# British English "what?" vs. "pardon?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982 "2007-04-20T19:30:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/41 "2007-04-21T11:25:31Z")
I used to get told off for saying “what?” “Pardon” or “could you repeat that please?” were what I was brought up to say. And my driving instructor told me to add “because I have a head cold” to the latter if I misheard something during my driving exam. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/42 "2007-04-21T11:37:10Z")
I’m pretty sure I always say “Sorry?” if I mishear something. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/43 "2007-04-21T12:39:21Z")
[QUOTE=Frank] Picked up from my air traffic controller father, I used (and still do, once in a while), “Say again.” What class is that? [/QUOTE] Me too. **Pardon?** is overly polite, and **What?** is rude. It’s my friends’ fault, one was in the OTC, the other is ex-army. And to answer your question **Frank** , you’d be thought of as military, and that’s not exactly ‘Upwardly Mobile’ ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/44 "2007-04-21T13:06:41Z")
I say, “What?” to my husband, and “Excuse me?” to everyone else. What class does that make me? On a related note, since we have British Dopers in here answering language questions, I was reading a book recently that talked about public schools and how much they cost the parents. Eh? In the U.S., public schools are paid for by taxation and are free to the parents (incidental fees aside). Private schools are paid for by tuition payments from the parents. I assumed from context that “public school” in the U.K. meant something like “private school” in the U.S. Is that correct? If so, what do you call a school like our “public school” in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/45 "2007-04-21T13:12:55Z")
I suspect that the stories about Kates mum and her relationship with the Windsors are being spread by those envious of Kate becoming the g/f instead of their own daughters/sisters/nieces etc. And now is payback time . Of course that is only my opinion, but some of the people the R/F respect the most are Highland Ghillies and race horse trainers who tend on the whole not to practice upper class usage in conversation. Britains “Loony Left” always gleefully leap on any disparaging rumours about the Royals and work hard to spread them far and wide no matter how unsubstantiated they are and no matter how absurd they are . This says alot about them and nothing at all about the Windsors. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/46 "2007-04-21T13:15:11Z")
[QUOTE=StuffLikeThatThere] I say, “What?” to my husband, and “Excuse me?” to everyone else. What class does that make me? On a related note, since we have British Dopers in here answering language questions, I was reading a book recently that talked about public schools and how much they cost the parents. Eh? In the U.S., public schools are paid for by taxation and are free to the parents (incidental fees aside). Private schools are paid for by tuition payments from the parents. I assumed from context that “public school” in the U.K. meant something like “private school” in the U.S. Is that correct? If so, what do you call a school like our “public school” in the U.S.? [/QUOTE] We call them State schools usually,Public schools are indeed fee paying and posh in the U.K.. ---
**Author:** ![Cryptoderk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cryptoderk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cryptoderk)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/47 "2007-04-21T13:26:24Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] We call them State schools usually,Public schools are indeed fee paying and posh in the U.K.. [/QUOTE] Public school doesn’t mean any old private school though, it means one of the top ones in the country. Definitions vary from the top 250 odd (Headmasters’ conference) to the top 30 or so. Note that top does not refer exclusively to examination results here, although they are excellent in almost all public schools. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/48 "2007-04-21T13:56:40Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] “come again?” [/QUOTE] You’ll have to be patient. Not as young as I used to be. 😉 And as far as toil;et/bathroom lavatory; I have heard “WC” (water closet). Is that Britspeak? ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/49 "2007-04-21T14:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=buns3000] I get the impression that the number of seemingly innocuous things you could say/do in front of the Queen that offend her is fairly long, although you’d have to be pretty thick not to know that chewing gum when with members of the royal family is going to look a bit shabby. [/QUOTE] I suspect the list of things Liz is actually offended by is very short. A woman who actually talked to man who broke into her room. Especially being married to Phil the Greek, someone not known for his tact. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/50 "2007-04-21T15:28:34Z")
[QUOTE=Cryptoderk] Public school doesn’t mean any old private school though, it means one of the top ones in the country. [/QUOTE] I dispute this. To most of us commoners, ‘public school’ means any posh private school. ‘WC’: very rarely used in speech. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/51 "2007-04-21T15:31:49Z")
[QUOTE=vetbridge] You’ll have to be patient. Not as young as I used to be. 😉 And as far as toil;et/bathroom lavatory; I have heard “WC” (water closet). Is that Britspeak? [/QUOTE] can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone say I’m going to the WC. Going to the bog, yes 😛 ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/52 "2007-04-21T16:16:09Z")
[QUOTE=Cryptoderk] Public school doesn’t mean any old private school though, it means one of the top ones in the country. Definitions vary from the top 250 odd (Headmasters’ conference) to the top 30 or so. Note that top does not refer exclusively to examination results here, although they are excellent in almost all public schools. [/QUOTE] Fascinating. Thanks to all the Brit Dopers for educating me! ---
**Author:** ![Cryptoderk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cryptoderk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cryptoderk)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/53 "2007-04-21T16:20:44Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] I dispute this. To most of us commoners, ‘public school’ means any posh private school. ‘WC’: very rarely used in speech. [/QUOTE] I dispute your disputing 😛 And in Scotland, a public school is a state school. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/54 "2007-04-21T16:33:49Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] So that caustic skeve\* on the car insurance commercial with the bad drive-thru speaker is just being an upper class Brit when she keeps screeching “WHAT?” at the guy she can’t understand? [/QUOTE] Do you have a link to the ad. I really must purchase one of those newfangled picture radio boxes. (The name of the company would be enough for me to search.) ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/55 "2007-04-21T21:06:09Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone say I’m going to the WC. Going to the bog, yes 😛 [/QUOTE] I thought ‘loo’ was the common parlance, no? Or ‘Ladies’ or ‘Men’s’ alone. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2007, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/56 "2007-04-22T07:11:40Z")
[QUOTE=Nawth Chucka] I thought ‘loo’ was the common parlance, no? Or ‘Ladies’ or ‘Men’s’ alone. [/QUOTE] “Loo” is a bit icky I think. Going for a Gypsies is used also. Gypsies=Gypsy Rose Lee= Pee ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2007, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/57 "2007-04-22T10:15:37Z")
In a classic British way we often convey the info by what we _don’t_ say rather than what we do. “I’m just going upstairs” or “I’ll be right back” convey what you’re off to do and would rather not mention in public. In private a TMI approach is often used by people I know. “I gotta pee” or “Gonna take a shit”. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2007, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/58 "2007-04-22T10:52:39Z")
[QUOTE=Nawth Chucka] I thought ‘loo’ was the common parlance, no? Or ‘Ladies’ or ‘Men’s’ alone. [/QUOTE] Loo is unfashionable. Ladies & gents (not ‘mens’), yes, but normally if you can find one but not the other (“Where’s the gents?”) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/59 "2007-04-22T16:27:37Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] “Loo” is a bit icky I think. Going for a Gypsies is used also. Gypsies=Gypsy Rose Lee= Pee [/QUOTE] Actually it’s gypsies’ kiss. Rose Lee = tea, and nobody uses it in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982/60 "2007-04-22T19:41:29Z")
Or going for a snake’s {hiss}. I was always brought up to consider “pardon?” less confrontational than “what?”, and my reading of this question is that the upper-class reversal of this is a shibboleth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-english-what-vs-pardon/400982.md?page=4)