As you can imagine, in my many conversations with people here in Manchester, I have come across some familiar, and at other times unfamiliar, words, slang and mannerisms. Trying to sort out what people are trying to mean is quite a hilarious process on my end, and I truly feel for those also struggling to find the same understanding, but are speaking a non-native language.

So, to help those out spending time in England (specifically, the North West) who may not be fully caught up on the local terms, here’s a list of common phrases and words I have come across in conversation. Listed first will be the English term and following will be either the North American equivalent or an explanation of what it means.

Chips. Common term for wedge fries, but also almost any other kind of fries. Funnily enough, if they’re curly, they’re just known as curly…