Why YOU Don't Understand British People!

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WANT MORE ENGLISH VIDEOS? 🎥 CHECK THESE OUT:
22 Things Brits Love: • 22 Things British Peop...
30 British Accents in 1 Video: • 30 British & Northern ...
6 Mistakes ALL Visitors to the UK Make: • 6 English Mistakes ALL...
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:51 Reason 1 - UK Accents
05:29 Reason 2 - Vocabulary
06:23 Reason 3 - British Slang
07:37 Reason 4 - Elision
09:53 British Pronunciation 101
12:26 Reason 5 - Cultural References
14:42 Reason 6 - Ellipsis
Music by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com)

[@andydixi]

While the whole world is trying to learn English, the British are moving to a new unattainable level

[@jaimeaguirre2706]

i find British English so polite, i love it

[@RobBCactive]

Well your mileage may vary, it can be so very impolite too, with complimentary imaginative insults. The best ones are those only understood hours later

[@barrysteven5964]

As a Geordie and a linguist I must congratulate you on your Geordie pronunciation of 'economically'. It was spot on. For anyone interested, a distinctive aspect of north eastern English (Durham, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland) is that k, p, t sounds between vowels in words like 'lucky/happy/matter' are pronounced with 'glottal reinforcement'. That means they are pronounced simultaneously with a glottal stop. Unlike most glottal stops in British accents it does not replace the consonant. The consonant is still there, it just has a glottal stop within in.

[@thoughtfortheday7811]

Thanks, really interesting. Does the same apply to the voiced pair of those consonants?

[@barrysteven5964]

@@thoughtfortheday7811 No, oddly enough it doesn't. Just the voiceless ones.

[@KatiaAudrey]

I'm an English teacher and this stressed me out lol!

[@shelleybergen1232]

Love your videos Tom! My husband and I visited London for the first time in 2017. On our first day there we headed to a local pub for a couple of Guinness and fish and chips. There was a table of 3 men sitting right beside us and we couldn't understand a word they were saying! We are from Canada and many of your slangs, ellipsis' and sayings are used all the time in Canada, yet we couldn't understand them. They spoke what seemed like all slang words and they had very heavy accents. All we could do was laugh.

[@Marina-zp2io]

I´m from Argentina... Nice to hear you´ve visited my land. Nos vemos!

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Ahh yeah! I lived in Buenos Aires for a year and LOVED it! What a special place and such wonderful people. I'd love to return one day. Abrazos de Londres

[@enjoyenglish528]

​​@@EatSleepDreamEnglishHere Marina again. gracias X responder. 😊 Hope to see you around then, but in Córdoba next time (the heart of the country).

[@ultraredd]

American here. Wardrobe and closet are two different things here. A closet is a room built into a wall with an exterior door for storage. A wardrobe is a piece of furniture placed in a room for storage.

[@RobBCactive]

I've heard "walk in wardrobe" probably because WC (water closet) has made closet unpopular. Hearing closet sounds archaic to me, something I've read in classic novels.

[@ultraredd]

@@RobBCactive Are you Canadian per chance? I ask because of your use of the term WC which we don't really use in the US. We do say walk in closet if it's a larger room. It could also be a regional difference. This is the beauty of language. So many ways to describe something.

[@RobBCactive]

@@ultraredd no , and no in the USA the euphemisms have moved on from original euphemisms, I find restrooms funny. WC is widely used in Europe, not just in English.

[@ultraredd]

@@RobBCactive Thanks for the info on the use of the term WC. It's always good to learn something new!

[@RobBCactive]

@@ultraredd well I didn't expect to think about the usage of closet, so thanks too. The design of houses changed, what do you call fitted wardrobes that run along a wall of a bedroom? They're not self standing but may use a recessed area created by a corner entrance into another room.

[@nancyterrywhittemore2015]

Thank you, Teacher Tom, I live in the USA, and I am planning to have friends from London visit me this summer. I sure hope we can understand each other!

