Language Guide
British English — The Peculiarities
British English differs from American English in vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling — and the British are proud of it. Here are the most important differences for German-speaking travelers:
Vocabulary: British vs. American
| British | American | German |
|---|---|---|
| Chips | Fries | Pommes |
| Crisps | Chips | Kartoffelchips |
| Biscuit | Cookie | Keks |
| Lift | Elevator | Aufzug |
| Flat | Apartment | Wohnung |
| Boot (of car) | Trunk | Kofferraum |
| Bonnet (of car) | Hood | Motorhaube |
| Petrol | Gas/Gasoline | Benzin |
| Pavement | Sidewalk | Gehweg |
| Toilet/Loo | Restroom/Bathroom | Toilette |
| Queue | Line | Schlange |
| Rubbish | Trash/Garbage | Müll |
| Jumper | Sweater | Pullover |
| Trainers | Sneakers | Turnschuhe |
| Quid | Buck | Pfund (umgangssprachlich) |
Typical British Expressions
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cheers | Thanks / Cheers / Bye (universally applicable!) |
| Brilliant | Great, fantastic (often sarcastic) |
| Proper | Right, genuine. "That's a proper pub" = A real pub |
| Fancy | Feel like. "Fancy a pint?" = Do you feel like a beer? |
| Knackered | Exhausted, worn out |
| Cheeky | Saucy, but charming. "A cheeky Nando's" = A spontaneous Nando's visit |
| Dodgy | Suspicious, shady |
| Gutted | Deeply disappointed |
| Mate | Buddy, friend (universal address) |
| Rubbish | Trash — but also: bad. "That film was rubbish" |
| Lovely | Beautiful, wonderful. "Lovely, thanks" = Standard confirmation |
| Not bad | High praise! The British tend to understate |
| Bit of a faff | A bit of a hassle |
| Taking the mickey | Teasing someone, making fun |
Tipp
"You alright?" (often as "Y'aright?") is NOT a question about your well-being — it's a greeting. The correct response is "Yeah, good, thanks — you?" and NOT a detailed description of your state of mind. Similarly: "How do you do?" is answered with "How do you do?" not with an answer.
Welsh & Scottish Gaelic
Welsh (Cymraeg)
Welsh is a Celtic language spoken by about 900,000 people — in Wales, all road signs are bilingual (English/Welsh), and in North Wales (especially Gwynedd and Anglesey), Welsh is the everyday language for many. The language looks intimidating with its consonant clusters (ll, dd, ff, ch) but follows clear rules.
| Welsh | Pronunciation | German |
|---|---|---|
| Bore da | Boreh da | Good morning |
| Prynhawn da | Prennhaun da | Good afternoon |
| Nos da | Nohs da | Good night |
| Diolch | Dee-olch | Thank you |
| Iechyd da! | Jechid da! | Cheers! |
| Croeso | Kroy-so | Welcome |
| Cymru | Kumri | Wales |
Fun Fact: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch on Anglesey is the longest place name in Europe. It means: "St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio by the Red Cave." Locals simply say "Llanfair PG".
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
Scottish Gaelic is still spoken by about 57,000 people — mainly in the Outer Hebrides, on Skye, and parts of the Highlands. In Edinburgh and Glasgow, there are Gaelic schools and bilingual road signs.
| Gaelic | Pronunciation | German |
|---|---|---|
| Madainn mhath | Matin va | Good morning |
| Tapadh leat | Tapa let | Thank you |
| Slàinte mhath! | Slahntsche va! | Cheers! |
| Fàilte | Fahltsche | Welcome |
| Alba | Alapa | Scotland |
Scottish Slang Expressions (Scots English):
| Scottish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aye | Yes |
| Nae | No / Not |
| Wee | Small. "A wee dram" = A small whisky |
| Bonnie | Pretty, beautiful. "Bonnie Scotland" |
| Braw | Great, splendid |
| Ken | Know. "D'ye ken?" = Do you know? |
| Loch | Lake (not pronounced "Lock" — the "ch" as in "ach"!) |
| Glen | Valley |
| Ben | Mountain (Gaelic: Beinn) |
| Dram | A glass of whisky |
Tipp
"Slàinte mhath!" (Cheers! — pronounced "Slahntsche va!") is the Scottish equivalent of the Irish "Sláinte!" and will make you instantly popular in any pub. And: Never say "Scotch" to a Scot — the person is a Scot, the country is Scotland, and only the drink is called Scotch (or better: Whisky).
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