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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to find his Americanisms really annoying

373 replies

WonderLime · 06/06/2017 21:05

My DP is British. He's lived in England his whole life. His father is Irish and mother English. They both speak like respectable Brits.

He doesn't have any American friends. He's only visited America once - with me two years ago.

Despite this, he has a really annoying habit of using odd Americanisms in everyday conversations. For example, we were just talking and using letters in our conversation ("If you do A and B, you'll get X"), and he replied with "or you'll get 'Z'", as in 'Zee'.

I asked him what he'd just said, assuming he'd correct himself, but no he just 'Zee'!

It happened a couple of days ago too. We're having our first baby and were looking at nappies. Throughout the whole shopping trip he kept referring to them as 'diapers'.

I don't have any other active examples at he moment, but I know there has been their incidents. I'm sure it's getting worse the older he gets as I don't remember this when our relationship began 10 years ago. I think it's because he watches a LOT of American TV. Anime with American voiceovers, American dramas, American comedies, American Youtube videos, etc (also annoying but a separate issue).

I Just find the constant use of Americanisms really annoying but he thinks it's fine. I don't want him teaching our son this. AIBU?

OP posts:
Guavaf1sh · 06/06/2017 21:07

There isn't anything wrong with it really so YABU

Smeaton · 06/06/2017 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PedaloBar · 06/06/2017 21:10

Wait till he says 'pulled a C' instead of 'obtained a C grade'.

That was an interesting conversation.

chipscheeseandgravy · 06/06/2017 21:13

My friend does this, born and bred in Yorkshire, been to Disneyland twice and you would think she's a local. My favourite is when is goes on about how she likes using specific companies because the are America, Asda, Costco etc. She also likes to celebrate both Independence Day and other America days.
She's currently pregnant so has so far had a gender reveal party, and planning a baby shower.
It's bloody annoying. Start asking him what it was like growing up in America Wink

Greatballs · 06/06/2017 21:14

YANBU

This would drive me potty too! I don't even like 'sckedule'.

MaroonPencil · 06/06/2017 21:15

A friend used to be big on the Americanisms. He booked a hotel once and asked for an extra bed in the room, which he referred to as a "cot". Obviously when he got to the hotel he had an actual baby cot in his room.

LockedOutOfMN · 06/06/2017 21:15

My DP is "foreign" so the English he knows is Americanisms. The worst part is that I've caught some of them. Blush

LockedOutOfMN · 06/06/2017 21:15

Maroon pencil That's superb! Grin

R1nderCella · 06/06/2017 21:16

Like a pp said, get used to it. Kids YouTube is full of American kids. I constantly get 'mommy' and 'candy'. YANBU though, it's highly irritating.

MrsDustyBusty · 06/06/2017 21:18

His father is Irish and mother English. They both speak like respectable Brits.

Thank goodness his father had the decency to shed the obvious mark of his birth. Imagine speaking like a forrin. The shame would be indescribable.

Greatballs · 06/06/2017 21:19

I'm very provincial I've never heard of some of these Americanisms. I didn't know the cot one, and the grades one had me all discombobulated Grin

MiladyThesaurus · 06/06/2017 21:19

DH does this. It drives me nuts.

It's not the fluidity of the English language. It's him being an arse.

Supersoaryflappypigeon · 06/06/2017 21:21

I hate films being referred to as movies and the word "cookie" (it's a fucking biscuit ffs).

I worked in retail for a time and we had a shoplifter in one day-a girl I worked with said "Call 911!" HmmGrin

Fauchelevent · 06/06/2017 21:22

I use Americanisms because my friends who know English as a second language will understand "candy" as sweets, and "sweets" as sweet desserts.

Uiscebeatha85 · 06/06/2017 21:22

His father is Irish and mother English. They both speak like respectable Brits.

Hmm Irish people aren't Brits.

MaroonPencil · 06/06/2017 21:22

There are some obvious ones like chips/ crisps but I am always surprised by some words which just aren't used in the US, according to Americans I know anyway - torch for example.

WonderLime · 06/06/2017 21:23

Thank goodness his father had the decency to shed the obvious mark of his birth. Imagine speaking like a forrin. The shame would be indescribable.

Sorry, lack of smilie to indicate I was being tongue-in-cheek about it. Wink

OP posts:
Greatballs · 06/06/2017 21:23

Not all children pick up this stuff though. My 7yo is highly offended when somebody says something unfamiliar. Today she was particularly nowty about someone calling their evening meal dinner, "But why are they having dinner at teatime?" Candy and diapers would really blow her mind 😁

Funnyfarmer · 06/06/2017 21:24

My dd does this! I blame TV.
She says "bathroom" for the toilet
"Movies" even "elevator"
Worst one was she she refered to the Easter holidays as "spring break"

pandarific · 06/06/2017 21:26

Another Hmm and even a Shock at an Irish person being referred to as a 'respectable Brit' (eugh).

Also, Irish people from my neck of the woods say pants meaning trousers rather than knickers, so nyeh.

choli · 06/06/2017 21:26

Pronouncing Z as Zee makes a lot more sense, actually.

C0untDucku1a · 06/06/2017 21:26

super I accidentally phoned 911 last year. I got out through to 999 anyway. I was messing to call 101.

Purplemac · 06/06/2017 21:26

Urgh I'm with you OP.

DH says "ass" instead of arse on almost a daily basis. He also replaces t's with d's ALL THE TIME. Can't think of examples but it's the same as saying "fiddy" for "fifty" and I find it infuriating. I pull him up on it every time.

DSD calls Father Christmas "Santa" - really irks me but I don't say anything to her because it's not my place to decide (I know her mum uses Santa too). Although I have told DH that our child will be using Father Christmas!Grin

C0untDucku1a · 06/06/2017 21:26

I was meaning to call. I really should turn off predictive text

WonderLime · 06/06/2017 21:27

Another hmm and even a shock at an Irish person being referred to as a 'respectable Brit' (eugh).

Ugh, I wasn't being serious. It was supposed to be a joke Blush

OP posts: