Settle an argument - is the word 'arse' posh?
Posted by Fabulous_Top4029@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 71 comments
I have always used the word arse, and my friend says ass. To me ass is American (we are both Brits). But he says he can't say arse because it's 'too posh'. I do not believe that the word arse is posh. What's the verdict?
Gatodeluna@reddit
He just hasn’t had much of any exposure to British culture, vocabulary, or class system. I was very interested, coincidentally, that in an old Midsomer Murders about the posh being posh jerks, that it was the working class and tradespeople who said arse and the posh characters specifically said ‘ass’ and not arse, with a point being made that I’d missed. I was slightly surprised. But no, this American does not think arse is posh, lol.
Objective_Echo6492@reddit
I have seen a lot of attempts to redefine an American word to justify it's use, and this seems a lot like that.
People usually don't like to admit that they're easily manipulated by the media, it's kind of embarrassing, so it's easier to pretend that they're using an English word than to accept how easy we are to influence.
Practically, I love hearing people using a few too many Americanisms. It helps me separate the free-thinkers from the regurgitators. It's also useful for picking out who is the most pliable.
glasgowgeg@reddit
Not at all.
I'd say posh people would say "rear end" or "bottom" to try and appear more civilised.
SilyLavage@reddit
Posh people don’t care about appearing civilised; it’s stereotypically the middle classes who wring their hands over the language they use
thecheesycheeselover@reddit
Very true, when I was small my nanna wouldn’t let me say ‘bum’ because it was rude, I had to say ‘bottom’.
Not upper class at all, firmly middle. I’m sure the upper class kids were allowed to say bum, arse and much worse.
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
But surely you must be able to see how relative to working class folk, the middle class are posh? Also fantastic mental gymnasts at times.
mordac_the_preventer@reddit
“Kiss my rear end” does sound a bit posh
Gary_James_Official@reddit
The properly-posh - anyone with a title, that has been living in the same home for generations - are completely beyond giving a fuck about what anyone thinks. The people who want to be posh (nouveau riche, middle class, whatever) are precisely the kind to use "rear end" in front of their friends, while the 90 year old whose family have lived on an immense estate for the last few hundred years is likely to say arse.
thecheesycheeselover@reddit
No, arse is English and ass is American. You’re correct.
He’s annoyed me with this.
seven-cents@reddit
I got temp banned from the AITA sub for using the word arse 🤭
pinkthreadedwrist@reddit
AITA loves the ban hammer.
seven-cents@reddit
Amusing since it's 99% bot posts
ClementAttlee2024@reddit
"AITA for breaking up with someone because they cheated on me"
"AITA for telling someone no when I didn't want to do something"
"AITA for telling off my dog"
Istg it's these same posts
Maleficent_Depth_517@reddit
All with twins and lawyer friends!
ClementAttlee2024@reddit
AITA loves everything that it isn't
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
I got a warning yesterday for using the C word in a post about C words.
Also been banned for using the F cigarette word in the specific context of providing a translation.
Darent even say owt anymore.
.once got banned from aita for saying I would finish them if it was me. They took it as kill, As if I talk like a WWE commentator or something.
You can't make it up at times.
PetrolSnorter@reddit
Your friend is a proper arse
Fabulous_Top4029@reddit (OP)
Yeah he is
UserCannotBeVerified@reddit
Is he secretly posh too?
BlueTrin2020@reddit
Tell him he’s a non-posh arse
sim-o@reddit
Anyone posh is not using ass or arse
Rymundo88@reddit
Posh? My arse! - Jim Royle
Tattycakes@reddit
Finger food? Finger my arse
Mumfiegirl@reddit
I think this kinds of answers the question perfectly
Glad_Act_8587@reddit
Arse is English, and not posh. Ass is American (or a donkey)
the_merkin@reddit
This is the only correct answer.
theoht_@reddit
i spell it ass but say arse
octohussy@reddit
I’m working-class Geordie and the only times I’ve heard someone British use the word “ass” IRL are: in reference to a donkey; an American quote/reference; or if they’re so posh that they travelled constantly back and forth between various countries which use Commonwealth and American English.
Eoin_McLove@reddit
Working class Welsh here and we pronounce it ‘ass’.
cyberllama@reddit
No
Phyllida_Poshtart@reddit
The only people in Wales I've heard say ass have been under 25 :)
just_some_guy65@reddit
I am Welsh, I have never heard anyone say "ass" other than to mean donkey.
octohussy@reddit
I didn’t know this but that’s very interesting. All the Welsh people I’ve met have said “arse”, despite being working-class.
