‘’Words, Words, Words…’’
(Hamlet Act 2, scene 2)
Dearest future interns and readers of this blog,
Turns out, England is a different country. Pick your jaws up off the floor, now, and let me explain what I mean. You think it’s an English speaking country, the same English we speak at home. But don’t let that sophisticated and polished accent lull you into a false (though charmed) sense of security. No, like any foreign country, even English speaking ones, there are words to say and words left better unsaid. So, in order to avoid any potentially uncomfortable encounters (no, I’m not speaking from personal experience, why do you ask…?) I’ve compiled a list of English words that are different than the ones we use. The list is by no means comprehensive, but I hope it’ll prove instructive, cautionary, and maybe even a little delightful:
Boot: trunk of a car
‘You’alright?’: NOT asking ‘do you feel sick, cause you look sick…’’ it just means ‘how’s it goin’! This one still gets me, though. When they ask I always wonder….am I alright??’
Hob: Stove top
Coach: Bus
Holiday: Vacation
Pram: Stroller
Toastie: Grilled cheese
Biscuits: cookies
Chips: fries
Crisps: chips
Diary: planner/agenda
Proper: no direct translation, just amazing.
Take-away: Carry-out/pick-up food
Bap: a roll (as in bread)
Rubbish: trash
Litter: trash. Again.
Cheers: thanks, but in a way that means, ‘and we’re done talking. Social obligation ended’. Think like, ‘cheerio!’ from posh men in British movies you’ve seen
Kitchen roll: Paper towel
Queue: Line
Way out: Exit
Crockery: dishes
Trainers: sneakers, tennis shoes
Baddie: like a a ‘bad guy’ (as in Marvel movies consist of superheroes and baddies)
‘Can do…’ instead of just ‘’can’’ ex: ‘Can I design my project this way…?’’ ‘’yeah you can do…’’ You’ve gotta hear it to know it, I think!)
It can be pretty trippy when you speak the same but not the same language as the people that surround you. Luckily the British, and the Trust-ians in particular, are so kind and understanding, and only laugh the first time you pronounce Gloucestershire GLO-CHESTER-SHIRE (like how its spelled) instead of GLO-STE-SHER (like it’s said). But, it’s the best place to be! England, and Stratford in particular, is so much fun, I wish us OR the Brits had a word to better describe how lovely it is to work at the SBT!
Cheers,
Katey
