“What’s the most British word you know?” – 28 splendid suggestions innit mate
Twitter/X user hey_mayaa sparked a viral conversation chain this week when she asked:
What’s the most British word you know?
— maya (@hey_mayaa) December 17, 2024
Now, of course, “British” encompasses four different nations, so these responses are not comprehensive. But they do give a taste of what words lots of people immediately associate with Britain…
1.
innit? https://t.co/qkA2cDUn7w
— iPaulie (@iPaulie) December 18, 2024
2.
nightphysik = an Elizabethan term for rumpy pumpy
rumpy pumpy = a quaint euphemism for getting your end away
getting your end away = a vulgar term for a bit of slap and tickle
bit of slap and tickle = a coy term for some How’s-your -father.
how’s your father = a modern term for…— Vincent Murphy (@brainstormvince) December 17, 2024
3.
Nonce
— Department of Decline (@LeoMars75) December 17, 2024
4.
Bellend https://t.co/i4jEU9ueph
— Niko (@VB_tins) December 18, 2024
5.
Wanker.
(Thanks, @TedLasso) https://t.co/Rq5bDAMOeZ
— (@congdgabriela) December 17, 2024
6.
Not exactly falls under the category of a “word”. But this…. pic.twitter.com/v5IWEqg3c8
— Fawzan (@eFawzan) December 18, 2024
7.
Crumpet. But I don’t know what it means. https://t.co/gPJBYiymMy
— Burning Mom ⚡️ (@MomOnFire) December 18, 2024
8.
‘taking the piss’ – what does that even mean? where are you taking it to?
— DVCGUY (@DVCGUY1) December 17, 2024
9.
“Chuffed”, as in, “We were quite chuffed!” I used to work with a confused British guy who said that all the time. I still don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, the pained look his face wore by default providing no clue either way.
— Billy Lincoln (@BillyLincoln10) December 18, 2024
10.
Poppycock
I can’t remember what it is but I remember my English grandmother telling me about it years ago
— Chris John (@_Colts18_) December 17, 2024
11.
Ticketyboo
— Mark Hendy (@markhendy) December 17, 2024
12.
Bollocks
— Derski (@DerkowskiChris) December 17, 2024