Does the rest of the English speaking world generally understand what an American means when they say "soccer", or does it help to clarify by adding "football"? - eviltoast

If I’m talking to an English speaker from outside of the US, is there any confusion if I say “soccer”?

For example, when I was in college a friend asked for a “torch”. I was confused for quite some time, because I didn’t know it was another word for “flashlight”. Does the same thing happen with the word “soccer”? Should I clarify by saying, “…or football”?

Thank you!

  • CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.netEnglish
    8·
    11 months ago

    If an Englishman uses ‘soccer’ he’s almost certainly from the upper class.

    As “soccer” was played by the elite (such as the Oxford lad who is said to have coined “soccer”), it soon spread to the working classes, and became “football”.