An American man who moved to the UK and used to live in Bristol has said there are three words he never said before ditching the States – and now he can’t stop saying them
The man has adopted some British slang into his vocabulary (stock photo)(Image: Cultura Creative via Getty Images)
While we share a common language with our American counterparts, there’s something about British slang that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere. As one US expat who relocated to the UK discovered, it’s quite difficult to resist adopting the plethora of colloquial terms used across the country.
K Jordy, originally from the States, first made Bristol his home when he settled in the UK, before moving to London. He’s now become a successful vlogger who regularly creates content about British life that leaves his audience in fits of laughter – and his latest TikTok video is no different.
In the video, he confesses that living in the UK has “changed him”, revealing three English words he never used prior to his move but now finds himself saying daily.
1. Quid
This term, familiar to Brits as a casual synonym for “pound”, isn’t used at all in America. K Jordy was taken aback when he realised it had slipped into his everyday vocabulary.
He explained: “I think this is regional, because I first moved to Bristol in the South West of England, and it was so popular. I just love how they [say] quid [for] money. At first it started as a joke, and now I just love saying it. Like, 20 quid.”
2. Rubbish
The man confessed that he had never used the term “rubbish” before moving to the UK, a word he was compelled to adopt after being teased by colleagues at his first job in a local Wetherspoons pub for saying “trash”.
Please note: The following video contains strong language
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He explained: “Rubbish is that one word you hear all the time in British TV shows and British movies. I didn’t think I’d actually catch on, but then I almost got kind of made fun of for saying trash.
“One of my first jobs, I worked at Spoons, [and I would say] ‘Where’s the trash at?’, and they’d all be like ‘Where’s the trash?’ [in a mocking tone]. To get out of people making fun of me, I switched to rubbish, and now it’s just become part of my vocabulary.”
3. Banter
Another term K Jordy has come to appreciate is “banter”, which he describes as one of his “favourite words”. He loves how it encapsulates everything from having a good sense of humour to flirting with someone.
He said: “Banter isn’t just joking. It could be joking, flirting, or taking the p**s. It’s such a perfect word to describe so much all wrapped into one. And that’s why I love it.
“You’re on a date with a girl and she has good chat, [you can say] ‘Oh mate, she has good banter’. That’s why you might like her. Banter. It’s goated. I will forever say that.”
Commenters on K Jordy’s video have labelled him an “honorary Brit”, with many highlighting that his use of the phrase “taking the p**s” in his clip made him “more British” than he might have realised.
One individual commented: “I can hear your British accent forming.”
Another chimed in: “You have become an honorary Brit!”.
A fellow American also expressed their desire to relocate to the UK, stating: “I’ve been watching a lot of Coronation Street lately, and now I want to move to England! Plus, videos of Americans living in the UK keep popping up, which makes me want to move from the US to the UK even more.”