POSH ENGLISH: Old-fashioned British English Expressions

In this lesson, I will teach you the kind of posh English that was spoken back in the early 20th century, when the British Empire ruled over nearly a quarter of the world’s land area. “I say, old chap. Wouldn’t it be spiffing to learn some old-fashioned posh words and expressions?” The vocabulary and expressions in this lesson is not in general use anymore, but you still may hear some of the language if you watch period dramas and historic films set in that period of time. If you happen to like the British “stiff upper lip” stereotype from the glory days of the British Empire, then knowing more about the way the upper class Brits spoke during those times will be of interest to you.
Test your understanding with the quiz: www.engvid.com/posh-english-o...

[@JoelRudewicz]

Is it me, or is this lady just the cutest?

[@MacakPodSIjemom]

Upon my word! Most of those words I've learned from my English language books, or from literature, and I use them online. Never knew I could come across as a posh person. Toodle-pip, old chaps!

[@gutsjoestar7450]

your a nice old chip

[@diegoyuiop]

I use "marvelous" a lot

[@lucindawinehouse2002]

When I use all these expressions i come across as a posh person

[@videogra5645]

Never knew that "marvelous" and "splendid" are old words. We use it now regularly

[@diegoyuiop]

Who is "we"?

[@videogra5645]

@@diegoyuiop You don't use "marvelous" and "splendid" in your vocabulary?

[@raiseyourworld5324]

Many above are still used as general daily language today: How do you do?, Cheerio, Chap. Darling, Dear (without the 'my'), Ghastly, frightful, glorious, marvellous, gosh, Heaven forbid (rahter than God forbid), Well I never, chin-chin and hear, hear. Also another way of sayng 'goodbye' would be 'ta-ta for now'. Within sentances: "He was very nice chap", Darling, can also be used between platonic friends "could you be a darling and pass me my coat", "Really darling, that just wont do", "What a ghastly colour", "Frightful weather outside" when torrential rain, snow blizzard etc , "What a glorious day" either beutiful sunny weather or havind.had a lovely day out somewhee that was really enjoyed. "Marvellous" usually when something better than good, used on it's own or in sentance "What a marvellous day we have had", !Gosh!" either used on it's own as an exclamation or in sentance "Gosh! that was good" or !Gosh! that was a bit hairy" (hairy being used as 'frightening', an abbreviation meaning 'hair stand on end', So, not all are "old fashioned" but still in use today :-)

[@Effaly_]

I have a weakness for old posh British English. It just sounds so lovely. 🥰

[@Lat265]

Snob! Come to a poor part of U.K. and say that in a bar!

[@Gonkawonga]

read P.G.Wodhouse. love his Psmith series

[@Jeanne7774]

I love this kind of English that people don't speak anymore! It is most charming!

[@RSkyCar]

The 'Downton Abbey' great example and fun to watch.

[@rafli6966]

It's been a while.. Glad to see you back..

[@ingvarr3016]

So Jade, you're so spiffing when your trying to teach us speak poshy. Luv u )

[@giovannitabasso2411]

In some lessons of yours you gave us advice to take somebody's speech and way to talk as our personal model for self-training. Well, I just think you'll be mine: your way of teaching is the best I found out so far. Keep on teaching, please, despite the great efforts the videos require. Cheerio!

[@ForestKicks]

My favourite thing about your videos is how you always scoot in from the side

[@blueline308]

Perhaps your best video yet ! Always look forward to seeing you Jade. 🙂👍

[@stevenhuffnagel]

Just when you've had enough of those over-edited teaching videos recommended to you by KZbin (oh, sugar!), Jade comes up. Spiffing, my darlings! I need to go and have my morning cup of tea and start my stupendous weekend.

[@Dawwwg]

Hear hear, old chap !

[@naythitiworada1157]

FAB lesson! You did great. Thank you Jade.

[@jeoenriquez7151]

Love it. I wish you were my English subject teacher in school.

[@aidarouselabe23]

I sounded posh just watching your lessons. Thanks Jade!

[@runito75]

Your videos are fun Jade. Real spiffing! Jolly good!

[@larsw8776]

In my part of the world we're taught 2/3 of these expressions as normal English at school.

[@manni1998]

me too (late 70s in Germany)

[@azaharuddinansari8681]

Old is gold just like old words thanks for sharing knowledge

[@Mx25a]

By Jove, old bean, can I say its marvellous to see you back! without any leeway of doubt it is indeed. Good show, thanks. And... tally bally ho!

[@lorettapang]

Splendid! Jane, I love this lesson!

