15 Common Words You Won’t Hear Coming from the Mouths of the British Royal Family

Handbag, yard and even perfume — these are just a few examples of words we use in our everyday lives, but which are avoided by members of the British royal family. The reason royals need to choose their vocabulary carefully is that, historically, they’ve been seen as the ultimate elite. The anthropologist Kate Fox explains, in her book, Watching the Englishwhat are the “deadly sins” involving vocabulary that the royal family prefers not to commit.

We, at Incrível.club, were very curious about the topic and decided to bring you a list of words that you would hardly hear coming from the mouths of Queen Elizabeth and her family.

In many parts of England, the word “tea” (or “tea”) is used to refer to meals eaten between 5 pm and 7 pm. Although the habit is more part of the working classes, the elite also have their “tea”, around 4 pm. On occasion, the very rich usually consume tea with cake or another dessert. To talk about what our dinner would be, the royal family uses terms like “dinner” or “supper.”

In English, the traditional word for napkin is “napkin”, but there are records that the term was replaced by the French version “serviette”, on the initiative of lower middle class groups. For these people, “napkin” is very reminiscent of the term “nappy”, which means “diaper”. However, members of the wealthier classes, such as the British royal family, would not even consider the possibility of integrating a foreign word into their vocabulary, even though “serviette” has a very refined sound. Thus, they prefer to keep the tradition and use “napkin” to clean hands and lips during meals.

Prince Charles calls Queen Elizabeth “Mummy”. Popular variations like “ma”, “pa,” “mom” and “dad” are not used by the more affluent when addressing parents. In these cases, the most accepted words are “mummy” and “daddy”. When they are addressing third parties and talking about their parents, they use “my mother” and “my father” (“my mother” and “my father”). Even the elderly tend to talk like this.

Even though it is such a common term, it is not often used by the British elite. The women of the royal family in the United Kingdom do not carry “handbags” when they go out for a walk. They simply carry “bags”.

If you ever visit Buckingham Palace and feel like satisfying your physiological needs, you’ll need to look for the “loo” or “lavatory.” Again, due to the French origin of the word “toilet” (Portuguese for “toilet”) and its association with the working classes, the term was banished from the royal vocabulary.

Of course, royalty also enjoy pleasant scents. But, unlike most commoners, the royal family avoids the word “perfume”, preferring to use “scents” (“fragrances”). For example, Meghan Markle has two favorite fragrances, both from the Jo Malone brand — London Wild Bluebell and Wood Sage & Sea Salt.

In the common day-to-day life of English-speaking commoners, the word “refreshments” is often used to refer to snacks served, for example, at a party or meeting with friends. However, when it comes to the royal family and other members of the privileged classes, the term is seen as taboo. When royalty wants to stomach something during an event, they simply look for the “food and drink” table.

When ordinary people in countries like England go to an event organized by work people, they usually say that they will “attend a function”, which could be translated as “attend an event”. But royals refer to such social gatherings differently — they simply call them “party”.

When it comes to eating well to stay healthy and in good shape, members of the royal family do not control the size of their “portions” (or “portions”). For example, Kate Middleton is at peace with the scales by not exaggerating her “helping sizes”

When the queen wants to eat something sugary after a meal, she doesn’t ask for “dessert”, “sweets” or “afters” (terms used by the majority of the population to refer to sweets and desserts in general). The monarch will probably order a “pudding”, or “pudding”, even if the delicacy is a piece of cake, ice cream or cream. Speaking of which, according to a former personal chef of the queen, she loves a recipe for chocolate cake with biscuits.

When it comes to an expensive, luxurious and exclusive lifestyle, the word most used by the upper classes is “smart”, the same word that in Portuguese means “smart” or “intelligent”. On the other hand, the popular term “posh” is considered a slang term, being used only in contexts of irony. For example, when someone wants to make a joke and show that they know the vocabulary of the lower classes.

In the view of the elite of countries like England, saying “pardon?” when you don’t understand what the other person said is worse than swearing. If you were talking to a member of the royal family and wanted to ask him to repeat what he just said, you couldn’t forget the “Sorry” (“I’m sorry”). Among the upper classes, the simple “What?” (“What?”) and even longer the short version “Wha?” Thus, the correct one among the wealthy is “Sorry, what?” (“Sorry what?”).

The British royal family sits on “couches”, not “settees”. This last term is considered too common and too popular. Due to the influence of North American English in England, the word “couch”, which also means “couch”, is even accepted among the younger generations. Older people, however, also tend to prefer to avoid it.

Much simpler, the “couches” and “setees” can even be in spaces called by the majority of the population as “lounges” or “living rooms”, common terms for “living room”. Such words, however, are generally avoided by members of the British elite. Instead, the wealthy prefer to place their “sofas” in “sitting rooms” or “drawing rooms” (which could be translated as “sitting rooms” or “drawing rooms”).

During the summer days, British commoners like to relax in the “patios” (or “backyards”) of their homes to enjoy snacks and drinks. But when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decide to enjoy the beautiful weather outdoors, they prefer to stay on the “terrace” (“terrace”).

Is there a word you prefer to avoid using in everyday life? In your opinion, what is the rudest term someone can use when dealing with other people? Comment!