Metrogirl presents BRITSPEAK

- Or the science of understanding people from the other side of the Atlantic...

As you have probably read, I'm English but my home is now in the United States.   When I first came to live in the US I was often in trouble when I said something and either I accidentally offended someone or I simply wasn't understood.   I learned quickly...   I'm happy to present the knowledge I've gained as a unique dictionary of Metrogirl's BRITSPEAK.

Over the years I've found several websites that attempt a translation (and that's almost what it needs, I felt like I was speaking Klingon sometimes) but none of them was* very good.   Mostly they were written by folks who hadn't spent much time in the other country.   I've compiled this comprehensive dictionary using raw materials from several sites but  I've added, updated and modified quite a bit from my own experience.   I haven't shied away from defining terms relating to sex or bodily functions because you're going to hear them anyway - but if you're prudish, sensitive or very young maybe you should just go away until you've grown up a bit.   Anyway, click on the sections below for an education, a laugh, to check on some English rules, or just to see how different the British and the Americans really are!

EDIT: April 2007 - I've recently updated, refined and improved the dictionaries and included a few suggestions from friends on both sides of the Atlantic.

* This is correct usage - "None of them was " - "none" is a contraction of "not one", so the correct form is was and not were!

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