[@69Kevrod2012]

*Jade

[@onuralpalp890]

I think Ten Minutes is enough a video, in generally im watching old videos for learning. thanks jade for your channel ;-)

[@gkemalb2704]

Thank you for sharing. Get it easy.

[@youcefboxe]

I am so happy for your return to us

[@lgeray1]

Reminds me of that wonderful sitcom of the nineties called 'Keeping up Appearances', where working-claas lady Hiacynth Bucket (pronounced 'Bouqueeee') aspires to climb the social ladder - this effort is as desperate as it is in vain... Each episode ended in a complete desaster - so funny!

[@Peter1Europe]

"Lady of the house speaking "

[@Lat265]

There’s nothing funny about The British Class System, it’s not as bad as the Indian Caste System, but according to the US couple that have been to Britain for You Tube Tube videos, they said there is much more of a class system in the UK compared to the US. I am from Britain, i hate posh accents, makes me want to punch a posh person!

[@lgeray1]

@@Lat265 You are right, no class system has ever been funny, however, satire can make fun of it.

[@stefaniechong9640]

Welcome back Jade.

[@SVLOGS1M]

Happy to see you again, it's been a while

[@meharnosh]

Your explanation is marvelous Jade:)

[@fernandobautista3200]

Muchas gracias profe, eres única!!!

[@Blueshot111]

All hail my dear. Spiffing lesson. What fun. I haven't laughed that much since I read Macbeth in school.

[@beeflat4287]

Right, I had many laughs, as well.

[@cvoque]

Upon my word, what a splendid comedy talent!

[@marksanders2237]

Spiffing job "Jeeves" ironing my newspaper!

[@aparecidoferreiravais321]

Hi Jade glad to see you again You're awesome I love your videos and you have a lovely accent Thanks a lot my dear teacher have a great Sunday 😉🇧🇷

[@mehdielharaki7050]

Thank you very much for your help . Your student from Morocco 🤗

[@electricdreams9446]

oh i wish i could see Morocco!

[@israeldasilvacouto1060]

Awesome teacher!!!

[@dmitryglushenko2624]

A jolly good one, Jade, thank you

[@arsonlover2616]

even tho i am not a british myself i quite like to use british accent for my formal english

[@arunasimas]

At scholl weve learned to say how do you do how do you do, but when i first visited the uk it was more like ohrightmate:D lol

[@konstantink6764]

A funny lesson! Thanks!

[@user-qp2sg6yv3o]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ... I love you from Iraq

[@iuriemilicenco7887]

I´m very impressed.

[@thilakasirispathiranage9981]

What a frightful old chum! ........ What a spiffing idea? Happy Thanksgiving to the staff of engvid.

[@robertogerol1200]

Wow I loved !! Stupendous performance and your smile... have no price

[@eugenebar6646]

Such a marvellous lesson! Quite splendid 🎉

[@faisaldeshmukh3653]

I need. This is so important

[@winterahmed1]

Yes… Finally, they are called Posh English, and we have them in a lesson. I really needed this long time a go, Thank You Jade, Thumbs Up.

[@ambrogiolorenzetti4628]

as a posh person, I can confirm that is a great video.

[@aristodimospapafloratos4852]

Splendid video ☺️☺️. Really we appreciate it very much !!!

[@hassanjim9920]

thanks, you have a wonderful accent...

[@Ahmadsyar]

it's weird to witness english person impersonating an english person at 2:11

[@nguyenminhthao9926]

hello teacher. I really love your accent. Please release some more videos about topic-related vocabularies. For example, family,... Thank you

[@user-lp4sn8pd8k]

she's so pretty and good teacher ~!!! 앗힝 ~!!

[@wut9042]

Glorious!!

[@edsoncastro2988]

Muchas gracias por la lección.

[@aligbeer]

Hi Jade I love you and I love your videos it’s really useful and I am appreciate your amazing job I love your Way to teaching you are amazing you are my angel sweetheart 🙏

[@mbachiropractic]

Absolutely fabulous 🤗😬

[@RichardDworkin]

Wonderful!

[@beeflat4287]

Hi, splendid lesson, thank You very much. Btw I am sitting here in good old Hamburg listen to Your entertaining expressions and explainations of my beloved second and mother/father language of Yours. Some of these words and sayings I luckily know already from the Pirates Of The Caribbean and My Fair Lady. Surprisingly, there‘re a few we do have in German with the same meaning : Old chum - alter Kumpel or God forbid - Gott behüte and hear, hear ! - Hört, hört ! Well, I do enjoy Your lessons, cheers

[@lucindawinehouse2002]

Hi Jade I learned all these expressions in my History Classes at secondary school . I attended secondary school from 2013 until 2018 However I still use these expressions in my English even though I left school 3 years ago I still remember the vocabulary from my history classes My History teacher used to greet the class with How do you do ? and the class answered with How do you do ? And as the students were leaving the classes we said Cheerio

[@Anwar-Mian]

When I was in school we were taught to say “How do you do.” I never knew about the phrase “How are you” till I came to America.

