There have been many different ways to refer to people from the United Kingdom, although most of these phrases are hardly used today.
Limey is a North American phrase that has been somewhat out of use; it was originally used to refer to British sailors who were provided with rations of lime juice in order to prevent scurvy. Contrary to popular belief, it did not originate from the Cockney expression “Cor, blimey.”
Les goddams is an archaic French term that has traditionally been used to refer to the British. This is because the British are known for their propensity to use profanity. The term arose from the Hundred Years War (1337–1453), which was fought between England and France and lasted from 1337 to 1453. During this conflict, English soldiers were famous in France for their frequent use of profanity, particularly the interjection “God Damn!” Of course, nobody is using the God Damn curse at the moment; nonetheless, it is being expressed in various ways. It would appear that there is no longer a disparaging epithet in French for people from the United Kingdom; even the term “rosbif” has fallen out of favour. The Portuguese language still retains the use of the terms “bife” for English men and “bifa” for English women.
Pom, also spelled Pommy, is a term that is common in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. The origin is unknown; however, the most plausible explanation is that it is a contraction of the word “pomegranate,” which was formerly used as an Australian slang word that rhymed with immigrant.
Calling a person from Scotland or Wales an Englishman is one of the most insulting things that can be said to them. This practise originated with the English, who, whether out of laziness or conceit, frequently referred to Great Britain and England as being synonymous.
Even during the Second World War, it was typical for those who came from England to refer to the entire country as England out of laziness. This practise continued even after the war ended. This was something that Churchill himself did in several of his talks. It should come as no surprise that other nations have adopted this terminology, erroneously presuming that the British knew what they were talking about when they used it. as a result, Welsh people now have a greater number of opportunities to voice their objections to being referred to as English. However, it’s possible that people in other nations are unaware of this fact, and as a result, they may continue to use the terms England and Great Britain interchangeably.
Keep in mind the items on this quick list in order to avoid upsetting anyone.
People who live in England may be referred to either as English or as British.
Either “Welsh” or “British” can be used to refer to the people who live in Wales.
It is acceptable to refer to the population of Scotland as either Scottish or British.
The inhabitants of Northern Ireland may be referred to as Irish, Northern Irish, or British depending on the context. However, a significant number of individuals in Northern Ireland take offence at being labelled as British. To add insult to injury, Northern Ireland is located on the island of Ireland, not the island of Great Britain, therefore this statement is also technically inaccurate.