London Colloquial greetings?

Question

Hi I am new in London(coming from US). What are the basic colloquial words I should know. Any words other than greetings (eg: we call soda for pepsi, coke,etc). that I should know and not get embarrased. Please help me. Thanks.

Answer 1

There are many many differences you will have to get used to - for instance you may be told to put your luggage in the car 'boot' (not trunk) - the engine of the car is under the 'bonnet' (not hood) - our cars run on 'petrol' (not gas) and we fill them up at a petrol station. The right hand pedal in a car is the 'accelerator' (not gas pedal). - you will park your car in a 'car park' (not parking lot)

If you ask for "The bathroom" you may well be directed to a room containing only a bath, we use a 'toilet' to relieve ourselves and 'rest room' has virtually no meaning at all , we do not rest in our toilets -. you will take a 'lift' to go up in a building - not an elevator - and the street level floor of a building is the 'ground floor' (not first floor) - the 'first floor' in the UK is up one flight of stairs from the street level floor - so all other numbers are also up one on yours.

Please walk on the 'pavement' (not sidewalk) when walking in town - and use a 'Zebra' crossing to cross the road.

Our 'lemonade' will completely confuse you - it is much more like 7up (or Sprite)  and fizzy. If you want a coke - ask for a coke - asking for a soda my well get you soda water.

And to avoid embarresment please note that a ladies 'f***y' is in front,  between her legs - not behind her.

you will find a great deal of useful information on this website :-

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/...  

...

Answer 2

US / UK

sidewalk / pavement

truck / lorry

car hood / car bonnet

car trunk / car boot

gasoline / petrol

suspenders / braces

garter belt / suspender belt

vest / waistcoat

pants / trousers

ladies shirt / blouse

fall / autumn

bangs / fringe

jelly / jam

jello / jelly

A great introduction to the UK for the American Novice can be found here:

http://www.hps.com/~tpg/ukdict/index.php...

Answer 3

I am new too.

Ay up!" (or "eh up", "ey up")  just like Hello.

Answer 4

Colloquial expressions other than greetings? A few spring to mind:

The sidewalk is the 'pavement', and the subway [train] is 'the tube' or 'the underground'.  When you come across 'subway' in britain, it usually means a pedestrian tunnel underneath a road.

Sometimes people will refer to a pound (currency) as a 'quid', a five pound note as a 'fiver', and a ten pound note as a 'tenner'

Cigarettes will sometimes be referred to as 'f**s' - I bet that confuses the h**l out of Americans if they aren't familiar with the expression.

Probably best if you have a read through one of the on-line dictionaries of English expressions and slang (see link).  The main thing to remember is that most people only use a few of these expressions in their normal speech - just look up the words you need to find the meaning of.

Good luck!

Edit: It's also helpful to carry a paperback novel with you when travelling on the tube.  It means you don't have to make eye-contact with the person sitting opposite.

Answer 5

OK. Here's some basics:

In a bar: no tipping is necessary. BIG Difference! We drink beer in "pints" (very tall glasses of lager). So, walking into a bar you'd say. "Pint please".

"Cheers" is the most natural way to say "thank you" in informal situations. (or "Ta" if you really feel like blending in).

Elevator is Lift.

Sidewalk is Pavement.

Eraser is Rubber.

f***y doesn't mean *** but a women's organs!

Actually, I'm really enjoying this... let me know specifically what you want to know and I'll email you!

Answer 6

Obviously you'll stand out on your accent alone.  So dont worry and just try the sayings and stuff for fun.

People might use cockney ryhming slang.  There are a few versions which you can look up on the internet.  However if 'the apples and pears' is another word for 'stairs'.  Some are a little more obscure as the ryhming part doesnt even get mentioned.  Londoners are a little odd so just enjoy it and try and guess!

f***y is not buttocks, but womens bits

Cheers is a form of thankyou or ending a phone conversation

Gas is gas, US gas is petrol

Tube, Underground = Metro

Pavements are the things that you walk on (sidewalks)

Tipping is not a norm.  Keep your money unless you get really good service.  We now have a minimum wage so no need to give them more.  It only attracts the Australian barmen

A phone with no wires is a mobile phone, not a cell phone

Doggy bags are for women with little dogs and do lunch.  At the end of a meal doggy bags for saving the scraps of plates is not normal.

Public transport is for everyone and much fun. (as a novelty, gets boring to do every day!)

Soda water and soda (coke) are two very different things.  Just ask for the brand name.  

If you ask for coke, you may get pepsi.  Dont be alarmed we dont see that there is too much difference!

We drive on the left, not the right.  

Taxis are the new cowboys of the road.  They will 'aim' at pedistreans and motor bikes as they are fair game in their eyes.

Tourists wear bright colours (large print hawii shirts), locals wear more muted browns and blacks.

Restrooms are for people to rest in.  Toilets/WC's are where you go to do bodily functions

Good luck and have fun.  If in doubt just ask, you might not understand the answer, but you'll have a story to take back with you.