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Hehehe I hope so too Nancy! Good luck with the trip : )

[@JohnTheYouTubeSuperfan]

Hello Tom of ​@@EatSleepDreamEnglish, I love your videos!

[@enricochestri]

I'm bilingual (Italian born and raised in an African English speaking country) but what I struggle most with is slang. I just saw you have a video on that! Especially youngsters' slang on the internet. Full of references to TV shows, abbreviations, acronyms. Or maybe it's better to call that jargon? Might be because I don't follow all those tv shows or stuff like that... Actually I don't even watch TV anymore....

[@i.o.3563]

The only real solution to this is a proper immersion. We have to listen to the type of English we want to speak and learn on the go.

[@miketalksenglish]

I disagree. A lot of students go to the country and still come back with a strong accent and poor listening skills The important thing is noticing.. you’ve got to consciously realise that certain words sound a certain way, just like he points out in the video. There are plenty of online resources to help you get familiar with specific accents.

[@i.o.3563]

@@miketalksenglish that's because they haven't got this specific goal - to acquire the accent. They just go there with some other goals. You're right, you can immerse yourself in the type of English you want not being in that particular area. But you have to listen to it with the goal of improving accent. And it's not just about accent! Vocabulary may vary too.

[@Joy-lg1kg]

I'm Italian and I must say that in the first sentence the word "food "was the only one that I could understand. The problem was all the rest!😂😂😂

[@EW-000]

Agree, mate! 😊

[@bobbiscrittercave2348]

I spent 2 weeks in Plymouth last year, and I only had one instance of not understanding a person seeking to me. The poor woman spent 20 minutes asking me to bum a smoke, before I understood enough to tell her I don't smoke.

[@heleneg525]

Ha, ha!

[@Winona493]

"To bum a smoke"? Is this slang or just colloquial? Or even a "regular" term?

[@bobbiscrittercave2348]

@Winona493 it's American for borrow a cigarette. Sorry, I know better, I just slipped...

[@FalcomScott312]

Love watching your videos about the British language mate & keep up the great work! 👍

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Cheers dude! Always happy to hear you enjoyed the video

[@juanap132]

I'm glad you say "eich" for h. That' s what I've learned. But recently I've heard people pronouncing it "heich"! ( or maybe yo write it aitch vs haitch, what do I know, I'm Scandinavian, lol!)

[@TLDsProductions]

I have a very good ear for the various dialects of English (American, British, Canadian, Australian, South African) and non-native speakers with thick accents. However, when I was in the service (American Army) I was working with a British unit, they were from Wales, I could not get a word of what they were saying hahaha...

[@bjednacak]

I use Monty Python reference a lot for something crazy or absurd. "It's just like a Monty Python episode in here"😂 I don't know if you guys are using that one in UK... Cheers from Croatia 🇭🇷✌🏻🇬🇧

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Ahh yeah that's a good reference. Not sure Gen Z would get it, but I do ; )

[@bjednacak]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish thanks for the reply🤗

[@JohnTheYouTubeSuperfan]

Hello Tom of Eat Sleep Dream English, I love your videos!

[@nutapril4560]

Guess the best way to learn diff accents is to listen, speak and interact with ppl. But how do I get the chance to talk to different people but not annoying them?

[@role70]

It reminds me to my first visit in London many many years ago. Everythings was strange and they spoke a totally different English that I have leant at school. I was very proud when I ordered my first meal in a fast food restaurant and I got what I wanted

[@aylxm]

Oh you went to Argentina, love that! hope u come back here one day😁

[@peoplecallmedave.]

