Great Britain, Britain, or England?

[_GABO_]

I was sitting in my AP World History class today, not paying attention (not that it matters in that class), and it just came to me, "which is it? Great Britain, Britain, or England?" I've heard all three used, and seen all three on maps (never the same one, of course).

Since there seem to be quite a few UK members here, which is it?

Also, if it's Great Britain, would that make you Great Britains as opposed to Not-So-Great Britains?

[Akaymay]

I've always called it England.

Also, I'm not back in school yet! Muhuhahah! I go back on Tuesday...dammit...

[_GABO_]

I've always called it England.

Also, I'm not back in school yet! Muhuhahah! I go back on Tuesday...dammit...

Aw..you suck. We've been back for two weeks! But it hasn't been all that bad, so far. My cousin's birthday was the first day, "happy" birthday to him, right? lol.

[Kang_Zircon]

I don't know if you can trust what I say, given that I'm not english... or great brittish or whatever, but I usually use one of the three depending on what context I'm using it in. If I'm specifically reffering to the geographic region in the UK, I'd probably say England. If i'm referring to something to do with culture I'd probably say Britain or brittish. And if I were referring to some aspect of the government I'd say Great Britain.

Don't ask me why...

The real tricky country is Holland..... or The Netherlands..... the place with all the dutch(?).....

[joetaylor]

Since im english i can sort this out :)

England is just the country on its own
Britain is England and Scotland
Great Britain is England, Scotland, and Wales.

Hope it helps :)

[Julio-Claudius]

Since im english i can sort this out :)

England is just the country on its own
Britain is England and Scotland
Great Britain is England, Scotland, and Wales.

Hope it helps :)
Thanks!

Where would the title "UK" fit into this theorum?

[evilducks]

As he says England is the country, but Britain and Great Britain are the same, it's just a way of shortening it (like "America" instead of "United states of America") Britain is England, Scotland and Wales. The United Kingdom has the full name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" so it's the same as Briatin but with the top half of Ireland too, the Bottom half doesn't like us

[Julio-Claudius]

Britain is England, Scotland and Wales.
No, that's Great Britain.

Like he said.

England is the Country itself
Britain is England AND Scotland
Great Britain is England, Scotland, AND Wales.

[evilducks]

No, Britain and Great Britain are the same, if you're going to be picky I suppose "The british Isles" should be called Britain, but that includes Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

But I am 100% certain (as a Briton myself) that Britain and Great Britain are the same

[Nitz13]

No, Britain and Great Britain are the same, if you're going to be picky I suppose "The british Isles" should be called Britain, but that includes Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

But I am 100% certain (as a Briton myself) that Britain and Great Britain are the same Yeah Britain and Great Britain are the same thing, I've never heard just Scotland and England referred to as Britain

[gh2masterwellalmost]

I was sitting in my AP World History class today, not paying attention (not that it matters in that class), and it just came to me, "which is it? Great Britain, Britain, or England?" I've heard all three used, and seen all three on maps (never the same one, of course).

Since there seem to be quite a few UK members here, which is it?

Also, if it's Great Britain, would that make you Great Britains as opposed to Not-So-Great Britains?

Let me explain, its quite simple.

UK = England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Great Britain = England, Wales Scotland

England = One country in the UK

And shhh if anyone asks I have no nationality...

[valityr]

If i'm referring to our people, it's the Brits/British. For the nation(s) however, i always say i'm from the UK.

[FallenAce]

Let me explain, its quite simple.

UK = England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Great Britain = England, Wales Scotland

England = One country in the UK

And shhh if anyone asks I have no nationality...
So, wait, we're going to count Scotland as it's own country now? I thought it was just a region of GB... I mean, I know it USED to be a country... but does it count as a country in this sense?

I used to get this stuff, but you guys are confusing me...

[evilducks]

Yes Scotland is its own country, as are Wales, England, Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland. Britain (aka Great Britain) is the single landmass made of England, Wales and Scotland. The UK is a Group of 4 countries (the 3 in Britain and Northern Ireland) all of which are under the same father government but they have individual laws and governments too (like states in the USA) and also all of the UK is ruled over by the Queen.

