Since writing the post "Word of the Year," I've been pondering the differences between American English and English English. Since I've lived in the US for over twenty years, I use American words fluidly, so I don't even realize they're different any more. Like "Mom" and "aluminum" and pronouncing the words tomato and basil like the word potato. It's automatic, as easy as driving on the left or the right side of the road, depending where I am.
There are some words though, that get totally lost in translation. They just cannot cross the pond with dignity, and, if you use one of these, it will at the very least cause a snigger, if not a raised eyebrow. Here are my favorites (or favourites if you will.)
1. Toilet. A common word in every country – except the US. For some reason the word “toilet” is unacceptable in everyday conversation. You have to use the word “bathroom” or “restroom.” In 1991, after I'd been here only a few days, I went to a bar with some friends and asked a staff member where the toilets were. I went the way the person indicated and was confused when I saw the sign for restrooms. I honestly didn’t know that toilets would be in there. In my mind this was possibly a place where people went to rest if they were tired. I subsequently learned that “toilet” is a dirty word and not used in polite conversation. Why? Who knows.
2. Fag. To Brits, a fag is a cigarette. Full stop. (I’ll come to that later too.) When I first arrived in the US I was still a smoker, and when I asked for a fag, I was looked at, again, in some horror. Why? Well, fag is slang for gay/homosexual, and is definitely a derisory comment. So, we have to be careful there too.
3. Rubber. In Britain, rubbers are used by everyone, children or adult, to rub out something you've written in pencil. But no, not in the US. A rubber is slang for a condom. So, asking someone politely if you can borrow their rubber in the office will elicit sniggers and surprised looks. Don’t go there. It’s an eraser. Period.
4. Period. Ah, the word period. In the US it’s used at the end of a sentence. An emphatic ending. It’s also a menstrual cycle, yes, but here, saying “period” at the end of a sentence is normal. In Britain, a period is a bloody mess once a month. Full stop. It still makes me cringe when I hear people say period, but the words “full stop” have no meaning here. So, I have to begrudgingly put up with it.
5. Fanny. I’ve left the most cringeworthy till last. The word fanny in the US means bottom/butt/backside or whatever other word you use for your behind. Therefore a fanny pack is an acceptable accessory. Well, not really, but you get my point. In Britain, your fanny is a completely different part of your anatomy. One that goes with period, not bottom. Yes, fanny is vagina, or whatever other word you’d like to use for a woman’s “front bottom”. So, hearing people talk about fanny packs in everyday conversation is just ugh. I still can’t get over it, even after 21 years.
Do you have any favorite words that get lost in translation? If so, tell me – I love this kind of thing!
2. Fag. To Brits, a fag is a cigarette. Full stop. (I’ll come to that later too.) When I first arrived in the US I was still a smoker, and when I asked for a fag, I was looked at, again, in some horror. Why? Well, fag is slang for gay/homosexual, and is definitely a derisory comment. So, we have to be careful there too.
3. Rubber. In Britain, rubbers are used by everyone, children or adult, to rub out something you've written in pencil. But no, not in the US. A rubber is slang for a condom. So, asking someone politely if you can borrow their rubber in the office will elicit sniggers and surprised looks. Don’t go there. It’s an eraser. Period.
4. Period. Ah, the word period. In the US it’s used at the end of a sentence. An emphatic ending. It’s also a menstrual cycle, yes, but here, saying “period” at the end of a sentence is normal. In Britain, a period is a bloody mess once a month. Full stop. It still makes me cringe when I hear people say period, but the words “full stop” have no meaning here. So, I have to begrudgingly put up with it.
5. Fanny. I’ve left the most cringeworthy till last. The word fanny in the US means bottom/butt/backside or whatever other word you use for your behind. Therefore a fanny pack is an acceptable accessory. Well, not really, but you get my point. In Britain, your fanny is a completely different part of your anatomy. One that goes with period, not bottom. Yes, fanny is vagina, or whatever other word you’d like to use for a woman’s “front bottom”. So, hearing people talk about fanny packs in everyday conversation is just ugh. I still can’t get over it, even after 21 years.
Do you have any favorite words that get lost in translation? If so, tell me – I love this kind of thing!
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