this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
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Just recently I was in a conversation with a number of UK mainlanders and we had a debate over what "tories" meant, apparently disproportionately ordinarily it refers to a political party and it's not usual to use it as short for "territories" as I've used it (according to how the debate ended, it was half and half between them). And once again I'm reminded of how people feel to look back at their usage of a word/phrase over the years and cringe.

More tragically, me and a friend were embarrassed once upon realizing everyone was confusing "encephalitis" with "hydrocephalus" when talking to someone about their kid with hydrocephalus. Awkward because encephalitis is caused by HIV.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I used to say "worth nothing" while, obviously, the correct way is "worth noting".

However, given how many Google results are there about the wrong spelling, I'm clearly not the only one.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

"Congratulations, you won the lottery!"

"Worth nothing."

"Uhm... alright."

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

I lived for the better part of a decade in Vietnam thinking "đại lý" was a loan word from English meaning "daily".

It actually indicates an agent (like a reseller) -- e.g. a lottery ticket seller, news stand, and so on. "Daily" just worked in all those contexts by coincidence.

I also mix up "in stock" (in a warehouse) and "available". So an analogy is I often ask people if they have "a clock in their warehouse" instead of if they "have the time".

Also probably two dozen equally weird things I'm not even aware of. People are pretty chill about it, mostly because the number of people without Vietnamese heritage that speak the language in any capacity, rounds down to zero.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 11 months ago (1 children)

In Germany, it's really popular to call each other "Digga" as a way of saying "Dude" or "Man". Its origins come from the word "Dicka" (read: hey fatty, hey thicko), but the Hamburg dialect changed the k to a g.

I, uh, thought it came from a different route via the US. I was wrong...

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

I don't use it wrong because I don't use it but to me "mirth" feels like it has a negative connotation even though I know it means joyful.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago (2 children)

When I was a kid, it was Yosemite.

I was obsessed with GTA San Andreas, and that was the big truck in the game, and it was my favorite. I was pronouncing it like "yosa might" for a while until somebody pointed it out, and then I connected the dots

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (6 children)

Nonce. I've always used it just like Dunce. Turns out it does in fact not mean the same and instead means pedo.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (4 children)

The word Segue meaning transition.

Always used Segway instead which was incorrect.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago

I have bad hearing so I mostly just mispronounce words...

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (6 children)

Turns out pseudo is not spelled like sudo.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago

Encephalitis (en-sef-uh-LIE-tis) is inflammation of the brain. There are several causes, including viral infection, autoimmune inflammation, bacterial infection, insect bites and others. 

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (2 children)

In German we use the English term 'understatement' in some occasions, e.g. 'his dressing style is a clear understatement...'. My brain somehow tied the meaning to something like 'understanding', maybe due to the similarities of both words. For decades it was clear to me that someone dressing like that were dressed to the point and 'making a clear statement'. Now that I've checked the real meaning, I'm completely puzzled when and how to use the term and what I've misinterpreted all the years...

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

You might have been looking for the term understated.

As in, to dress in an understated style. Which relates to simplicity, elegance, and versatility.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

Penultimate. I used it as though it referred to the last thing rather than the second to last thing.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Inflammable means flammable? What a country

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

Since OP is in the UK, I can pull out “nonplussed.” Current American usage of the word is a lack of surprise or general acceptance. I am nonplussed when news arrives that another politician was caught in a sex scandal. Non-American usage is complete surprise and an inability to act. The Scot was nonplussed when the drunk American vomited noisily on his shoes.

Edit: I am firmly in the “general acceptance” camp and usually have to process for a second or two when someone uses it in its traditional sense.

[–] savedbythezsh 8 points 11 months ago (4 children)

I have never heard it used as general acceptance. That really drives me nuts! What good is a word that's self contradictory 😨

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