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A short guide, not a dictionary. Word lists come from the pages numbered below. Usage varies by region, age and setting, so treat each entry as a guide to what you may hear.
Accents and dialects
English is spoken throughout the United Kingdom, with many accents and dialects, and some words that are unfamiliar to other English speakers. Wikivoyage notes that people from different parts of the UK sometimes need to ask each other to repeat themselves, so you should not feel awkward doing the same.1
The same guide says there is no single "British accent", so describing someone's accent as "very British" can confuse people. It suggests that asking about a local accent is a good way to start a conversation, and that you should not try to imitate an accent, because it can come across as rude.1 Most people will not correct your English, and visitors who speak English as a second language need not worry about mistakes.1
Words that differ from American English
If your English is mostly American, these are the words most likely to cause a double take on signs, menus and timetables.
| British word | What it means |
|---|---|
| biscuit | cookie (American)1 |
| chips | fries (American); thick-cut traditional British chips or French fries1 |
| crisps | potato chips (American)1 |
| lift | elevator in a building; also an offer of a ride in a car1 |
| lorry | truck1 |
| motorway | freeway1 |
| queue | line of people (American 'line')1,2 |
| return ticket | round-trip ticket1 |
| takeaway | food 'to go' (American)1 |
| toilet or loo | restroom or washroom. 'Bathroom' means a room with a bath or shower1 |
| torch | flashlight1 |
| bonnet and boot | the hood and the trunk of a car2 |
| car park | parking lot2 |
| pavement | sidewalk (a 'footpath' is also used)2 |
| coach | long-distance bus service (American 'motorcoach')2,1 |
| the tube or the underground | the subway or metro (the London Underground)2 |
| zebra crossing | a marked pedestrian crossing2 |
| quid | slang for one pound or several pounds2 |
Regional words
Some words belong to one nation or region. You will see several of them on maps and signs as well as hear them. Our pages on Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Scots and Irish and Ulster-Scots go further.
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| aye | yes (parts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and northern England)1 |
| dale and glen | valley (dale in northern England, glen in Scotland)1 |
| fell | mountain (northern England, especially the Lake District)1 |
| kirk | church (Scotland and north-east England)1 |
| loch | lake or sea inlet (Scotland)1 |
| lough | lake (Northern Ireland)1 |
| wee | small (Scotland, Northern Ireland and some northern English speech)1 |
| poke | ice cream in a wafer cone (Northern Ireland); a paper bag, for example of chips or sweets (Scotland) (Northern Ireland and Scotland)1 |
| CymruPrinted pronunciation: Cum-ree | Wales, in Welsh (Wales)1 |
Wikivoyage also lists "wee" as an everyday word for "small" in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and notes it has a different, informal meaning in England.1 If a word on a sign puzzles you, a member of staff will usually be glad to explain.
Greetings, "sorry" and other small words
- "Alright?" or "You all right?" is commonly a greeting, not a question about your mood. The usual reply is simply "Alright".1
- Terms of address such as "mate", "love", "boss" and "duck" are common between strangers and friends in informal settings, and are not meant to be patronising.1
- People often say "sorry" to mean "excuse me" or "pardon", even when nothing is wrong. When you do not catch something, "Pardon?" or "Sorry?" is more polite than "What?" to someone you do not know.1
- Requests are often indirect: "Where can I find the changing room?" rather than "Where's the changing room?"1
Slang and rhyming slang
Slang changes quickly and differs by place and generation, so we do not try to list it. Two things worth knowing: "quid" is slang for a pound,2 and Cockney rhyming slang is a collection of terms, some local and short-lived, others so long-lasting that people use them without realising they rhyme. Wikivoyage's example is "butchers", meaning a look, from "butcher's hook".1
Swearing is a matter of context. Wikivoyage reports that strong words are common in casual conversation but are generally avoided in polite company.1 If in doubt, listen first and follow the room.
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Place names used as shorthand
News reports often use the name of a building or street to mean an institution.
| Name | What it stands for |
|---|---|
| Downing Street or Number 10 | the Prime Minister, and sometimes the government as a whole1 |
| Whitehall | the government, especially the civil service. Whitehall is a road in central London with many ministries1 |
| Westminster | Parliament and the political system in general1 |
| Stormont, Holyrood, Cardiff | the devolved governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales1 |
Related
Read about etiquette, how the four nations differ, and our first-time guide.