7 July 2010 Mincing Words

There are a number of British words and expressions I didn’t learn from British mystery novels, James Bond films, Monty Python, and Absolutely Fabulous. “Mince” is one of them. Don’t go asking the butcher for ground beef or turkey. It’s mince, you’ll want, luv. That got me to thinking about what other words and expressions were new for me this time round to the British isles. Here’s what came to mind in no particular order:

• Pants: as in knickers, not trousers. Undies.
• Vest: an undershirt. I still haven’t sussed out the proper name for what an American would call a vest. Is is waistcoat?
• Compost: soil (for gardening)
• The garden: the yard (of a house).
• Kitchen towel: paper towel
• Sweeties: candy
• Hoover: the vacuum cleaner.

There are loads more and I’ll try to keep track of them. I asked Sam just now what words she knows in British English that are different from American and she immediately grinned and said, “Wee!”

Ah yes.

• Wee: pee. Most frequently heard in the sentence, “Mummy, I need a wee!”