British Culture and Social Norms

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British Humour

Drinking Tea

Good Manners

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Queuing

General Info

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Punctuality

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Social Distance

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Greetings

British Culture and Social Norms

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Choose the correct option to complete the sentence

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a kiss on the cheek

a handshake

a pat on the back

a kiss on the cheek

When you're greeting a good friend you should give him/her ___________________.

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a handshake

a pat on the back

a kiss on the cheek

a handshake

If you're greeting a person you don't know well, you should give him/her______________.

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jump it

respect it

run away

jump it

If you're in the queue, you mustn't ______________.

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say please and thank you

give hugs and kisses

drink tea

say please and thank you

If you want to be polite in the UK, you should ________________________.

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at any social gathering

only at home

only in a coffee shop

at any social gathering

In the UK, people can drink tea _____________________.

and discuss them with your partner

When you greet a person you don't know, you should...

In relation to punctuality, in your country you should/shouldn't ...

When you greet a friend you should ...

In relation to the Spanish humour, you ...

If you see a queue, you can/can't ...

If you want to be polite, you must/mustn't ...

And now think about these questions

The distant personality of the British stands out when they are conversing with someone —regardless of the relationship—as they like to keep a socially acceptable distance between them and those they are speaking to. While in the UK, you must always respect a person’s personal space when talking to them in any social situation. Otherwise, they will think you are rude.

Brits are very strict when it comes to being punctual. So, remember, you mustn’t be late in Britain. If you are late once in the UK, you should try not to be late again. The British consider being late disrespectful and rude, especially at private dinner parties or someone’s home. If you cannot arrive on time at some place or event, you need to let the host know beforehand.

Want to explore some more vocabulary related to punctuality?

British humor is full of irony and sarcasm, so if you are sensitive and easily offended, be prepared when you hang out with a Brit. Their sarcasm is of high quality, so foreigners and visitors are usually confused about whether they are joking or not. British humor also involves making fun of celebrities or public figures. To sum up, if you decide to visit the UK, you should be well-informed about the most characteristic traits of the British culture to enjoy your time in the country and avoid any possible faux pas.

Although British people have a reputation for acting cold towards others, surprisingly, they like kisses on the cheek as a form of greeting. When greeting a good friend or family member in the UK, you do not simply shake their hand. However, if you are not a close friend or family member, you should avoid physical touch as it is perceived as odd, while a handshake or a smile can go a long way.

Learn more about informal greetings in the UK

Do you think Canadians are polite? Think again! Despite the reputation of the British people, they love to say sorry, thank you, and please. Regardless of who you are talking to, being polite is always appreciated among the Brits. So, you shouldn’t forget to use these magic words when talking to people.

Learn more about how to be polite in the UK

British culture is a beautiful and unique mix of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The mix of all these countries’ traditions is what makes the British culture very rich and diverse and what they like to call “cultural capital.” British people like to think of themselves as people with class and great taste, whether about food, clothing, music, or movies. You may already know that British people share their love for tea and the British Royal family. However, there are many things you have yet to learn about British culture, customs, and traditions. Explore the links to find out about the basic social norms you should know about British people

Although British people have a reputation for acting cold towards others, surprisingly, they like kisses on the cheek as a form of greeting. When greeting a good friend or family member in the UK, you do not simply shake their hand. However, if you are not a close friend or family member, you should avoid physical touch as it is perceived as odd, while a handshake or a smile can go a long way.

Learn more about informal greetings in the UK

Learn more about the history of tea in the UK.

It is no secret that British people love to drink tea, and they usually admit that it is their favorite part of the day. You can find Brits drinking tea at any social gathering, whether at a birthday or coffee shop. What makes English Tea special is the milk. According to research done on this matter, English people drink around 36 billion cups of tea per year.

British people love to follow the rules, especially when it comes to waiting in a queue, whether at the supermarket or the cinema. Those who dare and jump the queue will most likely be called out. If you do jump the queue for whatever reason, be prepared to get yelled at or even kicked out of the queue altogether. So remember, you should always respect the queue in the UK.