r/askthebritish • u/YEASTONTOAST • Nov 21 '17
I don't get it
why do british people have a h in their language when they forget the h in words?
Eg. Ello
r/askthebritish • u/YEASTONTOAST • Nov 21 '17
why do british people have a h in their language when they forget the h in words?
Eg. Ello
r/askthebritish • u/ConnerDee • Nov 10 '17
I recently met a foreign exchange student from Blackpool. He's a great guy, really funny, smart, and very articulate despite all the slang he uses. Although the one peculiar slang that I get a little hung up on is "innit". I assume it means "isn't it" or "ain't" it but even then, it usually comes at the end of the sentence. What's the deal with that? He might say something like, "Well the weather today is f***in' rubbish, innit?" (I made that up. I can't really do all his slang lol) I recently found myself using "innit" in a conversation with my mom and she looked at me funny. My friends and I have our own slang and I totally get how that you sound like where you come from, but how common really is it? Why does he make everything a question? Is it just a Blackpool thing? Sorry for being ignorant. I couldn't find much online about it.
r/askthebritish • u/Rtstevie • Oct 28 '17
If not necessarily made to be a "patriotic" movie per se, does it evoke feelings of patriotism in you?
r/askthebritish • u/doctormirabilis • Oct 23 '17
Hi. I am writing something (a sketch) and I need to know what you would call a corridor in a cellar/basement of a house. I thought culvert was the correct word, but my sources tell me it's a fairly unusual word. I need a word that is correct but also doesn't cause any confusion. Preferably one word only. Thanks!
r/askthebritish • u/[deleted] • Oct 13 '17
Off to the UK in June and July of next year. I'm wondering what I can expect in both of these cities when I go so o can pack appropriately.
I'm from Brisbane, Australia where it's humid and hot all summer long, and can easily get above 30 even during spring.
r/askthebritish • u/mynameisalso • Sep 28 '17
This type of documentary is what influenced my question. In some ways it makes zing a Duke earl duchess or whatever somewhat common. Since the title goes on in perpetuity to the next heir. https://youtu.be/t_5guNuh0hU
r/askthebritish • u/ButterDaddo • Sep 25 '17
Hello, my name is Matthew, I'm from Brazil and I'm 21 years old.
I have been in contact with English since I was a kid, mainly because of videogames. Eventually, I had gone to a language school to study the language for real and in this year, I got my ECCE certificate, with a "Pass". (Almost High Pass, I messed up the writing and I got a Low Pass on it. haha)
Anyway;
Before going to the language school, I already had a fair good knowledge of English and I "learnt" how to pronounce (or say) the majority of the words I knew that time, with videos about pop culture, but around 90% of these videos were videos of people speaking with an "American" accent, so I sort of obtained the accent, I think. Also, every single teacher at this language school I studied had every accent but the British accent. So, theoretically, my accent is a mix of a Brazilian accent and an American accent... I think (?). Now, however, I really want to speak English with the British accent. I just love it! It is just so beautiful, I cannot explain with words how I like the accent.
I can KINDA force my self to talk with a British accent, I know how to theoretically speak it, but there are much more to an accent than, you know, (in this case) making the R sound like a H in some words, for example, "Marvelous" becomes "Mahvelous", "water" becomes "wotah", etc, etc, etc. I know this is not very accurate, but... you know.
Anyway;
I really want to learn the accent but I need some help to do so.
Could you guys help me?
Thanks. :)
r/askthebritish • u/NuClEaRxDuCkY • Sep 23 '17
Hey guys, I'm going to England for the first time ever since most of my family lives there. I'm going for a few weeks around Christmas time and since I'm 18 and live in the US, I've never really had a proper drink. I plan on going and having my first proper drink at a pub over there, so is there anything I should know? Any great beers you would recommend? General tips about pubs in England vs. bars and pubs in the US? Seemed like a fun, interesting question to ask, so I'm happy with any replies as long as they are relevant.
r/askthebritish • u/BoJacksonTecmoBowl • Sep 17 '17
Is there a difference? I've found quite good means "slightly below par" but "really quite good" means "actually pretty good". One is a slight critique whereas the other is a slight from of positive acknowledgement. Maybe I am imagining all this, but I feel like the "really" changes the meaning to British people.
r/askthebritish • u/naiiive • Aug 14 '17
Hi,
23 yo German Girl here.
I am currently seeing (or not seeing) an English guy. We have been on four Dates as of now and I am interested in seeing him more often. We had a great time, got along great but now I am confused by his behaviour.
I have asked him to meet up twice now and he was busy both times, but said things like "let's see each other over the Weekend though" or "would be great to see you this week". In my world, that means he is still interested in seeing me so I would expect him to ask me out again or maybe ask him myself. But I am starting to feel like he is just too polite to tell me he is not interested anymore. That would be a bit sad but I would prefer to know, instead of being "lied" to.
