Fancy a trip to the dairy?

11 terms from other English dialects that you might not know

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The term dialect is sometimes perceived as negative or derogatory when it is merely descriptive: It’s a particular form of a language tied to a certain region or a particular group of people, and can be understood by users of the same language, even if they speak a different dialect.

The English language has a multitude of dialects, all with unique traits, but all mutually intelligible… sometimes. While English speakers around the world can understand each other no matter their origin, certain words greatly differ from standard American English. Keep on reading so you can recognize these terms in future conversations.

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The Canadian dollar is the official currency of The Great White North, and loonie is the name given to the one-dollar coin. The name originated from the fact that most coins have the image of a common loon, a bird found throughout most of the Canadian territory. The term loonie is so widespread that the Canadian Royal Mint has secured the rights to it. When the two-dollar coin was introduced in the 90s, it was aptly nicknamed toonie, as in two loonies.

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Being tall is generally considered an attractive feature, but this is not what Nigerians are talking about when they call you long-leg. For them, someone with long-legs is someone well-connected who has an unfair advantage because of it, often being favored over those who really deserve the positions or recognitions.

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What would make you wag your chin for a long time? Obviously, a good chat! This is exactly what the English are referring to when they use the word chinwag, a long and pleasant conversation with friends. It is also used as a synonym for gossip, because we all know where those chit-chats are heading.

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Philippine English has an abundance of interesting terms, both derived from native languages and alternative uses of English words. High blood is an example of the latter: While it is used in a medical sense, it also means that someone is angry or agitated. If a Filipino tells you someone is ‘high blood’, it means this person has a short temper and is easily angered.

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Jamaican English is a colorful language, heavily marked by Patois —also called Patwa, an English-based creole with French, Spanish, and West African influences. The term pickney —from the Portuguese pequenino, very small— is commonly used to refer to a child. Fun fact: in Jamaican Patois, plurals are formed by adding the word ‘dem’, so children would be pickney dem.

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We challenge anyone to find a more Irish word than craic, they are not likely to succeed. Pronounced like ‘crack’, it is used in a multitude of ways, but it is mainly a descriptor of enjoyable times and experiences. Key phrases that use it are What's the craic? (What’s up?) and Any craic? (Any news or gossip?). Where does craic come from? In Middle English, crack meant ‘loud conversation’ or ‘news’.

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Many people fail to realize that, although Scottish people speak English on the regular, Scots is a language of its own, and many Scottish English words are of Scots origin. A good example is the term ken —to know, to be aware, to understand—, much more used than its English equivalents.

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If you hear a Kiwi person using the term dairy, you might think they are talking about milk products. You would be right about half of the time. While dairy is used in its standard sense, New Zealanders also use this word for a small convenience store where you can buy essential groceries, cigarettes, snacks, and yes, dairy products.

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Australia is known for being wild and interesting, and Australian English is no exception. The word bludger has a fascinating story: originally from the London slang ‘bludgeoner’ —someone who uses a stick to attack and rob—, it made its way to The Land Down Under, where it changed into bludger, someone who is lazy, avoids work and responsibilities, and relies on the efforts of others.

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Pick-up trucks (and trucks in general) are one of those things with a thousand names depending on the part of the world you find yourself in. For South Africans, it is a bakkie. From the Afrikaans bak, meaning ‘container’ or ‘bowl’, as a reference to the open cargo space in these vehicles.

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It is difficult to speak about Welsh English terms, not because they are not interesting (they are!), but because they might be difficult to pronounce for the average American (also, the amount of consonants commands respect). Our pick of the day is hanging —allegedly pronounced ‘angin’— used to express feeling sick, rough, and generally unwell, usually as a result of drinking and being hungover.

Bookworms only

Dreamers and heroes: 10 literary characters that define their own genres

Literature has given us characters that transcend the page, capturing imaginations and defining genres. From heroic adventurers to beloved childhood icons and cunning antiheroes, these 10 figures have left an indelible mark on readers worldwide. Each has a unique story and a lasting legacy that continues to shape culture and fiction.

Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887, Sherlock Holmes is a consulting detective known for his astute logical reasoning, use of forensic science, and keen observation skills.

Holmes first appeared in A Study in Scarlet, setting the gold standard for detective fiction. His iconic deerstalker hat, pipe, and razor-sharp mind have made him a lasting symbol of intellectual prowess in literature and media.

From Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813), the beloved Elizabeth Bennet navigates the complex social expectations and romantic entanglements of Regency-era England in her pursuit of love and self-discovery.

Austen’s sharp observations challenged the societal norms of early 19th-century England, and her brilliantly crafted heroines remain enduring models of wit, independence, and strength.

From Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), Atticus Finch stands as one of literature’s most enduring symbols of integrity and justice. As a small-town lawyer in 1930s Alabama, he defends a Black man wrongly accused of assaulting a white woman, facing social backlash for upholding equality before the law.

Finch was inspired in part by Lee’s own father, Amasa Coleman Lee, a lawyer who once defended two Black men in a similar case.

From F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925), Jay Gatsby embodies the allure and tragedy of the American Dream. A self-made millionaire who rises from poverty, Gatsby devotes his life to winning back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, through wealth, charm, and lavish parties on Long Island.

Fitzgerald based Gatsby’s world on the excesses of the Jazz Age, drawing inspiration from real figures of the Roaring Twenties.

First appearing in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and later starring in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), Huck became an icon of youthful independence and moral awakening.

Rejecting the constraints of "civilized" society, he embarks on a journey down the Mississippi River with the runaway slave Jim. Often called the first true American novel, Huckleberry Finn broke literary conventions and helped shape modern realism in fiction.

From J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye (1951), Holden Caulfield became the voice of postwar teenage alienation. Disillusioned by the "phoniness" of the adult world, he wanders New York City after being expelled from prep school, searching for meaning and authenticity in a world that to him feels hollow.

Salinger’s use of colloquial language and raw introspection was groundbreaking, influencing generations of writers and readers to this day.

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (1847) introduced one of literature’s first truly modern heroines. Orphaned and mistreated, Jane rises through hardship to become a governess and falls in love with the mysterious Mr. Rochester, but refuses to sacrifice her integrity or independence even for love.

Brontë’s portrayal of a woman asserting both moral and emotional autonomy was groundbreaking for its time and helped redefine the role of the heroine in English literature.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) introduced the world’s most famous vampire—a sophisticated aristocrat who conceals a monstrous thirst for blood.

Inspired by Eastern European folklore and possibly the real-life Vlad the Impaler, Stoker’s creation redefined the vampire myth. Count Dracula became a lasting symbol of fear, desire, and immortality, influencing countless adaptations and shaping an entire genre of horror.

From J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1954–1955), Frodo Baggins embodies the quiet courage of the ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Tasked with destroying the One Ring, he journeys from the peaceful Shire into the heart of darkness to save Middle-earth.

Unlike traditional epic heroes, Frodo’s power lies in humility and persistence, making him a timeless symbol of inner strength and the cost of doing what’s right.

Homer’s Odyssey, composed around the 8th century BCE, presents Odysseus as the archetype of the clever hero. After the fall of Troy, his ten-year journey home to Ithaca becomes a test of endurance, intellect, and will as he faces gods, monsters, and temptation.

Renowned for his wit and adaptability, Odysseus embodies the Greek ideal of metis—strategic intelligence. His story also helped define the hero’s journey narrative that shaped Western literature, influencing countless tales of adventure and human struggle against fate.