Love your videos, greetings from Colombia 🇨🇴

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Love you right back! Thanks for watching buddy. Abrazos desde Londres

[@gigisummer109]

Hi I`m British and your video helped me, especially with understanding the Glaswegian accent 😀

[@casandraweiss3767]

Its no easy understand this pronunciation. Thanks a lot teacher Tom. Bless😊

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

My pleasure! Hope it helped

[@MrDen-lv5uj]

Sometimes I think that lots of foreigners speak English better and more correctly than lots of native speakers. Native speakers also make mistakes or sound weird. Being a native speaker doesn't often mean knowing the language well 🙂

[@antoinesubitlescoups338]

Sure. But you're wrong ofc.

[@mariajosemartinez5135]

Interesting video 🙂 Thanks! I have a question: in a book I have recently read they used "frock" instead of "dress". Is it a word used in a particular part of England?

[@heidihochrein7912]

Heard you say ‘idear’!

[@ctcladdagh2000]

US uses the term "tap" as in drinking "tap water".

[@maya.7057]

Tom, I hardly started believing I could understand the British accent. I'm down in the dumps again haha!

[@timmystauffer9094]

I understood all of that as is.

[@EW-000]

On the contrary, russian language is spread on a huge territory from Atlantic to Pacific oceans. And you will never get problems to understand residents from any region of Russia, Belarus, eastern Ukraine. Though they may have slight accents or local words.

[@giovannirivetti1451]

Hello Tom nice video indeed, those are all important things which could keep us back from reaching a good level of the language and transform ourselves, well...for those are willing to do it, less like a tourist and more like a local (I do like that phrase!), and I would say more part of that community because when you aim to learn an accent that means you want/need to be part of that people and immerse yourself into the their real life, don't you agree?!😊 Sometimes I find myself launching phrases like " whatever floats your boat mate/man!" 😂 or...well I can't reveal all the others here!😅🤦‍♂️ Cheers! 🙏😊

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Hey Giovanni thanks for the thoughtful comment. I think immersion is a wonderful way to learn a language and we can do it in so many different ways. Obviously if we are in the country that speaks the language that's a great advantage. If not, we can listen to podcasts, watch TV/films, watch YT in our target language, change our phone settings to that language etc. I tell my students to focus on trying to communicate clearly and confidently rather than focusing on learning one particular accent. Love those phrases that you mention! Keep going my friend : )

[@giovannirivetti1451]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish yes it's super important to immerse ourselves in the language daily and not just from time to time, transform our daily life into English not vice versa or our motivation will desappeare! Well yeah, travelling to an English speaking country is an amazing opportunity to have in life for sure but nowadays tech helps us a lot. I agree that accent doesn't come first in the process but I believe as well that when someone starts the journey of learning a language, he or she inevitably fall into learning one or it's better to say acquiering one and, stick to it...not mixing them, right?😊 Thank you very much for answering me and, thanks for you work!🙏👍

[@thoughtfortheday7811]

There's school English then there's English as she is spoke. Thanks for such a great video, really important learning points. I'm sharing this.

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Glad it was helpful my friend! I appreciate the share too : )

[@abdulhameed2968]

Tom, Which British accent should i choose.(i love brummie accent , southern Yorkshire accent , Cockney and R.P accent)

[@abdulhameed2968]

Can I learn 2 language at same time

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Hey Abdul, thanks for the question. I actually did a video all about this topic recently. Give it a watch, I think you'll find it helpful - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ-cqqqMitiEq8k

[@abdulhameed2968]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish thanks

[@alexeyvarfolomeev7211]

There was this great tv show, Broadchurch. I binge-watched it, no subtitles. All was clear. Then, fascinated by British crime stories, I started watching Happy Valley... Couldn't last 10 mins without enabling subs) Regional specifics, accents.

[@Pemma200]

I talked to someone from the Expedia customer support, about … near the “ lift lobby..”, he couldn’t understand me, until I said “elevator “.

[@couplebike4579]

Please make video by lura in smashing english chanel about real chat and convetion use native slang and idiom

[@raisa_cherry33]

5:37 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@user-oe1bu5qw1w]

5:36 Take it easy, pal. Thou almost hit thy plant 🙃

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Haha!