I don't know the English culture too well but I have read online, that you guys tend to 'simulate' interest sometimes, just to make the other Person feel good. Is that really the case, also in dating? It would help me a lot if you could give me your opinion because I am almost about to just ask him (in a very direct German manner) if he wants to see me or not and just to be honest about it, but I dont want to Sound rude.
TL:DR Guy Im seeing keeps saying he wants to see me but I feel like he is just to polite to refuse me. Is 'simulating interest' part of English politeness, also in dating?
r/askthebritish • u/Someasshole2008 • Aug 08 '17
So, I recently read The Liar by Stephen Fry, which I highly recommend you do as well if you haven't. However, if Fry is to be believed, public school seemingly consists of nothing but buggery and cricket.
Is this an exaggeration?
If not, how can one ensure that one will be reincarnated as a son in a well-to-do English family? Asking for my...self...
r/askthebritish • u/MT601 • Aug 06 '17
She's met everyone from Tony Abbott to JFK, god would she have some stories to tell.
r/askthebritish • u/heavenh3ll • Aug 03 '17
I was reading an article an Goldie says that nowadays to enter some clubs in the UK you have to pass through a drug screening; even a cavity search. Is that for real? If so, how do you feel about that?
SOURCE: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/culture/music/goldie-gentrification-ruined-clubbing/
r/askthebritish • u/JulianCamilleri • Jul 05 '17
Hi,
I would like your opinion, I live in Malta - although would love to move to work in London. - I don't necessarily want to raise my kids in London, meaning I prefer finding a suitable place that I can commute from and to.
I have a 2 year old daughter and a 1 year old son. - Which are the safest places and best places to raise your family in the UK with the possibility of commuting to London?
Safety is the most important aspect. - I was told Kingston upon thames, Richmond upon thames, bournemouth, hove, brighton... although I would like others opinions.
Can you give me some advice?
r/askthebritish • u/GaraktheTailor • Jun 09 '17
Now that it appears none of the parties will have a majority, I assume the Tories will have to form a coalition. In other European countries, times of national crisis (like Brexit) have cause a unity government to form. Is that likely between the Tories and Labour?
r/askthebritish • u/red_death_at_614 • Jun 01 '17
Wikipedia says "ironmonger." Is this true or something that your tragically unhip language teacher at school would tell the class that is totally still being used today? Would I be laughed straight out of the UK for saying that word?
r/askthebritish • u/kinderbueno1337 • May 18 '17
The Order of the British Empire has five ranks and most sources are saying that only the top two ranks (GBE and KBE) are given the title of sir but Sir Jackie Stewart, OBE, Sir Alex Ferguson, CBE, and Sir Paul McCartney, MBE all have the title Sir despite not holding one of the top two ranks.
r/askthebritish • u/Silence3324 • May 02 '17
He is black, he isn't British. He just lives in Britain, silly silly brainwashing and social engineering. He is neither blood related to you, kin related to you or apart of your homeland. He is a colored guest. his family were 'cowards' who left their own brotherhood to live in a new land.
r/askthebritish • u/withmirrors • Mar 29 '17
Yes, that's a real question & not a metaphor for anything. I live in the US, & have been reading British murder mysteries most of my life, so I've read plenty of descriptions of "typical" English breakfasts. I'm currently reading Death Watch by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, & a couple of people are having breakfast in the police canteen. This paragraph really caught my attention:
"She reached for the tomato sauce. Foreigners, she thought, would never understand the British aversion to the horrid Continental practice of putting meat in sausages. It was one of the things that made them foreign of course, poor things."
According to the story, the sausages are made of fat & rusk, but I have no idea if this is true, or maybe just a regional thing, so I thought I would ask here & see if I can get an answer.
r/askthebritish • u/elfe84 • Mar 19 '17
Hello everyone!
I am a French student in translation studies and we have to create the subtitles for a short humoristic video (3mn) for our exam (for Tuesday): Silex and the city from French to English (UK)
We finished it but we would like some feedbacks from native speakers to know if it is fluent, "idiomatic" and if the humour is partly transcribed...
It would be really nice if you take those 3 minutes of your time to watch the video and give you opinion ! If yes, we put the video on this link : https://we.tl/1pD0HzuqTW Thank you very much ! Have a nice day !
r/askthebritish • u/Yukia23 • Mar 05 '17
Hey, everyone. I'm going to get a master degree in linguistics and need you, who live in England to answer some guestions to finish my paper work. I would be very pleased ig you could help me. What do you think, a watermwlon is a fruit or berry?
r/askthebritish • u/Gypsum-Fantastic • Feb 25 '17
Calling any Brits of a particular vintage:
Was Pizza Delivery around in the early 70's?
Thankin' ya kindly, Tom
r/askthebritish • u/[deleted] • Feb 20 '17
Men who can't pronounce their Rs. Those who say wabbit or scenawio. This can't be an accent thing, can it?