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British Terms Increasingly Adopted in American English, Study Reveals
While Britons and Americans both communicate in English, linguistic distinctions between the two nations are considerable. For example, United Kingdom residents might plan a holiday, wear trousers, or walk on the pavement, whereas their counterparts across the Atlantic would plan a vacation, wear pants, or walk on the sidewalk. However, a recent study indicates that these linguistic worlds are converging, with American English increasingly incorporating British vocabulary.
Rise of ‘Britishisms’ in American Lexicon
Researchers from Northern Arizona University and Babbel, a language learning platform, have discovered that numerous ‘Britishisms’ are now in regular usage among Americans. The research team analyzed a vast database of words used by Americans to identify these trends.
‘Bonkers’ Leads the Pack of British Words
The analysis revealed that ‘bonkers’ is the most prevalent British term adopted by Americans. Americans are using ‘bonkers’ to describe a wide range of situations, from chaotic sports moments to political scandals and viral trends.
Esteban Touma, a linguistics expert at Babbel, which commissioned the study, commented, “The ascendance of ‘bonkers’ as the dominant Britishism in the U.S. is noteworthy. This word, with its quirky charm, resonates strongly with Gen Z’s communication style, effectively expressing the absurdity and excitement of contemporary life.”
Popular British Terms Used by Americans
The study aimed to explore the exchange of language between the United States and the United Kingdom. Mr. Touma noted, “While slang evolves differently on each side of the Atlantic, the exchange of vocabulary is undeniably bidirectional.”
Babbel’s analysis encompassed a database of 5 million transcribed words and 1,000 hours of spoken American English, collected between January 2023 and October 2024.
‘Bonkers,’ signifying absurd or wildly extreme, topped the list at 24 percent of identified Britishisms. This term showed particular traction with Gen Z and women, with 90 percent of its users being female.
Top 10 Britishisms in American English:
- Bonkers (24%)
- Amongst (14%)
- Queue (13%)
- Wonky (11%)
- Cheeky (10%)
- Snarky (10%)
- Cheers (6%)
- Keen (5%)
- Maths (3%)
- Nil (2%)
Other British terms experiencing increased usage in America include: ‘nutter’, ‘trousers’, ‘b**ger’, ‘dodgy’, ‘kerfuffle’, ‘posh’, ‘aggro’, ‘banter’, ‘bo****ks’, and ‘flummox’.
Cultural Globalisation Drives Linguistic Exchange
Mr. Touma attributes the increasing presence of Britishisms in the U.S. to ‘cultural globalization.’ He explained, “British television programs like Love Island and global music icons such as Charli XCX are not merely providing entertainment; they are exporting language and fostering cultural exchange.”
He further added, “Streaming services like Netflix and Apple TV have amplified this phenomenon, introducing British shows, such as the recent hit Adolescence, to American audiences in dormitories and homes.”
“Meanwhile, viral internet trends and British celebrities have transformed British phrases into digital currency, indicating belonging to a shared global community.”
“Indeed, the growing popularity of Britishisms may signal a renewed British cultural influence akin to the British Invasion of previous eras like Punk and Britpop.”
“This is not solely about adopting new words; it represents embracing a shared culture. As British culture continues to resonate globally, terms like ‘bonkers’ are solidifying their position as markers of a cultural and linguistic evolution that transcends borders.”