Credits: Social Media
Four British phrases that still ‘hurt American’s brain’ after living there for months
An American woman has gone viral on TikTok after explaining some British words and phrases that really confuse her.
While they are the same language, there are some huge differences between British and American English which can be really hard to grasp.
British phrases that ‘hurt American’s brain’
“I’ve lived in the UK for a year, these are things that still hurt my brain,” Ash Loren said.
You Alright
The first British phrase she struggles to understand is “You alright?” which people in England use as a greeting, like “hello”.
“I know I should have this down by now but it still feels wrong. I always respond ‘Yeah, you?’ but it doesn’t feel correct,” she said.
When British people use this phrase, they aren’t concerned about your health or wellbeing, they’re just saying “hi”.
Toilet
The next thing that hurts her brain is having to use the word “toilet” instead of “bathroom” when referring to the lavatory.
“You sound so American if you’re out and about and you say the word bathroom,” she said – but in the US it’s totally normal.
In America, the word toilet is considered “too forward” and people will look at you weird, although it does make sense because public toilets don’t have baths.
Takeaway
Another thing that still confuses her as an American is having to say “takeaway” instead of “to go” when buying food.
“It’s the worst when I’m not caffeinated and they say ‘Is this for here or takeaway?'” she explained. “I don’t know why this is so hard for me.”
British people also use the word “takeaway” when ordering good delivery to their house, while Americans would say “takeout”.
Bill
Finally, she simply can’t get to grips with using the word “bill” when you want to pay for your food and drinks at a restaurant.
“What I’ve gathered is you’re supposed to ask for the bill, not the check,” the TikTok user said confusedly.
She also finds it strange that you even have to ask for the bill, because in the US they bring it to you automatically.
If you found that interesting, here are three things a British man misses most about America after moving back home.
History of British and American English
So why are British and American English so different?
English evolved in Britain following invasions by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes, the International Center for Language Studies explains. These Anglo-Saxon invasions replaced Latin with Old English, which later became Modern English thanks to the British Empire.
British people introduced the English language to the Americas when they visited by sea in the 16th�century. However, at the time, the English language hadn’t been standardized, meaning there were no rules on spelling or words.
So, the two countries started developing their own variations of the same language. In 1806, Noah Webster published the first American English dictionary, while different dictionaries were being produced in England.
One theory says that Webster purposely changed the spelling of many words to mark America’s independence from Britain and make the languages different. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on�July 4, 1776.
Over the following centuries, the two variations of English kept evolving into the versions we know and use today.
