Cheers, mate? Research reveals Britishisms Americans secretly love

By Rick Maughn

If you’re partial to putting on a British accent now and again, you’re not alone— “Cheers” is the Britishism Americans love best.

That’s according to a new survey of 1,524 Americans, which saw the across-the-pond version of thanks named the Britishism Americans most like to hear.

“Brilliant” and “cheeky” also made the top three words we most like to hear belted out in a British tone.

The survey by Preply found that, while “cheers” is the most liked, “brilliant” is the one respondents say they use themselves or hear most commonly in America.

But does hearing British actually make us feel jolly? One in three Americans says they find Britishisms amusing or charming, while just 6% say they’re annoying.

Britishisms are reaching American ears the most through TV and movies as the biggest source (52%), but social media is hugely impactful, too. YouTube (37%) and TikTok (33%) were the second and third biggest sources for Britishisms reaching the US.

Given the above, it’s easy to feel Britishisms are being driven by youth culture. However, it’s actually those aged 35-44 most likely to say they hear or use British words the most (21%) followed by those respondents aged 25-34 (15%).

Yolanda Del Peso Ramos, at Preply, said: “Borrowed words often spread because they offer something slightly different from the local equivalent. A word like ‘cheers’ does not only mean ‘thanks.’ For many speakers, it can feel warmer, lighter, or more playful. That difference in tone is one reason international words can become popular even when a clear local word already exists.”

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“Language borrowing is not always experienced as a threat. In many cases, it is a sign of curiosity, humor, and cultural connection, especially when people encounter words through entertainment, travel, and online communities.”

The fourth biggest source of Britishisms is one that’s perhaps familiar to many a parent — children’s TV. 

American parents’ most common attitude towards their children using international terms is that they don’t actually mind it, with just over a third (34%) of parents admitting this.

Nearly a fifth (18%) of parents find Britishisms charming or amusing when used by their children.

And one in seven (14%) of parents say that their child often mimics a British accent, with a similar number (13%) claiming their child frequently uses British words or phrases.

TOP 10 BRITISHISMS AMERICANS LIKE 

1. Cheers 31%
2. Brilliant 27%
3. Cheeky 23%
4. Knickers in a twist 21%
5. Jolly 20%
6. Bloke 14%
7. Right 13%
8. Dodgy 11%
9. Gobsmacked 10%
10. Posh 10%