Talk 2 Rachel

Rachel Hartwright

Welcome to the Talk2Rachel podcast your British English podcast in Brazil, created for English learners who want to learn more about British culture and the English language, whilst practising English listening skills. Find out more about me and my social media platforms at www.talk2rachel.com.br. This is a 100% English podcast. The transcript of this podcast can be requested on my website, where you can also leave comments and suggestions! Remember to leave your review and to rate my podcast here on your podcast platform, that way more people can talk to Rachel! :)

  1. What Brits Say vs What They Mean: The British Code

    JAN 24

    What Brits Say vs What They Mean: The British Code

    Have you ever felt completely confused after talking to a British person?You understood every word — the grammar was clear, the vocabulary was familiar — but something felt off. You left the conversation thinking: Did they like it? Did they agree with me? Or were they being polite… or critical? If that has ever happened to you, you’re not imagining things — and you’re definitely not alone. In today’s episode, we talk about The British Code: the polite, indirect way British people communicate and why what they say is often very different from what they actually mean. British people are famous for being polite, but that politeness often hides true opinions. Instead of being direct, we soften language, avoid conflict, and try not to “cause a fuss.” The result? A lot of confusion for non-Brits. In this episode, you’ll learn:• What Brits really mean when they say interesting, original or that’s a brave decision• How polite disagreement works in British English• Why Brits say sorry when they’re not apologising• How words like just and a bit soften requests• Why understatement is such a key part of British communication English isn’t just grammar and vocabulary — it’s culture. And British English is full of hidden meaning. Once you understand the code, conversations start to make a lot more sense. 🎭 Tip: Watching British sitcoms like Fawlty Towers, Doc Martin, Fleabag or Gavin & Stacey is a great way to hear this in real life. If you’d like to go deeper into British culture, humour, and communication, join my live event The British Way, happening this February.👉 Here’s the link to take part: https://talk2rachel.com.br/the-british-way/ See you next time!

    15 min

About

Welcome to the Talk2Rachel podcast your British English podcast in Brazil, created for English learners who want to learn more about British culture and the English language, whilst practising English listening skills. Find out more about me and my social media platforms at www.talk2rachel.com.br. This is a 100% English podcast. The transcript of this podcast can be requested on my website, where you can also leave comments and suggestions! Remember to leave your review and to rate my podcast here on your podcast platform, that way more people can talk to Rachel! :)