Non-Native English Speakers Share English Words They Often Use
"Non-English speakers of Reddit; the way Americans use foreign words such as Bon Appétit and Sayonara in regular conversation, what English words do you use?"
English words travel fast, and Reddit users had plenty to say about the ones that stick in everyday conversation. From slang and swear words to borrowed phrases that barely feel foreign anymore, the thread quickly turned into a global list of the English terms people reach for without thinking.
The post came from a user who wanted to know which English words non-native speakers actually use in real life. The replies covered everything from casual greetings to workplace jargon, and a few of them were surprisingly funny.
Some of these words are so common they barely register as English anymore. Read on.
1.
"Norwegians use 'Texas' as an adjective in describing parties, as in, 'That party was Texas!' In this context it means both 'huge and epic' and 'probably embarrassing for everybody involved."
Language is not just a means of communication; it is an integral part of identity, particularly for non-native speakers. The article highlights how the words chosen by individuals often reflect their cultural connections and personal identities. The use of English words among non-native speakers illustrates a desire to bridge cultural gaps, fostering social bonds and enhancing self-perception. This aligns with the idea of linguistic relativity, which posits that the language we use can shape our thoughts and perceptions. The interplay between language and identity is evident as speakers adopt English terms, showcasing how language can be a powerful tool for connection and understanding in a globalized world.
That mix of borrowed words and local meaning shows up again and again in the replies.
2.
In France, a lot of "Ouat Ze Feuk" (wtf)
3.
In Poland we often use "sory" (pronounced a bit differently than sorry) instead of przepraszam, guess why.
4.
"There's no real word for yes or no in Irish.
Some use "ta" or "sea" (those are missing fadas) but those translate closer to "it is"
So if you go to a Gaeltacht area you will hear native Irish speakers chatting in Irish to one another but saying "ya" or "yes" every few seconds because it's a useful word and how the hell did we not have a work for it for so long"
One reply pointed out how some English words get folded into everyday speech almost by accident.
"There are lots of English words used in Italian, sometimes idiosyncratically: 'public relations,' 'flash' (for USB drive), 'feeling' (for romantic chemistry)"
5.
"Many swear words: F***, S***, Oh my god, Shut up, Come on, B****, Motherf***** and F*** off are common. We also use stuff like: nice, cool, gay, straight up, trash, stuff, dope, cops etc. the list is way too long. But I don't like to use English words and «Germanize» them. I find that cringy."
Everythingtiddiesboi told the reporters that the foreign phrases we often use inspired the post in the first place. "I was just thinking about all the foreign words I say as an English speaker (for example, gesundheit, sayonara, adios, etc.)," they said.
"All the responses made me realize that almost everyone in the world says 'OK' and 'f**k'."
The world has become a global village, and thanks to technology, we all have immediate access to other languages. David Crystal, author of "English as a Global Language," stated the world had shifted so radically that history is no longer a guide.
"This is the first time we actually have a language spoken genuinely globally by every country in the world," he told The New York Times. "There are no precedents to help us see what will happen."
That global overlap is exactly what makes the thread so entertaining.
7.
"Dutch speaking person here. We have loads of loanwords from English. Even verbs. The interesting part is that the Dutch conjugation rules still apply for verbs loaned from English.
"I deleted" becomes "Ik deletete"
"I've gamed all day" becomes "Ik heb de hele dag gegamed"
Not a verb but "The backed-up data" becomes "De geback-upte gegevens"
8.
"Sorry,' 'ok,' and 'cool' are the most common ones in Czech. Even my grandma uses those."
9.
"Well, I live in Greece and we use A LOT of English words. But, the weirdest thing I've noticed (especially from teenagers) is to go to a tourist area, mostly beaches, and try to act like tourists. So, we are just walking on the streets having a high-level conventions in our fake-a$$-British-accents.
-No Mr. Stathakopoulos I'm British. Please repsect my accent"
10.
"In German, the list is as long as the day is... also long? F***, sorry, f*** you, hello, good morning, b****, bye, what's sup?, and cheers just to name a few. Also, a lot of people just kinda swap in the direct English translations for words to sound young and trendy. Nouns like pants, bag, backpack, bike, ect are popular as well as germanized verbs like "collecten", "up-picken", "texten", etc."
11.
"Alota Russian: f***, sorry, hi, bye, ROFL, lol, ok, prank, flex, what's up, s***, b****, guy, okurrrr, oh my god"
12.
"Iranian here. Lot of curse words, like f***, b****, goddammit, etc."
And things are not going to change. "It is vastly unclear to me what actual mechanism could uproot English given conditions as they are."
The English language continues to spread, and it is slowly fragmenting into clusters of dialects. Linguists believe it could even result in the creation of full languages, known as Englishes.
But, unlike Latin, most academics believe that English is too widespread and too deeply rooted to die out or be changed radically. It will probably survive in some streamlined international form - sometimes referred to as Globish or World Standard Spoken English.
14.
"In France, we use the word "weekend". We literally don't have a French word for it. So we just use the English one."
15.
