If you aren't obsessed with British accents then you really aren't American. They sound so sophisticated and elegant, and for some reason it makes us go crazy. Since staying in England for the past few days and having British professors, I've been around their accents more than I ever have in my life. Combined with living in a castle, I feel like I'm inside a Harry Potter, er, 'Arry Pottah book. Here are some words I've learned along the way that sound a whole lot cooler than the words we use in America to mean the same thing.
1. Corridor
Instead of saying "hallway" which is just boring, the word corridor sounds majestical coming from a British person.
2. Cozzy
The American counterpart is a swimsuit. Cozzy sounds so much more endearing.
3. Plimsolls
Plimsolls are like tennis shoes in America. There's a clear winner here.
4. Lollipop man/lady
This is the same as the crossing guard, or the person who helps children cross the street on their way to school. I'm not sure if this means that they give out lollipops too, but it's a nice thought.
5. Skip
It sounds...cleaner than "dumpster."
6. Telly
As opposed to "TV" in the US, telly is just more fun to say.
7. Nutter
A short, simple, and accurate word to describe a crazy person, I think the term should be brought to the States.
8. Boob tube
Americans say "tube top" but we should definitely adopt the English version. There's just something about it.
9. Sleeping policeman
At first I was confused as to why police officers would sleep in the middle of the road until i found out that it is the same as a "speed bump" in America.
10. Candyfloss
We have cotton candy in the US, but candyfloss sounds less like eating straight sugar.
11. Zapper
Americans call it a remote control, which isn't anywhere near as cool or original as a zapper.
12. Rubbish
It's a well-known British word for garbage in the US, and one of everyone's favorites.
13. Quid
It's a slang term for pounds (the currency), like bucks is for dollars.
14. Queue
Pronounced like the letter "Q" a queue is a word the British use for standing in line. Apparently there are a lot of ways to stand in line the wrong way here, and you can get a lot of dirty looks for not doing it right.
Learning all of the different British words is almost like learning a fun, new language. It's even more fun attempting to say them in a British accent. Now imagine a Brit talking after inhaling helium. I haven't heard it yet either, but now that's my next goal.
