American living in UK says common phrases Brits say every day ‘hurt her brain’

An American who moved across the pond a year ago has revealed how she is still struggling to converse with us Brits.

Ash Loren has been documenting her new life in the UK online since she upped sticks and settled in London 12 months ago, but one thing she still hasn't got used to is the lingo.

Breaking down British slang is like the cracking the Enigma Code to her, as she says some of our dialect 'hurts her brain'.

Although she's revelling in the fact she can now chomp on Cadbury's chocolate and drink mugs of tea till her heart's content, Ash still can't work out what we're on about most of the time.

The Yank, better known online as @ashseestheworld, admitted she thought she'd have mastered UK jargon by now, but complained that the strange meanings of some common phrases made it a lot more confusing than she first thought.

In a recent TikTok video, she reeled off the list of terms which she still just can't get her head around.

Ash kicked off the clip with the classic greeting which can prompt dozens of varying answers: "You alright?"

She explained: "I know I should have this down by now, but it still feels like wrong. I always respond, 'Yeah, you?' But it doesn't feel correct. I'm so confused by this one."

Her next issue with the Great British language is the different terms we use to refer to things in comparison to the US.

Ash said: "So the first one is saying 'toilet' instead of 'bathroom' - it's so American if you're out and about and say, 'Hey where's the bathroom?'

"But in the US, if you say, 'Hey where's the toilet?' It's like...it almost feels a little too forward to say 'toilet', but here in the UK it's weird to say 'bathroom'. Which is fair - there is no bath in public toilets, so."

The social media user said she runs into a similar issue when grabbing something to 'takeaway' at a cafe or food spot, as she is so used to saying 'to go' instead.

Ash said: "This is the worst when I'm not caffeinated. I don't know why this is so hard for me!"

And last but not least, is the fact she gets sweaty palms and a thumping heart when she is finished dining at a restaurant - as she dreads having to utter the words, 'Can I have the bill, please?'

The TikToker pointed out that they refer to it as a 'cheque' in the States, so it always nearly slips off her tongue.

Ash added: "Now I always try to think to myself, ask for the bill, not the cheque. It's so weird that you have to ask for it here, in the US they're like giving it to you while you're still finishing your meal."

Viewers shared their thoughts in the comment section, with many Americans backing her stance on Brit slang.

One said: "I'm always going to say bathroom or restroom, just saying toilet feels vulgar."

Another wrote: "I don't see how 'you alright' is any worse than 'what's up?'"

A third added: "For the bill, you can also just mouth 'the bill' and draw a rectangle in the air and they'll know what you want."

A fourth commented: "If someone asked me if I was alright I would immediately spiral, thinking something looked off/I looked sick."

And a fifth chimed in: "As a Brit moving to the US, I can't wait to say all these things to everyone and they get confused."

Featured Image Credit: Tiktok/Ashseestheworld

Topics: UK News, US News, London, TikTok

Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

@livburke_