Credits: Social Media
Brits and Americans argue over how to say one common word
People from the US and UK are arguing over how to say one word – and no one can agree on the correct pronunciation.
It’s become a viral debate thanks to Josh, a British man with more than 4.6 million followers on TikTok who shares the differences between the two countries.
One word Brits and Americans say differently
The word in question is squirrel, the little rodents which are indigenous to the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.
“Okay America apparently the way British people say a certain word is funny. I’m gonna put this to the test right now,” the TikTok user said.
He then started repeating the word squirrel over and over again, which he pronounces like “skwirrel”.
“That’s how you say it. It’s got an ‘R’ in the middle,” he claimed. “How else are you meant to say the word squirrel?”
Josh then tried to replicate how Americans say the word, pronouncing it like “skwirl” before angrily adding: “That’s not squirrel!”
People argue over correct pronunciation
The video has opened up a debate in the comments, and Americans are getting very defensive over the pronunciation.
One person wrote: “Skwivral is not squirrel.”
“There’s no ‘w’ in squirrel. Sqiviril?” said another.
A third American agreed: “Squirrel is only one syllable, ‘skwirl’.”
“Wait… are you playing or is that how you really say it?” someone else said.
Another asked: “Where is the ‘w’ coming from?”
Some think it sounds like the British guy is saying ‘scribble’, while others say it sounds like ‘squid roll’ or even ‘Squidward’.
However, Josh says the way Americans pronounce the animal sounds like ‘twirl’. Everyone will have to agree to disagree on this one!
Here’s another word Americans ‘can’t say’ that the Brit finds totally hysterical.
