These Are the Words to Use If You Want to Sound Classy
English may be the "universal language" yet many of us use different vocabulary and colloquial slang depending on where we are and what lives we lead.
Etiquette expert, William Hanson, suggests that your vocabulary can reveal your social class. For example, the word 'lounge' is a no-no for the upper classes, 'dinner' is the preferred term for the evening meal, and 'napkin' is better than 'serviette'.
Hanson goes on to say that a reflection of upper class social status is in using English rather than Americanized words, such as 'hey' and 'movies'.
The biggest no-no for the upper classes, however, is using the word 'toilet', which is taken from the 1950s etiquette code.
"For those who don't know, historically your 'toilet' was your appearance, your makeup; hence your 'toiletries bag'," Hanson told Mail Online. "The porcelain thing you use is the lavatory. So toilet is not only an ugly word but also factually incorrect."
Hanson has created a list of 'upper class' words in comparison to their 'non-upper class' equivalent for 2017. See how 'posh' you are by viewing the list below:
Upper class vs. Non-upper class
- Alcohol - Booze
- Antique/Old - Vintage
- Avocado - Avo
- Basement - Lower ground
- Champagne/Prosecco - Bubbly/fizz
- Cooked breakfast - Full English
- Film - Movie
- (I'm) finished - (I'm) done
- Hello - Hey
- Invitation - Invite
- Lavatory - Toilet
- May I have - Can I get
- Napkin - Serviette
- Pudding - Sweet/Dessert/Afters
- Pyjamas - PJs
- Repartee - Banter
- Restaurant - Eatery
- Sitting/Drawing Room - Lounge
- Sofa - Settee/Couch
- Takeaway - Deliveroo
- Taxi - Uber
- Telephone/phone - iPhone/Blackberry
- Term - Semester
- Toasted sandwich - Toastie
- (Do you) understand (me)? - (Do you) get (me)?
- University - Uni
- What? - Pardon?
- Wine - Vino
From: CountryLivingUK
This story originally appeared on Esquire.co.uk.
* Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