"Visiting a girlfriend in Spain, her friends loved saying "Kill It" when finishing a drink.
To them it was the funniest way to take shots."
16.
"In my line of work as a programmer the average Dutch sentence is 35% English vocabulary and when I speak with friends it's 20%.
I do just really use interjections like "though", "I guess", "like", "I mean" in my normal Dutch together with a lot of nouns and verbs that have a perfectly cromulent Dutch alternative-this is not that odd for Dutch speakers.
Like I would absolutely just say something like this in "Dutch": "Yeah, ik ben nu bij den final stages dier page; ik moet nog even de shadows afwerken en wat eye detail voltooien en dan is het wel done, I guess.".
17.
"In Argentina a one night stand is a "touch and go"
18.
"Hindi and Marathi: we use tons of English words in daily language. There are many things for which only the English word is in use, because the vernacular word either is outdated or doesn’t exist. Simple examples: “table”, “light/bulb”, any computer related noun: speaker, keyboard, etc. Many English verbs are also freely and very commonly adapted into Hindi sentences, eg. “Maine usko help kiya” (I helped him) would be considered a valid Hinglish sentence."
19.
"The French say: le selfie le feedback le brunch There’s more but that’s all I can think of just now"
20.
"American but I know Japanese people say "bye-bye" and "okay"
21.
"One English word recently adopted by Russian is "fake". It's used as a noun, not an adjective (e.g. "this story turned out to be a fake"). Another word increasingly used by Russians online is "hater"."
22.
"Talking with a portuguese man the other day, apparently they call bowling by its English name. There is a word for it in portuguese, Boliche, But he had never heard it before"
23.
"I'm Dutch and a translator and man, so many English words have been integrated into Dutch that it is hard to tell sometimes where one language ends and the other begins. Especially in corporate speak on the management level, it's basically 90% English.
De business case over de accountability van de return on investment was een sterke driver van year over year groei van de service provider.
Just threw some words together that might not make absolute sense, it's more of an illustration to show how much English I deal with in what is supposed to be an English text."
24.
"I'm Croatian and the English words that we use a lot are 'random,' 'accidentally,' and 'officially"
25.
"Brazilian Portuguese:
The word "site " as in website.
Ok.
Delete (with Portuguese conjugation)
Monetize (also with portuguese conjugation)
Flaps (of airplanes)
We call flashdrives exclusively as pendrives.
Notebook/Laptop
Do tennis and jeans count?"
26.
"Im korea there are a few english words used but they rarely have the same exact meaning.
27.
"Filipino here. Everyone calls you ma'am/sir"
28.
"I'm a french speaker and here in switzerland I hear a lot of english words as well!
• cringe • awkward • sorry • bye • cool • fast food/junk food • design • game art/digital art, speed paint • cute • creepy
And a lot of other! In fact a lot of young people use to use english sentences for being cool!"
30.
"Italian here, we (mis)use A LOT: from cocktail to smartphone, freezer, shampoo, jobs act (kill me!!), exit poll, welfare, startup, manager, full time, freelance, CEO (no one knows what it stands for), target, brand, makeup, outfit, playback, live, teenager, ..."
29.
"Pakistani here, pretty much every other sentence in Urdu spoken by people that live in urban areas has at least some English in it. Sometimes whole sentences, sometimes just a swear word. Mainly because of two reasons: we (along with India and Bangladesh) used to be a British colony until 1947, and also American media influence is pretty much everywhere.
Fridge, light, table, phone, internet, pistol, shirt, pants, shorts (we use the British "knickers"), school, college, backpack (bag), camera, movie etc. This list could pretty much go on for paragraphs."
"A lot of curse words, obviously. I also use slang that I would never use in an English conversation like saying lol(it got obsolete and uncool very fast in English but stuck with me and many memesters including me and my friends in Russia)."
It turns out the borrowed words are often the ones people use most without even noticing.
Language is a core component of cultural identity, and the way individuals incorporate foreign words into their vocabulary often reflects their cultural influences and values. Research indicates that language use is not just about communication; it also shapes how individuals perceive their identity and relate to others.
Studies show that bilingual individuals often experience a blending of cultural identities, which can enrich social interactions and promote empathy.
Non-native speakers using English words from their own cultures illustrates the dynamic interplay between language and culture.
The incorporation of foreign words into English underscores the vibrant cultural exchange that exists in our increasingly interconnected world. As highlighted in the article, the influence of Hollywood and music has made English a global lingua franca, allowing people from various backgrounds to connect through shared vocabulary. This phenomenon not only enriches the English language but also promotes a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse cultural identities. By recognizing and embracing these linguistic practices, we create a more inclusive environment that celebrates the nuances of different languages and cultures.
Social psychologists emphasize the role of language in shaping interpersonal relationships.
Individuals can enhance their social interactions by incorporating multilingual expressions into conversations. By doing so, they not only enrich their dialogue but also create a more inclusive environment that acknowledges diverse backgrounds and experiences.
That global mashup is only getting bigger.
For more awkward boundaries, read why this person refused to share a secret family recipe.
