Said something offensive at work today… now worried!

[JumbleBrain]

Today I was talking about my accent being tricky for people who don’t speak English as a first language, to understand, but I said the word ‘foreigners’. I have lived in multiple countries and genuinely never use that word and I don’t really know how I happened to say it, but there were a couple of senior colleagues there and now I’m really worried. The context was about my own accent being a pain, but I’m worried now that what I’ve said was worded awfully. The word somehow came out before I even realised I had said it. Am I overthinking this?

Yes.

Very much so.

You sound like me! So trust me, as much as I'd worry too, you're definitely overthinking it!

Don't be so ridiculous.

If you're foreign, you're a foreigner 🙄

I think the same way as you so I understand. Overthinking! You were talking about foreign people, the word foreigners is fine. You weren’t saying anything bad.

Are we not allowed to say foreigner any more now?

Assuming that you didn't spit out the word 'foreigners' with a look of pure disgust on your face, it's fine.

I think I’ve just heard the word said with so much venom in recent months, that i questioned myself the minute it came out. So relieved to hear that it is unlikely to have offended anyone. I feel like it’s so easy to mistakenly offend someone now, I have become more of an overthinker than ever.

You are, but I can understand why you are feeling this way.
We are living in a ridiculous, woke, PC society where you can get into trouble for stating factual details, like being a foreigner.

Its very wrong that inhabitants of their own country should have to tiptoe around and walk on egg shells for fear of offending someone with such delicate sensibilities. But then some people are in the business of being offended.

Sometimes it can be quite hard to keep up with the rules, like person of colour is ok but not colored, they need to bring out a woke book every year like debretts

You're overthinking.

Oh bore off back to the Daily Mail.

OP, there is nothing inherently wrong with the word foreign. It's the context in which you say it. What you said is fine.

Do you think ‘foreigners’ is an offensive term?

As you obviously weren't trying to use it in a derogatory context I wouldn't worry.

This is such a good idea. A book published annually to tell people what is considered acceptable and offensive in today's society.

It is really hard to keep up with all the terminology and the changing ways of society. Very easy to offend someone when you aren't even aware that you have said anything offensive.

So easy to overthink what you have said. All depends on the context of course but it would be nice to have a book at hand to refer to about certain words and phrases.

It is not hard is it? It might be for some people though, but the same way that it is not on to use certain words to describe, for example gay, or lesbian people, it is no different for people of colour. No need for any woke book, as you put it.

We have a load of complicated phrases for use in such situations now. People for whom English is not their first language.

In reality though, different accents are hard to understand until you’ve had a lot of exposure to them. I’ve given up on programmes with some very broad Scot’s accents in the past, because it takes too much concentration. Ditto some American accents. TV makes it harder, obviously. I’ve never struggled in real life, bar the odd word.

If you were born in the UK you are not a foreigner. If asked I'd clarify the point ... people who reside in other countries.

As a pp said, as long as you were not spitting the word out, with venom, and a distasteful look on your face, then I fail to see what you are concerned about.

I am a foreigner. If anyone pulls you up on it in serious way, they are dummies.
And yes, some of the UK accents are a pita. What makes it funny is they are pita even for native speakers 😂

Disagree with this. Not all of us are exposed to all the constant changes of terminology in society.

Depends on the circle of friends/family you have, your environment, your exposure to the media. So many reasons why you can not not be in the loop about the meaning of certain words and phrases.

You need to watch the Jonathon sketch from Goodness Gracious Me https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=333893220779970&vanity=bbccomedy

I think it’s fine, if anything it makes more sense. My DH is Welsh first language, English second language but being British would probably understand your accent fine. Foreigners (who live in foreign countries) who are less accustomed to regional British accents may have more trouble.