American woman living in the UK reveals the hilarious Britishisms that leave her baffled - from using 'alright' as a greeting to saying 'right then' before standing up to leave

  • Tiktok video by @Iamsolamusic shares tips on what she has learned about Brits
  • She pokes fun at the way Brits hang up the phone, say bye and call dinner 'tea'
  • She says nicknames are a sign of affection and banter means someone likes you 

By Gwyneth Rees for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A video of an American woman teaching foreigners all they need to know about British culture has gone viral on TikTok. 

Musician Sola recently moved to Manchester from San Francisco, California, and was struck by everything from the way British people greet each other to how a 'brew' means a cup of tea and not a beer.

In a series of TikTok posts called 'things I wish I'd known before moving to the UK', she makes hilarious observations that have struck a chord with viewers.

'In some parts of the UK, people just give you a nickname that's basically a shortened version of your real name or like sometimes a completely different name,' she said in her most recent post.

'And it will probably happen without you even introducing yourself that way...so it's a sign of affection, just enjoy it.' 

Sola also gave advice of the meaning of 'alright?' - letting her followers know it was just a greeting and not an inquiry about your health.

And she advised that, while it was okay to flip the peace sign with two fingers, it was never okay to turn them round.

Lost in translation: The hilarious Britishisms you need to know 

Nicknames: Are given, not chosen, and you often have no say over whether they stick. 

Tea: In the South a cup of tea is known as a 'cuppa', in the North it is called a brew. Do not be confused and think you are being offered a beer (known in the US as a 'brew'). 

Leaving: If a Brit slaps their knees while they're standing or like looks around the room or down at their feet, then that's pretty much a universal signal that they're about to leave

Hanging up the phone: When a Brit hangs up the phone, it's almost like there's an unspoken competition for who can say bye as many times as quickly as possible

You alright? No need to answer, it's just another way of saying hello 

Advertisement

The TikToker, who goes under the handle @Iamsolamusic, also explained the nuances of the Great British passion of tea drinking to her fans. 

She said, 'A cup of tea in the South is often called a cuppa. and in the North its often called a brew.

'Just know that if someone offers you a brew, they are not offering you a beer.' 

She also poked fun at the way British people end their phone conversations. 

She said, 'When a Brit hangs up the phone, it's almost like there's an unspoken competition for who can say bye as many times as quickly as possible.

'Know that they're not trying to rush you off the phone. or hang up quicker. That's just what they do.' 

She added, 'Similarly, if a Brit slaps their knees while they're standing or like looks around the room or down at their feet, then that's pretty much a universal signal that they're about to leave.'

For those living abroad, she also recommended dipping into British culture - with her top picks being Alan Partridge, Take That and Robbie Williams, and Gavin and Stacey, starring James Corden.

Sola also posted two previous videos on the same subject matter. 

In them she advised those coming to Britain to 'learn how to tell 24 hour clocks'. 

She also warned that fries are called chips, and chips are called crisps.

And she gave advice on how to measure in both imperial and metric, and how to cross a road safely.

 

Her followers on TikTok appreciated her observations, with Anais Gallagher saying she had nailed it completely

Her followers on TikTok appreciated her observations, with Anais Gallagher saying she had nailed it completely 

She also explained that Brits don't put cream in their coffee and that if people tease you, it means they like you.

'It's called banter,' she explained, adding, 'Taking the piss and taking a piss are two very different things that you don't want to mix up in conversations.' 

She also sought to clarify that dinner might be called 'tea' by some people, and that rhyming slang was commonly used.

Lastly, on a culinary note, she said, 'If you're looking for whipped cream, it's probably called squirty cream in the store - so try not to laugh.' 

California

Most watched News videos

Comments 1699

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.