51 Posh British Words | English Words Only Posh People Say

Introduction to Posh British English Vocabulary

In this lesson, the speaker introduces 51 words commonly used in posh British English. These words can help boost language level and sound more sophisticated in formal situations or when socializing with sophisticated individuals.

Words to Replace "Very" and "Really"

• Rather: Meaning fairly or to some degree. Example: It's rather hot outside today.

• Terribly: Meaning very. Example: I am terribly hungry today.

• Awfully: Can actually be a good thing, expressing real gratitude. Example: He was awfully kind to me.

• Jolly: Essentially means very, used with good or bad. Example: That was a jolly good party last night.

• Utterly: Used with strong adjectives to intensify them. Example: I was utterly disappointed when he cancelled our date.

• Fairly and Somewhat: Intensifiers that reduce the strength of the adjective. Example: I was somewhat confused by your comments.

• Quite: Softens instead of strengthens an adjective. Example: These biscuits are quite tasty.

Posh Adjectives

• Splendid: Means wonderful or very good. Example: What a splendid idea!

• Spiffing (posh): Means excellent or very good.

Sophisticated Vocabulary for People

• Dashing (for men): Attractive and stylish in appearance.

• Ravishing (for women): Stunningly beautiful.

Dessert vs Pudding

The speaker mentions that using dessert or pudding can make you sound posh, but does not provide further details on which one is considered more posh.

Using Vocabulary to Sound Posh

The speaker explains how using these vocabulary words can broaden one's vocabulary range and add sophistication to their language skills.

Avoiding Very and Really

• Using the suggested words instead of very and really can make language sound more sophisticated.

Enhancing Language Level

• By incorporating these words, one can express themselves confidently in formal situations or when socializing with sophisticated individuals.

• These words are particularly useful for university, business, or formal gatherings.

Words to Replace Very and Really

The speaker provides a list of words that can be used as alternatives to very and really.

Rather

• Meaning fairly or to some degree. Example: It's rather hot outside today.

Terribly

• Meaning very. Example: I am terribly hungry today.

Awfully

• Can express real gratitude. Example: He was awfully kind to me.

• Not to be confused with awful, which means bad.

Jolly

• Essentially means very, used with good or bad. Example: That was a jolly good party last night.

Utterly

• Used with strong adjectives to intensify them. Example: I was utterly disappointed when he cancelled our date.

Fairly and Somewhat

• Intensifiers that reduce the strength of the adjective. Example: I was somewhat confused by your comments.

Quite

• Softens instead of strengthens an adjective. Example: These biscuits are quite tasty.

More Posh Adjectives and Vocabulary Tips

The speaker introduces additional posh adjectives and provides tips on using polite language in a posh manner.

Jolly Well

• Used as an exclamation to make something stronger. Example: I am jolly well going to tell your mother if you don't start doing your homework.

Splendid

• Means wonderful or very good. Example: What a splendid idea!

Spiffing (posh)

• Means excellent or very good.

Polite and Gentle Language

• Speaking politely and gently is a common trait of the upper classes.

• Being polite and gentle can help in speaking in a more posh and formal manner.

Posh Adjectives for Sophistication

The speaker introduces more posh adjectives that can be used to sound sophisticated.

Splendid

• Means wonderful or very good. Example: What a splendid idea!

Spiffing (posh)

• Means excellent or very good.

Conclusion

The speaker concludes the lesson by emphasizing the benefits of using these vocabulary words to broaden one's language range and sound more sophisticated.

Benefits of Using Posh Vocabulary

• Boosts language level and sophistication.

• Helps express oneself confidently in formal situations.

• Broadens vocabulary range.

• Adds sophistication to language skills.

Adjectives for Sophistication

In this section, the speaker discusses adjectives that can be used to sound more sophisticated in English.

Adjectives with Two Syllables

• Instead of saying "marvellous," use "marvelous" to sound more sophisticated.

• Other synonyms for marvelous include excellent, amazing, and wonderful.

• Example: "The dinner was marvelous. Everything was beautifully laid out, and we had a lovely evening."

• Example: "He behaved marvelously."

Describing Beautiful or Enjoyable Things

• Use the adjective "glorious" to describe something very beautiful, impressive, or enjoyable.

• Example: "It was a glorious day. We all had such a spiffing time."

• Example: "What a glorious home you have. It's absolutely beautiful."

Impressive and Large

• The word "stupendous" can be used to describe something very large or impressive.

• Example: "They had a stupendous garden. There were flowers everywhere."

• Example: "The ball was stupendous. We had a lovely evening dancing, singing, and drinking."

Alternative Meaning of Delicious

• Besides describing food as tasty, the word "delicious" can also be used to describe an activity, event, or situation that gives great pleasure and enjoyment.

• Example: "The gossip was delicious. It was interesting and fun."

• This usage is an exaggerated way of saying something is great.

Describing People

Men:

• Use the adjective "dashing" to describe a man who looks smart, active, confident, and elegant.

• Example: "You look dashing today in your nice suit and tie."

Women:

• The adjective "ravishing" describes an attractive woman who looks absolutely beautiful.

