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!

  • Th4tGuyII
    10•6 months ago

    While it will absolutely out you as a US American, we will understand - same as when you say “Candy” and similar common Americanisms

    Edit: Also, while mostly used to refer to flashlights as you guys call them, torch can also refer to other non-lantern light-emitting instruments

        • guyrocket
          4•6 months ago

          Wait…I think you’re saying that Brits call candy sweets…maybe…

          • Th4tGuyII
            3•6 months ago

            Definitely Brits, but not just Brits - Sweets is the preferred term in much of the English speaking world, with Candy being very distinctly associated with the US.

            • @otp
              2•6 months ago

              Interesting. I’ve used candy to refer to non-chocolate sweets. Sweets refers to sweet candy, and chocolate.

              On that note, for a long time, I’d thought “candy bar” was called as such because they tend to not contain any actual chocolate.

              • Th4tGuyII
                3•6 months ago

                How people refer between different types of sweets varies even within Britain, nevermind other countries… but at least in my experience chocolate sweets get referred to as chocolates, and non-chocolate sweets as just sweets (though I have heard the terms sugar sweets and confectioneries thrown about for those too)

                • @otp
                  2•6 months ago

                  It sure as heck ain’t sour

                  • Devi
                    2•6 months ago

                    Sweets are a specific thing. Sweet is the flavour that you’re thinking of, but if someone is using sweet as a noun, they’re never referring to chocolate.

        • Mario_Dies.wav
          6•6 months ago

          I’ve actually heard people call candy “sweets” here in the midwestern US quite a lot

          We use both

        • Xariphon
          1•6 months ago

          Goddammit… I’ve watched enough Bake-Off, I should’ve known that.

    • @[email protected]
      4•6 months ago

      I don’t think all the people saying soccer in an Australian accent would appreciate being identified as an American.

      • Th4tGuyII
        3•6 months ago

        True - I had forgotten you guys call it footy and soccer. Though I suspect the Aussie accent would give you guys away before we got to the topic of footy