Dear readers, if you’ve been following us for some time, you’ve probably noticed that we stick to American English on this blog for the sake of consistency. We do point out regional differences when they’re worth noting, but today we’re going to dive into British English like never before. A delicious portion of delightful language awaits you—so read on to discover a bunch of words and expressions commonly used in the UK!

A Day on the Settee, British Style

I was feeling a bit poorly (1) this morning, so I decided to have a lie-in (2) instead of dashing off to work. After making myself a nice cuppa (3), I plonked down (4) on the settee (5) with a biscuit (6) and switched on the telly (7) to watch the weather. It was absolutely chucking it down (8), so I thought, no point faffing about (9) outdoors today. Later, my mate (10) popped round with some crisps (11) and a jumper (12) I’d left at his flat (13) last week. We had a good chinwag (14) before I finally felt right as rain again.

American English version 🇺🇸

I wasn’t feeling too great this morning, so I decided to sleep in instead of rushing off to work. After making myself a nice cup of tea, I flopped down on the couch with a cookie and turned on the TV to check the weather. It was pouring rain, so I figured there was no point in messing around outside today. Later, my friend stopped by with some chips and a sweater I’d left at his apartment last week. We had a good chat before I finally started feeling back to normal again.

1. Poorly (adjective) = unwell
2. A lie-in – a time when you stay in bed later than usual in the morning
3. A cuppa = a cup of tea
4. To plonk down – to sit or lie down suddenly in a careless way
5. A settee = a sofa
6. A biscuit = a small, flat cake that is dry and usually sweet
7. A telly = a television
8. To chuck it down – to rain heavily
9. To faff about – to spend your time doing a lot of things that are not important instead of the thing that you should be doing
10. A mate = a friend
11. Crisps = potato chips
12. A jumper = a sweater
13. A flat = an apartment
14. A chinwag – a friendly conversation

A Quiet Evening In

I was absolutely knackered (1) after work yesterday, so I popped into the shop (2) on my way home and grabbed a ready meal (3) for tea (4). When I got back to my flat, I kicked off my shoes, made myself a quick cuppa, and collapsed on the sofa. My neighbour popped round a bit later to borrow some milk, and we had a bit of a natter (5) about the weekend. It had been tipping it down (6) all day, so I was quite chuffed (7) I didn’t have to go out again. I just bunged (8) my dinner in the oven, pulled on my joggers, and spent the rest of the evening watching a bit of telly before heading up to bed.

American English version 🇺🇸

I was completely wiped out after work yesterday, so I stopped by the store on my way home and grabbed a frozen dinner for dinner. When I got back to my apartment, I kicked off my shoes, made myself a quick cup of tea, and collapsed on the couch. My neighbor stopped by a little later to borrow some milk, and we had a little chat about the weekend. It had been pouring all day, so I was pretty happy I didn’t have to go out again. I just threw my dinner in the oven, put on my sweatpants, and spent the rest of the evening watching some TV before heading up to bed.

1. Knackered = exhausted
2. To pop into the shop = to stop by the store
3. A ready meal – a meal cooked and bought at a shop but taken somewhere else, often home, to be heated and eaten
4. Tea = dinner/supper (especially in northern England, Scotland, and some parts of the Midlands)
5. A natter = a chinwag – a chat
6. To be tipping (it) down = to be chucking it down – to be raining heavily
7. Chuffed = pleased, happy
8. To bung (dinner in the oven) = to throw (dinner in the oven)

A Proper British Barbecue

Yesterday was a right (1) scorcher, so I decided to nip out (2) early and grab some bits (3) for the barbecue. The queue (4) at the butchers was a bit of a nightmare, but I managed to get some sausages and steaks before heading back home. I put the kettle on for a quick brew, then set up the garden (5) with a few chairs and some bunting. My mates arrived just after six, and we spent the evening chatting, laughing, and enjoying a few pints (6). As the sun set, someone suggested a game of charades, which had us all in stitches. By the time everyone left, I was absolutely cream–crackered (7) but happy after a proper (8) brilliant (9) day.

American English version 🇺🇸

Yesterday was a real scorcher, so I decided to run out early and grab some stuff for the barbecue. The line at the butcher was a bit of a nightmare, but I managed to get some hot dogs and steaks before heading back home. I put the kettle on for a quick cup of tea, then set up the backyard with a few chairs and some decorations. My friends showed up just after six, and we spent the evening chatting, laughing, and enjoying a few beers. As the sun went down, someone suggested a game of charades, which had us all laughing hysterically. By the time everyone left, I was completely wiped out but happy after a really great day.

1. Right – used for emphasizing when something is bad (other examples: a right mess, a right fool)
2. To nip out – to go out quickly and briefly, usually for a short errand or task
3. Bits – small items or things, often groceries or bits and pieces you need
4. A queue = line
5. A garden = a backyard
6. A pint – a pint of beer
7. Cream-cracked = exhausted
8. Proper – used as an intensifier (other examples: a proper rest, laugh, mess, meal)
9. Brilliant = great, fantastic

❕If you compare the British English texts with their American English versions provided above, you’ll notice more differences than those we have highlighted. Note that the expressions we have listed above are clearly British English, and you can verify this in dictionaries, as we have. Expressions that are understood and used in America but less commonly than in Britain are not included in the lists. For example, joggers is one such word. Although sweatpants is a much more common phrase for this type of clothing, joggers is understood and used too, albeit to a lesser extent.

So, to get a clearly American feel, refer to the American versions of the passages. To identify vocabulary that is distinctly British, look at the lists and how the vocabulary is used in the British English texts.

Alright, time for practice!

Practice

Exercise 1. Click the link here and sort out the words based on whether they are British English or not necessarily.

Exercise 2. Make these neutral or American-style sentences sound more British. See the suggested answers below.

1. I was really tired after work, so I went straight home and watched some TV.
2. I stopped by the store to pick up a few things for dinner.
3. It was raining really heavily all afternoon.
4. I was really happy when I got the job.
5. My friend came over, and we had a nice chat.
6. The concert last night was really great.
7. I flopped down on the sofa to have a good rest.
8. It was such a hot day yesterday!
9. I ran out for a few minutes to grab some tea.
10. By the time everyone left, I was completely exhausted but happy.

Suggested answers

1. I was absolutely knackered/cream-cracked after work, so I went straight home and watched a bit of telly.
2. I popped into the shop to grab some bits for tea.
3. It was chucking it down all afternoon. / It was tipping it down all afternoon.
4. I was proper chuffed when I got the job.
5. My mate popped round, and we had a good chinwag/natter.
6. The concert last night was absolutely brilliant.
7. I plonked down on the settee to have a proper rest.
8. Yesterday was a right scorcher!
9. I nipped out for a cuppa.
10. By the time everyone left, I was cream-crackered/knackered but happy.

Did you enjoy this article? Would you like to see more content like this? Let us know in the comments — and feel free to share any thoughts or examples of British and American English you’ve come across. It’s such a fascinating topic, and we’d love to explore it further with you!