[@rickie_coll]

I've never imagined "h" could be silent in the word "have." My brain is not prepared to that. 😂😂😂😂

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Hahaha! I hope this video helps you mate

[@timkramar9729]

I'm thinking West End and Fleet Street have a certain definition for Brits.

[@tarikkindi]

we need another time video about poooch accent, thanks for your efforts

[@adscri]

39 secs ‘Bri - ish’ ! Say no more! A nod’s as good as a wink.

[@israellira3896]

watch Doctor Who that's how I understand British accents : )

[@bjednacak]

Also Only fools and horses😅

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Great idea! Love Doctor Who. Have you seen the latest series?

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Hahaha what a show!

[@user-fl6wl3xh3p]

What about “The Crown»? Can it help?)

[@mjames4709]

Isn’t this the same for all cultures??

[@heleneg525]

I'm sure that when Brits visit the USA, they have a difficult time understanding us, too!😅

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Hehe yeah I think you might be right Helen!

[@barrysteven5964]

Except because the USA is so big and has such an enormous output of television series and films we do grow up watching these all our lives so are very used to American English from a young age.

[@poliniques]

I see...only the king speaks english. Everyone else speaks whatever is spoken in the region where they live. Got it.

[@user-cc2ux9ew1r]

If you say that something is pants, you mean that it is very poor in quality. [British, informal] The place is pants, yet so popular.. Love from Casablanca

[@elson.1990]

I do but a few of them don't quite understand me.

[@user-cc2ux9ew1r]

10 downing st shebeen club is what it called now since the lockdown incident. Down the hatch BORIS Johnson 🥂🍻🍺 Don't let the cat out of the bag thou! Mummy's word 🤔

[@andydixi]

Because they still don't use a microphone

[@hichicooooo644]

"Teacher" Tom, very Chinese/Taiwanese.

[@renshiwu305]

British sound editing is terrible. It doesn't help ease of comprehension with television program(me)s and films.

[@DonnieChoi]

I would say it's easier to understand the Brits than New Yorkers.

[@ivanbarbosa81]

Lol.

[@timkramar9729]

Cockney rhyming slang throws people off.

[@BGTuyau]

Solution: Standard American English ...

[@IsYitzach]

As an American, some of those clips were the most ridiculous. I can usually understand Brits, but that was next level.

[@ceejay3054]

I used to think that too, until I went to Manchester

[@alistairsimpson9443]

Ridiculous? 🤨

[@pascale110]

The fact you don’t understand some of the accents in the UK doesn’t make any of it ridiculous.

[@claudiacecchinato4586]

@@pascale110 I'm afraid that got lost in translation. My husband (American) says "ridiculous" meaning crazy, impossible

[@budapestkeleti6404]

Easy. Because they say thing and they mean the opposite and you should take the hint

[@ThePolaroid669]

The only reason is, if you're American.

[@alexanderwilde8259]

I don't understand Liverpool guys 😂😂😂

[@norsk2910]

I'm still amazed that this ridiculous language is the World's lingua franca. More standarized and less chaotic languages would be worthier of that title.

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

I think you've got a very fair point

[@roccosorrentino2776]

As long as I can understand you, it's fine by me. But cockney is not English !!

[@ismaelmad1]

annoying, we don't want to learn English!

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

Erm...this is literally a KZbin channel for learning English

[@ismaelmad1]

@@EatSleepDreamEnglish the algorithm always shows me videos of this type

[@tehknologik]

American spoken English is vastly superior.

[@peacekeeper3026]

You're hard to understand because you don't stick to any rules mate, neither grammatically nor phonetically. Simple as that.

[@EatSleepDreamEnglish]

That's actually a fair observation...Brits are rule breakers when it comes to pronunciation.

[@poohoff]

Because they speak out of their asses

[@fionagregory9147]

Arses*