# Hey Brits! What words should I NOT use when calling you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076 "2012-09-08T05:49:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/41 "2012-09-10T11:44:11Z")
**Words that could be confusing and embarrassing in the UK & US** [http://www.hash.st/ockholm/ukus.html](http://www.hash.st/ockholm/ukus.html) I guess this list might be useful. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/42 "2012-09-10T13:04:19Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > Be careful not to refer to someone as English unless you are 100% sure they are. I know the Scots don’t much like it and I would imagine the other UK nationalities don’t either. An understatement. In fact, I would advise the OP to remove the words ‘England’ and ‘English’ from their vocabulary all together for safety’s sake. Non-Brits often use ‘British’ and ‘English’ interchangeably, which causes no end of upset amongst my non-english compatriots. Remember that many Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish reside in England, so don’t expect their location (or even accent) to suggest they will be English. English people won’t mind being referred to as ‘British’ - we’ve all just spent the last 2 months draping ourselves in British symbols thanks to the Olympics, so ‘British’ patriotism (as opposed to ‘English’) is riding high. However, if you are certain you are talking to a Scottish, Northern Irish or Welsh person, they will most likely be charmed if you call them such, instead of just British, eg ‘we find our Scottish customers like…’ as opposed to '…our British customers… They will appreciate a ‘foreigner’ knowing the difference. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/43 "2012-09-10T13:13:19Z")
Actually, a good ice breaker might be to say something like ‘I’m not good with accents, where abouts in the UK are you from’? This would require you to refresh your knowledge of British geography, and remember that people, naturally, tend to feel very proud of their ‘bit’ - not just Scotland, Wales etc, but also regions within England - ‘The North East, The Midlands, The South West etc’. Also note that some British people of immigrant origins prefer to think of themselves as British rather than, say, English, which some view as an ethnic description which they do not feel they belong to. Of course, all Brits like to open conversations with a discussion of the weather. You can keep this going for hours and has the benefit of being entirely non-political. Which reminds me, don’t bring up religion, we regard it as utterly private. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/44 "2012-09-10T18:02:13Z")
**Hey Brits! What words should I NOT use when calling you?** Never say [**you’ll blow up their house**](http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1254266--telemarketer-threatens-to-blow-up-home-after-man-hangs-up-on-him-police). ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/45 "2012-09-11T13:35:33Z")
A GF of mine in high school was born in GB, but raised here by her Veddy British parents, with dad being a preacher. I stopped by to pick her up for a date one night, and dad asked what we were planning on doing tonight. I replied “nothing much - just bumming around.” As he got up from his chair, she grabbed me and rushed me out the door and into the car, yelling “go! go! go!” Apparently you don’t tell a British preacher you’re bumming with his daughter…:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/46 "2012-09-11T14:03:02Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > You go call a british pakistani a paki and see how your “a pakistani told me it’s fine.” defense goes down. Please get video as well, I need a laugh. That wasn’t the point. No one refuted that it is a slur in Britain. But the OP in that abortion of a thread wanted it proclaimed as the worst slur imaginable worldwide. When it clearly isn’t. Pretty much unheard of in the US. Its the go to nickname for Pakistanis in their own country. What is true for the UK is not necessarily what goes in the rest of the world. I’m more tuned into it than others due to my love of British TV. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/47 "2012-09-11T14:42:23Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Apparently you don’t tell a British preacher you’re bumming with his daughter…:smack: What did he think you meant? ---
