What to say when you don't understand?

bob’s your uncle!

Actually, that means something is easy, so maybe, “Bob’s not my uncle yet, could you repeat that?”

@fireside
what is that suppose to mean..

Oh, good luck. I could never understand British humor either. I just say, “Sorry, I’m (insert nationality here): I don’t get it?” I just smile and take a lot of mental notes. Don’t feel strange; different cultures. You’ll catch on.

@deadolly… i smile too often to avoid them and they probably think i am mute now.

lol You’ll catch on soon enough. Is there someone you can pull aside to sort of mentor you? I’d ask someone who you seem to have most in common with. And some things you’ll NEVER understand. Just relax, maybe they’re wondering what the hell your’re talking about as well!

If it is the language (slang, accent, speed of delivery…) you could simply ask for a repeat.
If it is the humour you don’t understand, that’s a bit of a different problem.

@jvr

Yeah most of the time its humour and casual conversation . At times, I cant understand it only after 1–2mins.

@deaddolly

no one to mentor me.. its kinda hard to teach this sort of thing. The british seems to swallow their words whenever they speak . ( no offense :P)

What part of Britiann are you in, how long have you been there?
Not that they have to teach you, just to decode some stuff for you.

@deadolly
Ely, Cambridgehire.. its been quite a while 3 years and have just started working recently. I spend most of time with mates from my country i don’t mix around with the British therfore im trying to pick myself up.

I believe someone just created a discussion on british slang. THanks to whoever it is and thanks for the response in this thread.!

You might try checking out a resource such as this one

It may have a lot of useful information about British slang

@mea05: If you didn’t understand what fireside told you immediately after you asked the question, there may be no ‘ope for you. It was perfectly explained, yet you said “what’s that supposed to mean?”
Q: do you have a sense of humor in your native language? Sincerely-asked question.
It’s very, very hard to translate humor – they say it’s the last thing we really grasp in a new
place.

@susan – in all fairness, I did edit it right as he posted so the explanation was probably not there at the time of his posting.

Watch lots of British sitcoms. Even if You don’t think the humor is funny, you will learnt o recognize it. Americans have very loud, in-your-face humor whereas English humor is much more subtle. How old are you? I found that the younger set (late teens to mid-twenties) appreciate American humor when presented in the right way. Also, explaining to people that you don’t understand is easier than you think. If they don’t believe you, just show them some Dane Cook and they’ll be just as confused. Good luck!

Through exposure, you should become acclimated to the accent. You just have to make yourself hang out with Brits to facilitate this. I spent my senior year in France; when I first arrived at my host family, I was so scared because I didn’t understand anything. I literally had a headache for a week, from listening so intently all the time. It should get easier.

British humor is something you can pick up, but it’s not for everyone. Watch TV and movies to help you get an idea. It’s more subtle and language-based, rather than the slapsticky humor that seems to be preferred in the U.S. It helps if you enjoy language and the variation between words and phrases.. the Brits tend to be more subdued than Americans.

I never studied British humor or slang, but living amongst them rubbed off on me. In the meantime, just be yourself and don’t be embarrassed to say “Huh?” So they make fun of you, let yourself be American. One time I came running into a room full of friends with a cup of tea on a saucer with a spoon sticking out of it, and I was sipping off the top because it was about to spill and my hands were full. From them on, they all teased me by drinking their tea “the American way” by slurping off the top with the spoon in. Also, I once told my girlfriends, “OK, guys, lets take off.” They all looked at each other and said, “where are the guys, and what do you mean, ‘take off?’ Are we going to launch like a rocket?”

@ALENAD
Yeah ! I realise i prefer slapstick comedies , its probably because i watch more american movies, those hollywood stuffs. Thanks for the advice ! I probably start by watching rowan atkinson’s comedy. hes pretty good

@Skaggfacemutt
you were being teased pretty badly there. if i were in the situation i probably jsut smile quickly get back to my seat!.. i would be clueless ..l
btw where are u from?

love the British,feel the British be the British.

I am from Northern Indiana, originally.