Synonym for Amazing

Instead of using the word "amazing," try using "extraordinary" to sound more sophisticated.

• Example: "The views from my hotel were extraordinary. You could see the sea for miles."

Negative Adjectives

Very Bad

• The adjective "atrocious" means something is very, very bad.

• Example: "His homework was atrocious. His behavior today after drinking too many beers was atrocious."

• Use this strong adjective carefully when describing something as being bad.

Extremely Bad

• Another synonym for atrocious is "abysmal," which also means extremely bad or the worst it could possibly be.

• Example: "The service at the restaurant was abysmal. I did not leave a tip."

Unpleasant or Bad Behavior

• The adjectives "ghastly" and "beastly" are used to describe something as very bad or unpleasant, often referring to an unpleasant situation or a person's behavior that wasn't particularly nice.

• Example: "The weather outside was beastly or ghastly. Did you see how windy it was?"

• Example: "Did you see her dress? It was absolutely ghastly."

• Example: "The way he spoke to her was absolutely beastly."

Calling Someone Stupid

Instead of saying someone is stupid, use the adjective "absurd" as a more sophisticated way of calling them foolish or not particularly clever.

• Example: "Don't be absurd. There is no way we'll get there in time if we leave now."

Totally Unreasonable

Use the adjective "preposterous" to describe something as totally unreasonable in a shocking or annoying way.

• Example: "To suggest that we shouldn't have a holiday this year was absolutely preposterous."

Posh Meaning of Tight

In posh English, the word tight means being a little bit drunk or intoxicated.

• Example: "He was a little bit tight. I think he's had too many beers."

Timestamps are provided for each section to help locate the corresponding part of the video.

Posh Nouns and Expressions

This section discusses posh nouns and expressions used by the upper class.

Posh Nouns

• Instead of saying "I'm in trouble" or "I have a problem," the upper class would say "I'm in a bit of a bind." A bind refers to a problematic situation. For example, "I'm in a bit of a bind. Do you have ten pounds you could lend me for my glass of champagne?"

• Rather than calling someone boring, they would use the noun "bore" to describe an uninteresting person. For instance, "He is such a bore."

Posh Expressions

• The upper class refers to dessert as pudding. So instead of saying ice cream or sweets, they would say pudding. For example, "What did you have for pudding? Oh, I had the most stupendous cheesecake."

• Instead of using the abbreviation PJ's for pajamas, they would say pajamas in its entirety. For instance, "I'm not putting my PJs on but I'm wearing my pajamas."

• Banter is a fast and witty way of communicating. However, the upper class uses the term repartee instead. For example, "There was a lot of repartee at the party last night."

Vocabulary Differences

This section highlights vocabulary differences between posh English and common English.

Room Names

• While common English speakers refer to it as a lounge, the upper class calls it either a sitting room or drawing-room.

• Similarly, while common English speakers use sofa or couch, the upper class prefers to say sofa.

Other Vocabulary Differences

• Instead of using serviettes or tissues, they use napkin.

• When referring to going to the toilet in posh restaurants, they use the terms loo or lavatory.

• The term yonks is used to mean a long time in posh English.

Polite Exclamations

This section discusses polite exclamations used in posh English.

• Instead of using expressions like "Oh God" or "Oh dear," they use "Oh gosh" as a more polite exclamation. For example, "Oh gosh, that's wonderful news!"

• They also use the word Bravo, borrowed from Italian, to mean well done.

• Another exclamation used is "God forbid," which means please I hope not.

• Lastly, the phrase "oh bugger" is used when something goes wrong or bad.

The transcript does not provide information for sections 42 and 43.

Exclamations and Terms of Address

In this section, the speaker discusses exclamations and terms of address in English.

Exclamations

• "Codswallop" is a fun word that means nonsense or something untrue.

• Be careful when using exclamations like "codswallop" as they can sound rude if used to respond to someone's statement.

• It's best not to direct exclamations at people unless they are talking utter codswallop.

Terms of Address for Men

• Older gentlemen and the upper classes often use the term "old" as a term of respect or endearment when addressing each other.

• Examples include "old chap," "old chum," "old sport," and "old fellow."

• These terms are still used among the upper classes, particularly in more formal settings.

Terms of Address for Women

• There isn't a direct equivalent for women, but sometimes "darling" can be used as a term of address.

• However, men should be cautious when using terms like "darling" or "sweetie" to refer to women, especially in professional environments.

• Using such terms can be seen as offensive, particularly in the workplace.

Affectionate Use of Darling

• Darling can also be used affectionately to refer to someone who is sweet and kind.

• For example, you could say your daughter is a darling because she has been lovely all day.

Farewell Expression - Cheerio

In this section, the speaker introduces the farewell expression "cheerio."

Cheerio as a Farewell Expression

• The word cheerio is often used by posh individuals as an alternative way to say goodbye.

• Instead of using common farewells like "bye" or "goodbye," you can say "cheerio."

• It is a more sophisticated and posh way to bid farewell.

Conclusion

In this video, the speaker discusses various exclamations, terms of address for men and women, as well as the farewell expression "cheerio." These insights can help learners sound more sophisticated and posh in British English.