Teach me British slang

[mrsdaresee]

Hi all. So I have been living in the UK since 10yrs. I do speak good English but being south Asian the accent shows. I have never worked and so do not have had the opportunity to learn more of British way of speaking. But not as my DD has started going to the nursery I have to speak with the teachers and admin staff. I feel a bit embarrassed by the way I'm lacking in knowledge of the British slang Example - when I meet a teacher they randomly say Hello You okay? Or You alright?. By the time I reply they move away??? Is this just an extension of Hello? Like you say Hello you okay? And move on or should you wait for an answer? So even If I say yeah I'm fine, should I be asking them how they're doing as well? Also when my GP says Hello how are you today? What should my typical response be? I'm fine doctor! Or should it be I'm fine and yourself?( I fined it weird asking the GO about his health). Also please do give me more ideas of such common greetings and how do I not look like an ignorant fool when speaking to the other person.

I FIND it weird asking the GP

no such thing, innit?

Ay up me duck = "Hello" (Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire boarder)

Bollocks = shit
Dogs bollocks = the shit

It's difficult . . . when someone says "y'allright?" I know it just means hello but I work with a v senior person who always says "hello balloon, are you all right?" and I never know how to answer. I have said "um, hi, yes fine thank you," so many times it has become embarrassing to me. And I have lived here all my life, as have they!

So no actual answer but a reassurance that you are not alone and it's not necessarily down to you not being born here !

Bless you, you sound really lovely to be worrying about stuff like this.

And yes, people do say are you ok/alright as a kind of greeting without really listening for an answer. I can see how that might be really confusing!

Re the doctor - I don't think it matters. They won't be in the slightest bit offended if you do or don't ask, I'm sure. Some of them might think it's nice that you care enough to ask/see them as a real human being. Some of them might just want to get on with the appointment without any polite chitchat, as time is inevitably limited. As for saying you're fine... well, if you're at the doctors, quite possibly you're not, so saying "I'm fine" might not be quite the right answer!

Please don't be too self conscious about this stuff. I'm sure you don't look like an ignorant fool in the slightest!

The examples you have given are mostly just extensions of hello like you suggest (with the exception of your GP as he probably needs to know how you are).

Sometimes, 'Alright?' or 'You alright?' Etc dont even have words, an the rds tilt of the head (Or a nod) Means the same thing. It's a standard greeting.

You've been living here FOR 10 years. (Sorry, it's the ESOL teacher in me!)

Asking you how you are, is a form of hello. Its expected you'll return the question.
How are you doing?
Fine. And you?

It's not usually asking you to relate all your problems - it's just being polite.
However with close friends, it's OK to tell them if you're not alright. Depends on the circumstances and how much time you have.
With doctors, it's a quandary. My automatic reaction is always to say I'm fine. They understand if you do and will follow up with a direct question if why you're there. Or you can say, not so good...and lead into your problem.

I guess it's different in parts of the UK but generally "How are you?"is a friendly Hello. If someone says it they don't want a detailed response on how you are so usually I reply, "Good thanks. Yourself?" Sometimes when people say How are you such as at the nursery it's definitely an extension of hello and that's why they move on quite quickly. In those situations people don't neccesarily expect a reply.

When someone says ‘alright?’ You respond, ‘Yeah, and you?’

Regards the Gp I would usually answer 'ok' if they asked how I was but with the Dr you don't generally ask how they are in return. . It's an opener for them but it's not a social situation so they don't expect an answer. That's how I see it anyway.

The quickest response that works to a general 'you ok' or similar is 'Fine; You?'

With the doctor, I have found they usually start with. 'What brings you here today?' but if they do ask then, maybe 'Mostly fine, but ....' and carry on with the reason for being there.

Hi @mrmrsdaresee aww bless you.
Ok so i'm from London and i would typically say to someone i know if i bump into them at the shops:
'Hey, how are you, you good yeh?'
I normally get a response like 'yeh i'm good, how are you?'

To a GP i'd just say 'hi' or 'hello'

To a colleague i'd say 'hi, you ok, can i ask you about this spreadsheet'

To my family i'd say 'hey Mumma / bro / sis, you ok, what's happening?'

Hope the above helps 🌝

I would watch some reality tv programmes . The uk version of Traitors on BBC iPlayer is a good example where there was lots of the show filled with people chatting in a normal way. Immerse yourself in watching that ( it's also a really good show so win win)

Im from London and I say "alright" instead of hello. Typically the response would be
yeah, you alright?

i have a friend whose first language is not english.
she finds radio is useful for learning ways of speaking.
you could try bbc radio 4, or the world service, or LBC.

Also does accent really matter or just being clear in your speech is enough??? I know your accent cannot be unlearned a new accent is difficult to learn, and I am not ashamed of my accent or roots. Just seen some people who use a weird fake accent it annoys me.

There are lots of variations of greetings that all mean the same kind of thing, a lot depends on where you live but in general in a informal setting
You OK
Y'all right
Hi how's it going
What's up
Everything ok
What's doing
What's happening
How's it hanging

And plenty of other variations, all of which can be answered by ,
Fine ,
fine and you ?
All good
Not bad

People don't really expect a full answer, if someone says how are you the typical British answer is "oh fine" even if their arm is hanging off !

How is this helpful?

Another classic one is ‘see you later’ or ‘see you soon’

neither of which mean you will see that person soon but actually mean goodbye in the majority of cases

I said ‘see you soon’ to a lady at work last year and she asked me when 😂

I think in North West Englsnd it just means hello not actually asking how you are. It's a bit mad. There are regional differences too. Dont worry too much. Nobody else will.

When somebody asks if you're okay or if you're alright they don't actually want to know if you're okay or alright

It's another way of greeting somebody

When I get to work and say hello if somebody says hi, are you alright? I would just say yes. I wouldn't actually go into detail or say anymore than yes, sometimes I don't even respond

Whereabouts do you live?

It’s just a greeting - you usually respond with something along the lines of ‘I’m good thanks, how are you’. Don’t forget to ask how the other person is (although you can be sure that they will also be good/fine/not bad!) and don’t go into detail about how you’re really feeling.

If you think this is confusing try coming up to Scotland!

You've been here since you were 10? Really?

Where in the country are you? Here in Lincolnshire if someone says 'how you?' the answer in normal a very fast 'sound thanks yourself'.