A Guide to Understanding British Humour

So you’re moving to the UK soon to study abroad? There are many unique things about the UK that might take some getting used to. The food, the slang, the terrible weather, all of these things might be a brand new experience to you. Another thing to get used to is British humour.

You’ll see British humour reflected in a lot of British TV and movies. But not everyone around the world understands it right away. The last thing you want is to seem rude by missing a joke or not understanding what’s so funny in a TV show.

Self-Deprecation

One part of British humour that you might find confusing at first is the use of self-deprecation. It’s common for Brits to mock themselves and the things that have happened to them in life, all in the name of humour.

If you’re not used to this, it can be a strange thing to experience. Hearing someone be so down on themselves or make fun of themselves might not seem usual, but it’s all in good fun. A great example of this kind of humour can be found over on the Twitter account Very British Problems.

Before you know it, you’ll understand which is a joke and which is serious and even cracking your own!

Sarcasm

Sarcasm and irony are the cornerstones of British humour. They are so ingrained into us that you’ll find it in pretty much every British TV show, sitcom, stand-up routine, and movie. If you’re an international student coming from somewhere that doesn’t use sarcasm, it can be confusing at first.

Sarcasm is simply saying one thing, but actually meaning the opposite. For example, it’s pouring of rain outside and someone says, “It’s a beautiful day outside isn’t it?”. This type of humour is best found in British comedy shows like Faulty Towers and Blackadder.

It might take a little while to grasp and could potentially be a little embarrassing when you take someone’s sarcastic remark seriously. But before long you’ll be in the swing of it and using it all the time!

Understatements

Understatements are another common form of British humour and you’ll find them used in everyday speech. Brits use understatements to make something seem much less significant than they actually are.

A common example of an understatement would be something like “it’s a bit windy out there” when in fact there is a raging hurricane outside. Or it’s snowy and freezing outside and someone says “I might need a coat today”.

There are millions of examples of British understatements and a lot of the time, Brits use them without really thinking about it. They’re fun to spot and in no time you’ll be in the swing of it too.

Satire

Use of satire is something very British and it’s often found in British media. Satire is often used to make a statement to highlight something ridiculous. Satire is most often used in relation to things like politicians or institutions, and it’s a clever way of poking fun at them.

It’s not so much used in daily speech as it is in forms of entertainment. You’ll find this in shows such as Spitting Image, Have I Got News for You, Extras, and much more.

Dark Humour

Also known as ‘gallows humour’, dark humour is very much a staple of British comedy. Making fun of the macabre is something Brits do to lighten the mood or just get a shocked laugh!

This pessimistic kind of humour shows that nothing’s off limits when it comes to jokes. There’s no right or wrong time or place for it. If you haven’t experienced this kind of humour, it may be shocking when you hear people joking about grim situations, but you’ll get used to it.

Combine this with utter cringeworthiness and you’ve got yourself a winning TV show or movie! Shows like The Inbetweeners or movies like Four Lions showcase these kinds of humour very well and you’ll find yourself laughing along at them.

Now You’re On Your Way to Understanding British Humour

British humour can be tricky to understand if you’re from a country with a vastly different sense of humour. You might get it and find it very funny, or you might not. But understanding British humour will help you navigate social situations. You’ll be able to enjoy British TV shows and movies now that you recognise the types of jokes they use.

Do you need to find student accommodation for your time in the UK? Talk to us and we’ll help you find somewhere perfect to live.

So you’re moving to the UK soon to study abroad? There are many unique things about the UK that might take some getting used to. The food, the slang, the terrible weather, all of these things might be a brand new experience to you. Another thing to get used to is British humour.

Self-Deprecation

Sarcasm

Understatements

Satire

Dark Humour

Now You’re On Your Way to Understanding British Humour

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