Is it something which differs substantially with regional accents within Wales? Not too many Welsh up my neck of the woods!
ahoneybadger3@reddit
Find a coal today or no joy?
BrokenFist-73@reddit
What is "a coal"?
octohussy@reddit
I’ll have you know that we replaced our coal mining industry with Greggs branches.
2 coal; 6 sausage rolls for today’s excavation.
Azuras-Becky@reddit
Arse is not posh.
Meowskiiii@reddit
I've lived in lots of different parts of the UK. Some say ass, some say arse (pre-americanisms too). It mostly comes down to accent.
Agreeable_Fig_3713@reddit
Well we say ‘erse’ and arse is a bit posh and leaning to RP but ass is definitely American
StDesolation@reddit
My arse is definitely not posh.
allthingskerri@reddit
If I'm being posh I call you an arsehole
Tarjhan@reddit
Posh people are sweary fuckers.
hallerz87@reddit
Arse isn’t posh or not posh. It’s just British slang for your bum. Ass is American slang for the same.
OctopusIntellect@reddit
The BBC, who have at least some influence on what is considered posh or not, have had opinions on the word, although not on its poshness: When Fairytale of New York was first performed on Top of the Pops in 1987, "the BBC requested that MacColl's singing of 'arse' be replaced with the perceived-less-offensive 'ass'".
"When Katie Melua performed the song with the Pogues on CD:UK in December 2005, ITV censored the word 'arse', but left 'faggot' uncensored ... The MTV channels in the UK also removed and scrambled the words 'slut', 'faggot' and 'arse' from the song".
One BBC local radio presenter described the song as "downmarket chav bilge".
"Arse", "buttocks" and "bottom" are all Anglo-Saxon in origin, so I'm not sure why one of them has ended up as slang, and less polite, than the others.
Scarboroughwarning@reddit
WTF?!
Hell no, it's standard English
commanderdiana@reddit
Sounds like a reyt arse’ole!
stuaxo@reddit
Some parts of the UK say ass where their accent fits it, the rest of us say arse, it's not posh at all.
nameunknown345@reddit
True. A West Country accent works for both, aaaaaass or arrrrrrse.
Competitive_Art_4480@reddit
Some areas use "ass". It's possible they might have wrongly come to the conclusion arse is posh if they've only heard poshos say it, especially if everyone in their region and worming class uses ass.
Probably just young though.
I had a gf for a while who said "pants" some regions do and it's not an Americanism. Still annoyed me though.
Arsewhistle@reddit
Your friend is a moron
Flowa-Powa@reddit
No, arse is democratised - I'm pretty sure Chaucer mentioned arse and he was basically council estate scum
TheGrumble@reddit
What about Brits that use "cringe" as an adjective?
Fluffy_Juggernaut_@reddit
What about people complaining about using "cringe" as an adjective?
TheGrumble@reddit
What about sunrise? What about rain?
martzgregpaul@reddit
His father inherited a huge estate and Chaucers brother in law was John of Gaunt. So not quite "council house scum" 😄
Flowa-Powa@reddit
Yeah, but it sounded funny, and the guy was kind of sketchy regardless of his obvious education
VerbingNoun413@reddit
Is it more or less posh than "bum"?
RPG_Rob@reddit
Bum is polite.
Arse is not.
Patient_Debate3524@reddit
Short arse wouldnt sound so good if it was Short ass lol
Nrysis@reddit
I can confirm that 'arse' definitely doesn't sound posh in a Scots accent...
'Ass' does just sound weird though.
PM-ME_UR_TINY-TITS@reddit
Arse is not posh it's just correct.
Ass is American or the animal.
TeaNotorious@reddit
I find that 'Arsehole' is universal - we all have one.
DrMetters@reddit
No, it is far from posh.
Comprehensive-Two888@reddit
Of course not. Ass is Americanised rubbish.
SickPuppy01@reddit
It depends on the accent. Say it in a certain accent and it can sound very posh - Imagine the Royal family saying it. Say it in a different accent and it will sound down to earth - Imagine the Royle family saying it
Inkblot7001@reddit
Certainly not posh.
I hear the staff using the word all the time when describing me.
ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit
Not posh.
bonshui@reddit
Not in Scotland!
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
You’re correct. Friend is a traitor. Send him down under.
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