Mastering British English vocabulary is important to your all round learning which enhances communication, understanding and overall confidence when you communicate with others. Understanding some unique words, phrases or idioms can help you to blend in with native people and help you to understand the language being used naturally. Below I will help you to understand British vocabulary and tips on how you can boost your vocabulary knowledge.
Understanding British English Vocabulary
There is an important need to focus on vocabulary as it essential during everyday conversations and you need to be able to apply the learning to real life situations such as for travel or work.
British English is unique due to its historical, cultural, and linguistic evolution, which has influenced its vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and idiomatic expressions. There are also many regional dialects and accents which are useful to understand so you can be prepared to communicate with any native speaker. Sometimes, there is a clear distinction between British and American vocabulary (see previous blog post; British v American English) as well as the use of some common slang and colloquialisms:
Pop round = visit briefly
Quid = pound
Knackered = exhausted
Taking the mickey = teasing/joking
Chuffed to bits = very pleased
Top Tips for Improving Your Vocabulary
It is important to be able to immerse yourself into British tv and listen to new vocabulary being used. Watching classic British tv shows such as Downtown Abbey, The Great British Bake Off or just he BBC news can help you to listen and understand vocabulary used in different contexts. Watching films and listening to podcasts can also be helpful to learn new words and understand their usage.
As well as watching films and tv, reading a wide variety of texts is useful to familiarise yourself with vocabulary and learn new words, phrases and colloquialisms. When reading, it is useful to keep a notepad or journal with you in order to jot down any unfamiliar words so you can look them up and practise them. Some good materials to use would be: newspapers (BBC, The Guardian (advanced)), blogs (of your own interest), British fiction (Harry Potter, Roald Dahl), magazines, or autobiographies of British people. These wide range of resources will give you a wide range of contexts and help you to understand British culture alongside learning the language.
Once you have begun learning new vocabulary and feel confident enough to do so, it is time to practise using the vocabulary and engage with native speakers to have daily conversations. You can do this face to face, or online. You could go to a local café or park and start a conversation or if you don't quite feel comfortable you can use online forums or apps. Apps such as HelloTalk and Tandem allow users to interact and engage with native speakers to practise and give helpful advice or corrections so you have better opportunities to improve. Practising daily conversations will keep you consistent and less likely to forget what you have learnt through muscle memory.
Learning phrases and idioms is a useful way to understand native speakers as these are used frequently. Here are some common phrases and idioms used in daily conversations:
Long time no see - used to express that you haven't seen the other person for a long time. ''Hi, long time no see. How are you?''
I owe you one - used when someone has helped you and now you need to help them when they need it. ''Thank you so much. I owe you one.''
You're kidding! - used to express shock or disbelief. ''I can't believe it, you're kidding!''
Time flies - used to express how quickly time has passed. ''I can't believe it is 10pm, time flies.''
Call it a day - used to express that you're are going to stop working and you're finished. ''Okay, it's 5pm, I'm going to call it a day. See you tomorrow.''
It's not rocket science - to say that something is not difficult. ''You can complete the task, it's not rocket science.''
Sometimes you might want to play some games that will test your current knowledge but also give you an opportunity to learn unfamiliar ones. Vocabulary games such as scrabble, wordle or Quizlet will do just that. You can find these games online where you can earn points and join a leaderboard which can help give you motivation. On Quizlet, you can also create your own flashcards for new words and phrases and do activities which will help you to remember these along with meanings and usages.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
It is okay to make mistakes but at Ace English we want you to learn from your mistakes and understand how to improve and why something is wrong. These are some common mistakes people make and are easy to correct and focus on.
Firstly, an over-reliance on American English terms. When you begin your learning journey, it is important to choose between American and British English as there are major vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar differences between the two. If you choose British English, it is important to focus more on British films and tv shows as many times learners will use the correct British grammar then use an American vocabulary. Although this is understood by most people, it is not correct and you won't hear native British speakers use American vocabulary and vice versa. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference so you are able to communicate with native British speakers and there be less misunderstanding and confusion.
Secondly, misusing British slang in formal contexts. It is important to understand the difference between formal and informal language and the correct situations when you can use both of these (please see previous blog; mastering formal vs informal language). If slang is misused in the incorrect context this can be seen as rude or unprofessional.
Lastly, learning words without practising pronunciation. Pronunciation is a huge part of learning words as it can help you to communicate the words but it is equally essential for listening to others and replying with an appropriate response. Learning the sight of a word without focusing on how to say it is not good if you'd like to improve your communication skills.
Tools and Resources
Below are some helpful tools and resources to encourage your vocabulary skills.
Online dictionaries - Cambridge dictionary, Oxford learner's dictionary. These are useful to give you meanings for words within a quick timescale.
Apps like Duolingo and Memrise are tailored for British English and use specific teaching methods to help you learn new words and phrases and most importantly, remember them.
Ace English - aceenglish.co.uk - the blogs are helpful in understanding more vocabulary and phrases as well as understanding specific topics such as Business English and informal language.
Therefore, focusing and mastering British English vocabulary can be monumental in your learning journey and give you the skills to communicate with native speakers. Remember to take small, consistent steps and enjoy the learning process in order to keep motivation high and so you can more easily track your progress.
If you want to learn more British vocabulary, book a lesson with an Ace English tutor today!
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