Learn English | A new lesson every week
Book your course now

vocabulary

Do you speak 'British' English? Ten words you need to know!

Average: 3.6 (982 votes)

I’m sure you know there are many types of English. Each English speaking country has its own unique vocabulary, grammar structure and pronunciation.

Today we take a look at ten words which are used in natural British English, but are not really used in American English. All of these words are very common and are used in casual spoken-English. 

Bloke

(noun) synonym: man.

How to use 'understatement'

Average: 2.9 (319 votes)

 'She's not the most intelligent person in the world!'

What is 'understatement'?

Understatement is used when a speaker wants to  a make a situation seem less strong or important than it is.

For example, think about this situation:

You have taken ten exams in school and passed them all with a score of 100%. Someone asks you:

Business English: the language of 'business meetings'

Average: 1.7 (184 votes)

'What time does the meeting commence?'

Cartoon - English Joke 3

Average: 2.7 (13 votes)

The key to this joke is hair.

Hair has the same pronunciation as hare, which is an animal similar to a rabbit. So, when the woman tells him he has a stray hair, he thinks she is talking about his rabbit (his hare).

The word stray means 'away from its place.' In this case stray could refer to his hair or the rabbit.

 

How to use 'Wh...' questions

Average: 2.7 (455 votes)

 Where do you learn English?

'Where do you learn English?'

In English there are seven ‘Wh…’ questions.  Here’s what they are and how  they are used:

What is used for a thing.

‘What is it?’

'make','take' and 'have' quiz.

Average: 1.9 (212 votes)

'Take a break, Mr. Elephant!'

Collocations are groups of words that naturally appear next to each other in sentences.

For example, we say 'I have a headache' and not 'I take a headache' or 'I make a headache'.  Now you know 'have' always  collocates with 'headache'! Easy!

Try and and see if you can complete the sentences below using 'make','take' or 'have'.

Reading: wedding and vocabulary match exercise

Average: 2.2 (210 votes)

The happy couple!

Read the following article about weddings in Britain and match up the descriptions to the key words in bold:

'weekend' idioms and more!

Average: 3.8 (12 votes)

A Sunday driver!

Here are some expressions that use words related to your favourite time of the week...the weekend!

'-ed' and '-ing' adjectives: describing feelings and things

Average: 2.6 (501 votes)

relaxing-relaxed

'My holiday was relaxing. I felt really relaxed.'

Personality Adjectives - 'What is she like?'

Average: 3.5 (78 votes)

perosonality adjectives

'How would you describe her personality?'