Neese More likely to get Nicked buy a copper" for doing 33 in a 30 mate.

[@Chris-kj7de]

and you can be thrown into the nick for nicking a car

[@Sue474]

I was waiting for 'brilliant' to crop up and it eventually did.

[@kevinfroude8679]

I must admit that I do use that one a lot.

[@jamesrivis620]

Many of these are dated as I have been in North America for 53 years !!! For the uninitiated Britain has so many regional words: Mardy ( a bit negative) , lout or yob ( backward boy), lumock ( bit of a dunce) char (tea) , fried breakfast, a rum-un (oddball) misen (myself), banger (sausage) bint or bird (chick), totty ( tail) sarnie (sandwich), fag (cigarette), tosser (a fuckup), wanker (a jerkoff ), a smidge ( a little bit), titch ( nickname for a little boy), codswallop ( crap), luv { anyone who comes through your register - also any woman), Gobsmacked (amazed) this took even me decades to understand that when amazed you smacked you gob, gob (mouth), a widdle, slash ( a piss),

[@boblordylordyhowie]

Maybe you can enlighten us as to all these videos where Americans are shocked by things in other countries yet we go around the world and take it as it comes, no shocks?

[@hyacinthlynch843]

"Crikey" is one of my favorites.

[@piusx8317]

This made me smile for some reason 😂 What about 'terrar cocka' lol.

[@anghinetti]

What side bread is buttered on rather than toast (1:44).

[@airaction2257]

Get Stuffed or Gordon Bennet

[@mogznwaz]

Oh I love all these! So cute

[@trevormillar1576]

Nobody mentioned "pillock".

[@wendyharper9454]

Britain has also imported countless American words and phrases. One of my favourites is Spackle (for Polyfilla), and I've got into the habit of saying "You got THAT right!" But please can someone tell what a 'chicken-fried steak' is?

[@Inessence4]

Wendy Harper a breaded and fried flat steak.

[@shella9558]

We say "ye oryt" for hello and you don't have to answer the question. It's a rhetorical question, you just simply reply "oryr" or "ye oryt"

[@shawnmc8159]

I envision every one of these people as members of their respective high school chess clubs.

[@garymitchell9848]

"Knight to Bishop 6, Checkmate." "Bollocks. You got me there, mate. Well gutted." "What?"

[@OldeJanner]

So they never said a word out of line in their entire lives before landing in modern Britain!

[@davebenjafield7037]

A few years ago I worked with an American guy. When the time came for him to return to the USA, he said the one British phrase he was going to take home with him was "Talking Bollocks". Which basically means "talking crap"

[@koiil0148]

They picked normal words

[@yogihaughton]

Is this the national 'weird lookin' people awards?' "It was a close run competition but the winner is....The guy in the hat behind the runner up at 0:14

[@lumpyfishgravy]

How very polite and hubbly jubbly.

[@anghinetti]

Mike Page: it's lubbly jubbly rather than hubbly jubbly. Comes from a jingle to a 1950s television advertisement for Jubbly Orange Drink.

[@danhurley6152]

It's not a fury cat you can't swing it's one with 9 tails that hurts alot 😉

[@14KShadow]

Charming 👌

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

Swing a cat= " cat of nine tails" , a punishment whip. From the navy I think. (someone confirm).

[@terrythomas3755]

Yep.

[@daneelolivaw602]

The saying is, not enough room to swing a cat, if you were going to get the lash as punishment, the sentence had to be carried out on the top deck of the ship, because below decks, there wasn't enough room to swing a cat, and the poor blokes that had to suffer this had to make the cat themselves, the cat o nine tails was a piece of rope, about two feet long with nine knots tied in it.

[@JG-tv9lz]

Am thinking they didn’t come too far up north would have been a few more naughty words used haha

[@zapfrisco72]

Bollocks is a favourite of mine

[@mikdavies5027]

It's a start, I suppose!

[@RayPerkins01]

When the shit hits the fan and fortnight.

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

Oh, we swing cats all the time over here - preferably outside since they are apt to get a little upset about it, and nobody wants to be in a room with a pissed - off moggy.

[@thomaslowdon5510]

Swinging a cat refers to the Cat o nine tails. Whip

[@tallslimguy]

Lovely people 😎

[@ANGELICHUMANANGEL]

SORTED !!!!!😂😂

[@panditbhudev21]

"Hey everything ok"

[@baylessnow]

01:49. Still not got the hang of using 'bring' and 'take' correctly have they?

