The United Kingdom

...So I'm still a little bit confused. What is Britain? And my English (subject, not nationality) teacher had a rant about this to us, telling us that a person who comes from London doesn't have a British or a UK accent, because that encompasses Nrth Ireland, Scotland, Wales, instead we have to say an English accent

I can see how it would get frustrating, cos it's like people saying New Zealanders being Australian, and we should not have to take the blame for them (hehe totally joking, hello, we're always trying to take the credit for Russel Crowe, Peter Jackson etc)

 

I live here and I get confused! I think this is correct:

There are four areas, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England, Scotland and Wales combined and is called Great Britain (GB)

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined is called the United Kingdom (UK)

I'm sure someone will correct me if this is wrong.

One thing that annoys the Scottish and Welsh, understandably, is the way the press talk about a "British success" when they win some sport event, but about a "Welsh failure" or "Scottish failure" when they lose.

 

This has always confused me. Thanks for the clarification.

 

You think we've got it bad? Just consider how the Dutch must feel. Holland consists of about a quarter of the Netherlands.

 

I invariably use UK, or Britain but not as synonyms. When I say "England" I mean England, not Wales, Scotland nor Northern Ireland.

I just remember that someone from Scotland wouldn't like to be called "English", and that Mary, Queen of Scotland, was executed by order of the queen of England.

 

No offence to the English on this site, but Scots generally head-butt anyone that calls them English. It's just a fact

 

So they should too - Scots are not English, they are Scottish. They are British though.

 

Ah yes...our long and interesting relationship with France!! may it go on for ever!! The EU would have us believe that England is not a country but there are several million who would beg to differ!! Vive L'Angleterre?

 

I always try to use the terms 'UK' and 'British' when I don't know or I'm not sure where exactly someone if from and what their nationality is. I'm a bit more sensitive to issues like this, since my nationality is Hungarian, but I'm living in Romania, so people always call me Romanian. Of course, since they can't know, I correct them the first 1-2 times but if they continue to call me Romanian, I get quite angry So I try not to call any Scots English, because it can be quite offensive.

 

Hope Wikipedia can give everyone a definitive answer.

United Kingdom

Great Britain

In simple terms, Great Britain is an Island and the United Kingdom is a Unified State.
Think USA with 4 States.

 

The Scots are very talented and tend to be prodigious drinkers. They have a very romantic view of themselves and do get a bit chippy...especially in the South!! Most people in Britain are mongrels...we have vast amounts of French blood, Scandinavian, German, Roman and nearly 2000 years ago, Hadrians Wall was manned largely by North Africans and other conquered races. I bet a few of them settled! Now we have Italians, Africans, West Indians, Asians, Chinese, East Europeans many of whom will interbreed...does it really matter? Damn right it does!!

 

I don't have the french, etc, blood I'm English, but my heritage is Irish, so meh

 

OK... well that's it exactly, each are different countries.. but all are unified under the names UK and GB.

As for the accents, they do sound different depending on the country, but again the dialect and tone sound different even in different places within that country (e.g. scousers, geordies, manks, broomys)

And it despite common misinterpretation, it doesn't always rain in the UK... that's just Scotland. Did nothing but bucket it down this weekend.

 

Except Luton. Even when it's not raining, it feels like it is...it's that miserable!!

 

Pah, miserable? You don't live in Boro. You don't know you're born, you lot.