British Words Americans Love Using and Why They’re Trending in 2025

Discover the British words like brilliant cheers and mate that are now common in American English Learn why these Britishisms are trending and how they became part of everyday US conversations.

If you listen to how many Americans talk these days especially younger people you might notice something funny happening British words are starting to slip into their everyday speech Words like brilliant cheers fancy mate and even bloody used to sound very British but now you can hear them in a coffee shop in New York or in a conversation at a college party So what’s going on here and why is this happening.

How British Words Crossed the Ocean
Language never stays still and it changes even faster when people from different cultures mix In the past British English and American English each had their own slang but now the internet has made it easy for words to travel People are watching British creators on social media chatting with UK friends in online games and following British influencers without even thinking about it and slowly they start using the same words in their own conversations.

Social Media Is a Big Reason
Before apps like TikTok or Instagram you pretty much had to travel to another country to really pick up the way people speak Now you just scroll and the world comes to you A British creator posts a funny video using a word like cheeky or knackered and suddenly millions of Americans have heard it and some of them start saying it the very same day.

Everyday Conversations Bring New Words
A lot of British words reach Americans simply through daily conversations online and offline Many people make friends from the UK in online games study groups or international work meetings and over time they naturally start copying some of the expressions they hear It can happen without planning at all You might hear someone say mate or brilliant so often that it becomes part of the way you talk too And because these words feel fun and fresh they stick around and slowly become normal in your own vocabulary.

It Feels Cool and Different
Sometimes using a word from another culture just makes your speech more fun Sayingcheersinstead ofthanksorbrilliantinstead ofgreatmakes you sound a little different and in a world where people like to stand out that is a small but easy way to do it.

What’s Next
This is not slowing down If anything more British words will make their way into American speech as people keep making online friends sharing content and learning from each other In a few years these words might not even sound British anymore.

15 Popular British Words Americans Use Now
Here are some British words and phrases that are becoming common in the US and what they mean
Brilliant– great or amazing
Cheers – thanks
Fancy – to like or want something
Mate – friend or buddy
Bloody – used for emphasis like very
Cheeky – playful or slightly rude in a fun way
Knackered – very tired
Gobsmacked – shocked or amazed
Brolly – umbrella
Loo – bathroom
Rubbish – trash or nonsense
Chuffed – pleased or happy
Proper – real or genuine
Quid – slang for British pound money
Ta – informal way to say thanks

Have you heard or used any of these words before Share your favorites in the comments and let’s see which ones are here to stay