[@cupiderstunt]

They are American, so they are bringing those words back home. Though they could be taking them away from the UK, I suppose?

[@MsPinkwolf]

depends which they're doing really.

[@susiew.9012]

I couldn't agree with you more!!

[@baylessnow]

@@cupiderstunt: They are in the UK, they are "taking" things back to the U.S. If they were in the U.S. they would "bring" things back to the U.S. on their return. It's not rocket surgery but it is very annoying.

[@baylessnow]

@Zeug Dings But only incorrectly it seems.

[@waynenorris7035]

Minge and trousers are my 2 favourite words!

[@ricmac954]

Trouser can also be used as a slang verb, effectively meaning to put something (usually money) into one's trouser pocket, either literally or metaphorically: "I gave him a fiver (£5), which he quickly trousered" / "the l directors trousered the profits instead of reinvesting in the company."

[@tracyl1368]

Its not toast it you don't know which side your breads buttered!

[@GeeCeeWU]

It's the side that always hits the floor first if you drop it.

[@BF1GUN]

1:45 BREAD!

[@aliafxx]

"This party is very safe" bruv you menna say "safe g"

[@klord3677]

Aliafxx i oi mandem safe g.

[@lilpipskweek6448]

What about pomme de whippet means-just fine and dandy

[@dogwithwigwamz.7320]

"Gutted" is one thing whilst "sorted" is quite the other and I have little doubt the chap having decided it will have no difficulty with it and that`s that.

[@danieladams4561]

Or blozza as in “A’reet love how bout a cheeky blozza”

[@danieladams4561]

Rinsed. As in “he’s absolutely rinsed you.”

[@MegaBoilermaker]

Both "Dreckly" and "Proper" (job) are commonly used Cornish phrases.

[@AssociationGamers]

*American's favourite English words

[@PhilippinesUntold76]

Can't be arsed & fuck that shit are modern classics

[@dannygilding8938]

Half of them yanks had our teeth 😅😅😅

[@lisalentile177]

butter pie in uncle Albert by Paul mccartney and John fish and finger pie and I love their humor

[@DappsJames]

I felt I was listening to the future whitehouse administration on their grand tour a la 1840.

[@lozcontreras]

I thought “innit” would be the one

[@spondoolie6450]

When I was in London I found out that "have a chin wag" meant the same thing as "shoot the shit" in America.

[@ccastro19741]

Sort you out , indeed, treasures

[@spacewatcher968]

All right mate

[@plop961]

gametech5441 Yes thanks. Had the shits yesterday though

[@2_mutch]

Didn't hear bellend

[@manchestertart5614]

Sorry =excuse me ,if you bump into someone

[@Bibg867]

Going back to her gaff (home)

[@evildead1949]

What the hell is this? The fucking cross eyed convention? “What I’m going to bring back from England is peripheral vision”

[@dean-gm1lg]

Stitched up like a kipper

[@PIANOPHUNGUY]

In the usa there was cat fancy magazine

[@robinhood7874]

HOW ABOUT GORDON AND BENNETT?

[@tweetiepie551]

Gawdon bennit!!!! .there ain't no 'and' in there mate.

[@Landie_Man]

Brits using “Cunt” used in general conversation or often in a cluster of swear words to create a new mega swear word for a particularly shitty situation you may find yourself in, such as trying to do DIY for the first time and making a mess of it seems to seriously offend Americans.

[@kernowforester811]

Do it dreckly means sometime in the future, maybe tomorrow. From Cornwall.

[@rodjones117]

to do something "presently" means the same (Dorset).

[@squirrelinstructor6075]

Tommy Boy. I'd have preferred "Bollocks"

[@sandponics]

What about 'Ayeup' for hello, and ' I'm Buggered' for I am tired? Probably too northern as most Londoners would not understand those terms.

[@colinmayes5892]

They will all forget when the get home

[@rossspenser8314]

Correction English words England English

[@saulval5681]

Bloody hell

[@maxi1769]

POV:you R British and reading the comments while you watch the video

Try this American freinds ,A GOOD ROGERING

[@davidcoupland3055]

HAHA LOVE IT LOL

[@jmakminhas]

Sad no one said 'yea' after every sentence

[@Pluggit1953]

‘You Muppet’.

[@DaChaGee]

Americans don't say takeaway?!?

[@debraburns2761]

Take-out

[@disoriented1]

DaChaGee..not usually for your 'takeaway'..we say 'take out'...a 'takeaway' now seems to be what you learned or discovered from something..my 'takeaway' from her speech is not to be so USCentric...