British Facts for Kids

British is a word that describes things or people connected to the United Kingdom or the island of Great Britain. It can refer to people, their culture, their language, or even historical countries.

British People and Their Culture
A Look at British History and Places
- The Island of Great Britain
- The United Kingdom Through Time
See Also

British People and Their Culture

Who Are British People?

When we talk about British people, we usually mean people who are citizens of the United Kingdom. This includes people from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It also includes people from places like the British Overseas Territories (such as Gibraltar or the Falkland Islands) and the Crown Dependencies (like the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands).

British National Identity

British national identity is about the special qualities, traditions, and feelings that many British people share. It's what makes them feel connected to each other and to their country. This identity has grown over many centuries and includes things like shared history, values, and a sense of belonging.

The English Language in Britain

British English is the way the English language is spoken and written in the United Kingdom. While English is spoken all over the world, British English has its own unique words, spellings, and accents. For example, in British English, you might hear "lift" instead of "elevator" or "flat" instead of "apartment."

Ancient British People and Languages

Long ago, there were ancient people called the Celtic Britons who lived in Great Britain. They spoke languages that are part of the Brittonic languages family. These languages are a branch of the wider Insular Celtic languages group. One very old language they spoke was called Common Brittonic. Over time, these languages changed, and some of them are still spoken today, like Welsh and Breton.

A Look at British History and Places

The Island of Great Britain

The word "British" is often used because of Great Britain. This is a large island in Europe. It is home to England, Scotland, and Wales. The United Kingdom is made up of this island plus Northern Ireland and many smaller islands.

The United Kingdom Through Time

"British" can also refer to past versions of the United Kingdom:

The Kingdom of Great Britain existed from 1707 to 1800. It was formed when the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland joined together.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland existed from 1801 to 1922. This country included all of Ireland for a time. After most of Ireland became independent, the country became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is what we call it today.

British facts for kids

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