I’ve heard “Britains” in Rule, Britania, but “Britons” elsewhere. Which is it, friends across the water?
“Britain” is the country. “Britons” are the people who live there. No such thing as “Britains”, unless you’re talking about an alternate Sci-Fi universe.
Lyrics to “Rule Britannia”.
http://www.napoleonguide.com/music_rulebrit.htm
Thanks.
I misheard Rule, Britainia in an old Miss Marple movie.
National Public Radio incorredtly used “Britains” this morning, which caused me to ask.
Allow me to post the obligatory Python quote (from The Holy Grail):
What was it Queen Victoria said?
“Don’t give him his bloody gong, Bertie!”
How do you know NPR was using the word “Britains”? Did they pronounce it “Bri-taynes”? I doubt it. The word “Briton” isn’t generally pronounced “Bri-tonn” or “Bri-tahn”, it’s pronounced “Bri-tinn” to rhyme with “kitten”, the same way “Britain” rhymes with “kitten”–you’re just expected to know that the word NPR is using is “Britons”, and not “Britains”.
Merriam-Webster on-line has a nifty audio pronunciation for this word. Look up “briton” in the dictionary, click on the red loudspeaker next to the word. Hear the nice male voice say, “Britten”. Same sound as “Britain”.
We are two peoples separted by a common language.
Actually, it’s “Brittneys”. Britains (bri-TANES) is a kind of finger food and yummy too.
And no bloody gong for you, Sailor.