[@reptoidcommand1060]

Merry Christmas and a....... Happy New Year !!! ....... ...Jahhyd dahhling !!

[@reptoidcommand1060]

Where is my precious little upvote! Now you see it...now you don't..bleckkhkk! (I'm not crazy..it was there!) Somebody's plaayyhhing gaheeems! (I love it!)

[@you-know-who9023]

Spiffing lesson Jade 👍😃

[@ram31299]

Good accent... good one to learn better!! Hear hear I say it as loud as I can. I like Toodle pip one!

[@horatiodreamt]

What about "old bean"?

[@ravent3016]

Old-school posh folk are so OTT. :) I've seen too much Jeeves and Wooster, because chin-chin was the only phrase I didn't know.

[@aikinskonadu3919]

wow thank you very much dear

[@bogdancristea9270]

When I came to Cambridge to start my PhD, I thought I would impress my supervisor with such outdated language (of course, I had no idea it was outdated, I just thought it was nice and posh). But he wasn’t impressed at all: he spent the next couple of years trying to make my work sound like a researcher’s from the 21st century instead of one from the Victorian age.

[@fanusbiru8902]

Lol but the old language is the best

[@lucindawinehouse2002]

I use all this language even though i was born in the 2000’s (2002)

[@CatoRenasci]

You should listen to the Noel Coward song “I went to a marvelous party”. - very posh, priceless.

[@mchlwilson1]

I say! Absolutely topping of you!

[@stobbi38]

8:53 Her: "when they can be bothered to show uo there, because there's not a lot of... " Me: "Space."

[@islamadam8502]

"because there's not a lot of things they need to debate these days."

[@harryshine3381]

Doing good job Jade......

[@Ankit3933]

My parents used refer their old friends when I was child like he was my school/class fellow or something like that

[@puturro]

you're just lovely explaining all this. I have a question: how do British people use the word "love" to address someone who's not close? how does that work?

[@redeye--2753]

If you talked like this no wonder this pakistani shop owner thought you where from a posh region (as you mentioned in the lesson about town names) 😂

[@kangkinkang]

In Singapore, instead of saying WTF, we say What The Fish 😀

[@brd8764]

Thanks jade. It has been so. We renovate.

[@Worldcitizen2020]

Welcome back Jade

[@andredingstertsao]

Lol. Remember when I started to learn English we actually greet each other with How Do You Do on a daily basis.

[@Lat265]

Yes, because English people are fake.

[@georgethomas7781]

Marvellous

[@amberwren]

I still speak like this lol

[@realwarriorscholar]

Your lesson was marvelous darling! Toodle pip!

[@brickbreaker666]

nice to know

[@Albion89]

Could you make video about Scottish-English ?

[@stankormy5717]

The English language sure has changed!

[@meenki347]

You're adorable. You're my Liza Dolittle. ♥️

[@LIHUI-MOTORS]

Welcome back.

[@strafrag1]

Scarlette O'Hara said "Oh, fiddlesticks" in Gone With The Wind.

[@Monkdewallydehonk]

My mum never swore she used to say. For Foxes glacier mints.😆

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

You could say also 'tata and farewell!' If you're leaving some place... Don't ask from who I listened this expression

[@DJ-gl8rw]

Viejotrueno I bid you

[@chamcham9174]

I really wanna learn English not just by listening or watching videos but by talking to someone who is fluent in it but I have no one to talk to😔

[@misadate8688]

i actually use bugger quite a lot

[@diehardAMD]

The "how do you do" is like Japanese "genki desu ka" -> answer "genki desu" where ka means ?

[@user-is623zizo]

78٪ I got 7/9 thank you Jade

[@boriswilliams6217]

Nice

[@user-ep9fv1fo6f]

nice

[@PanrutiMubarak]

Welcome Back Madam

[@cyrax1700]

This is the accent of the better people. Even though, some of them were, pirates!

[@jonathandavidcaceres6897]

You look stunning beauty!

[@paulsmith8474]

You wear this top 20 years

[@natn41r]

Used to use "bugger" a lot without knowing what it actually meant, lol.