If I’m talking to an English speaker from outside of the US, is there any confusion if I say “soccer”?
For example, when I was in college a friend asked for a “torch”. I was confused for quite some time, because I didn’t know it was another word for “flashlight”. Does the same thing happen with the word “soccer”? Should I clarify by saying, “…or football”?
Thank you!
It’s ok, we know you guys are weird.
No, we understand. In fact, if anything it’s easier if you say soccer! If someone with an American accent says ‘football’ I normally assume they mean gridiron, so sayings soccer is actually a little clearer.
Of course, in different parts of the world, ‘football’ might mean rugby (either union or league), Gaelic football or Aussie rules football. So, the potential for confusion is pretty wide!
Well it’s not actually that bad of a deal to call football “soccer”. But what really grind gears is to associate football exclusively to “American football” which is what (American) internet do. Rage over “soccer” is just part of the backlash.
While it will absolutely out you as a US American, we will understand - same as when you say “Candy” and similar common Americanisms
Edit: Also, while mostly used to refer to flashlights as you guys call them, torch can also refer to other non-lantern light-emitting instruments
… wtf else do you call candy?
As others have said, sweets
Wait…I think you’re saying that Brits call candy sweets…maybe…
Definitely Brits, but not just Brits - Sweets is the preferred term in much of the English speaking world, with Candy being very distinctly associated with the US.
Interesting. I’ve used candy to refer to non-chocolate sweets. Sweets refers to sweet candy, and chocolate.
On that note, for a long time, I’d thought “candy bar” was called as such because they tend to not contain any actual chocolate.
How people refer between different types of sweets varies even within Britain, nevermind other countries… but at least in my experience chocolate sweets get referred to as chocolates, and non-chocolate sweets as just sweets (though I have heard the terms sugar sweets and confectioneries thrown about for those too)
Chocolate isn’t sweets.
It sure as heck ain’t sour
Everyone understands, most gringe.
There’s more problems that occur when you talk about American Football as just football solely because people will attempt to follow along before getting blindsided by something that doesn’t make sense. At least when Americans talk about Soccer, everyone knows what’s going on. Seems like there’s often miscommunication that people are getting annoyed Americans refer to Football as soccer and not that your refer to American Football as football. Makes sense when you talk to people in your own country.
This isn’t American Centric. Whenever I’ve talked to people about Gaelic Football, it’s discussed as Gaelic football, not football.
Not a native English speaker, but my hunch is, soccer will almost certainly be understood. Also it will identify you as American.
And Canada 👋
And Australia, at least when they’re not trying to suck up to the British.
And the British, at least when they’re not trying to make Americans look bad.
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But if an American says football, that can create a bit of confusion.
I’ve heard gridiron. Just not “gridiron football” together.