**Author:** ![spotthegerbil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@spotthegerbil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spotthegerbil)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/48 "2012-09-11T14:54:36Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > Especially when a German answers the phone in Auchtertool, Scotland. One of the Ministers from Auchtertool kirk is German, but he lives in Kirkcaldy. Was it a wrong number? Mmmmmm Auchtertool Angus and Pudledub Bacon. Mmmmmmm ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/49 "2012-09-11T14:55:37Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > What did he think you meant? Buggered if I know. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/50 "2012-09-11T16:11:03Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Or ones I should. > > God help me, but I’m now a telemarketer. At least I’m calling current customers and not at night. In the local AM I will be calling customers in Great Britain and those in the US in the PM. Sure, I have prepared myself to understand the fine residents of the scepter’d isles (except Scots) with decades of Monty Python and Doctor Who, but when I heard one of our people refer to our ads on the “telly” it struck me as forced, pandering, and a bit antique (does anybody over there call it that anymore?). I plan to use Americanisms until I get corrupted by talking with y’all because that’s how I talk, though some of your words may sneak into my vocabulary by osmosis (it is fortunate that “fanny” is unlikely to come up). However, I wish to be understood but not offensive, so I would appreciate some guidance regarding British words and American words. When Talking to a Scot - dont call him an Englishman - and yes I still use ‘telly’ - but as for fanny - Scots love the word - check the [Irn Bru advert](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibuLgsVcQUY&noredirect=1) ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/51 "2012-09-11T17:01:31Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > What did he think you meant? > [@ticker](#): > > Buggered if I know. To us Americans, it means hanging out, doing nothing in particular, wasting time. To him it meant having sex or having anal sex.:eek: She explained this as we drove away. We arranged things where we would meet somewhere, or she would pick me up after that, since dad didn’t want to see me anymore.☹ I was 16 - what did I know from boots, lifts, torches, and bumming! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/52 "2012-09-12T02:39:48Z")
Had my first sales calls to you pommy bastards today and all went well. There was even one gentleman who was of a coarser sort who I feel complimented me by making no allowances for my obvious foreignness with his accent or vocabulary–and I understood every word. (Thank you, Onslow! May you rest in peace. ☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/53 "2012-09-12T07:05:58Z")
Hey, only Ozzies get to call us Pommy bastards. You take that back! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/54 "2012-09-13T00:21:45Z")
We got your first loads of convicts, bro. The US has a common heritage with Australia. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/55 "2012-09-13T12:41:58Z")
I just watched Matt Lauer ask Sarah Ferguson if she had spunk as a kid. Tee hee. ---
**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:** [September 13, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/56 "2012-09-13T13:46:47Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I just watched Matt Lauer ask Sarah Ferguson if she had spunk as a kid. Tee hee. That is brilliant. I’ll have to find that clip online. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/57 "2012-09-13T14:09:42Z")
He went on a riff about spunk. He must have said it five times. I know the slang usage, obviously, but is the word also used to mean “pluck” in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/58 "2012-09-13T15:07:50Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I know the slang usage, obviously, but is the word also used to mean “pluck” in the UK? In the US also. See the first episode of _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/59 "2012-09-13T17:34:27Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > That wasn’t the point. No one refuted that it is a slur in Britain. But the OP in that abortion of a thread wanted it proclaimed as the worst slur imaginable worldwide. [No, he didn’t.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15276128&postcount=1) > [@BlankSlate](#): > > I know the slang usage, obviously, but is the word also used to mean “pluck” in the UK? Yes, but nobody ever actually uses it that way because of the other meaning. I gather it means roughly the same as “hottie” in Australia, for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076/60 "2012-09-13T17:59:23Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > That wasn’t the point. No one refuted that it is a slur in Britain. But the OP in that abortion of a thread wanted it proclaimed as the worst slur imaginable worldwide. When it clearly isn’t. Pretty much unheard of in the US. Its the go to nickname for Pakistanis in their own country. What is true for the UK is not necessarily what goes in the rest of the world. I’m more tuned into it than others due to my love of British TV. A) that’s a misrepresentation of the thread. B)This is a global board. C)When a culture has a neutral or positive connotation for a word, it’s polite to avoid said word when in contact with a culture where that word has a negative connotation. D)No one gives a fuck about your tv habits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-brits-what-words-should-i-not-use-when-calling-you/634076.md?page=4)