[gh2masterwellalmost]

So, wait, we're going to count Scotland as it's own country now? I thought it was just a region of GB... I mean, I know it USED to be a country... but does it count as a country in this sense?

I used to get this stuff, but you guys are confusing me...

You've obviously never got this stuff, cos its been the same since 1921 when Ireland was divided and it was only N.I. left in the UK.

Wales is a principality. Though it has its own assembly, it has, and always will be, our country. So they have a "Prince Of Wales" but not a King/Queen of Wales. Its the same as France and Monaco, for instance, except they have no monarch.

The "United Kingdom" are the two thrones. For many many centuries the Scottish and English fought, until they joined, with James VI of Scotland becoming James I of England. One man, you may know, called Guy Fawkes, hated this, and planned to blow up parliament over it - you may know it as "Bombfire Night".

And "Great Britain" is great as in old, not in the meaning of good. It means Britain of the past, so before Ireland became part of it.

The term "United Kingdom" is a political term, over the state. The term "Britain" is a geographical term for the piece of land that happens to have Wales Scotland and England in it.

Ireland was later. It wanted independance, but from the old Scottish immigrants, in the North of Ireland there were a lot of Protestants, which is different to the Irish Catholic norm. So, came all the fuss over re-unification, and only recently the IRA gave up the fight.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

fact is england, uk, britian, etc etc spawned many a legendary bands so whatevor its called, it rulez

[gh2masterwellalmost]

fact is england, uk, britian, etc etc spawned many a legendary bands so whatevor its called, it rulez

In my lifetime, the UK will be disbanded. Heck, the next 5 years will do the job. Scotland is almost fully indepedant, I suspect a republic is on the cards; I'm not sure about Northern Ireland, their relationship with England is much better than say, ROI; Wales - its getting there, but not quite as independant as Scotland. And England, after old Lizzy pops it, I don't see much strength in the British monarch left, but who knows, I thought Tony Blair was going to make us a republic, President Blair is scaringly catchy, and at the death of Diana he could have done, but he didn't.

[tharshmetalUK]

Britain, Great Britain and the UK are the same thing, which is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All of which are also known as seperate countries, for example they all have their own international football team.

The British Isles are the islands known as Great Britain but with the Republic of Ireland included. The British Isles is not a country.

[Bobalicious93]

being from Ireland (the republic) i know that Northern Ireland is more likely to stay as part of GB than it is of being back as just Ireland. Alot of Irish People hate England, not Britain, we like scotland and Wales, and join in the hatred of England.

the film "Michael Collins" is about the divide of Ireland and is very good an will probably help you to understand about it a bit more

[tharshmetalUK]

being from Ireland (the republic) i know that Northern Ireland is more likely to stay as part of GB than it is of being back as just Ireland. Alot of Irish People hate England, not Britain, we like scotland and Wales, and join in the hatred of England.

the film "Michael Collins" is about the divide of Ireland and is very good an will probably help you to understand about it a bit more

The reasons for the irish hating us English is because you're all sad and jelous of Englands sucsess. F A C T

[FallenAce]

well, clearly not their <B>successes</B> in spelling, th<B>ar</B>shmetalUK...

:P Just kidding, man.

EDIT: Also, I just wanted to say that while Scotland, Wales, England, etc. may be considered their own "countries," the single ruling government would make it seem as though they are one national entity, which is what I needed clarified, because it made it sound like people were saying each is an individually recognized sovereign nation.

[Bobalicious93]

The reasons for the irish hating us English is because you're all sad and jelous of Englands sucsess. F A C T
oh yeah and its nothing to do with the fact that you came over and tried to take us over and change our religion and our culture

[tharshmetalUK]

oh yeah and its nothing to do with the fact that you came over and tried to take us over and change our religion and our culture

Why don't you try living in the now! That was along time ago and films like Braveheart make it seem like it was just the English who were the bad guys.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

lol since when did this thread turn into WWIII

[tharshmetalUK]

lol since when did this thread turn into WWIII

Its not WW3. I just don't like people hating on me for no reason. It wasn't me personally invading other countries so why am I hated? If someone says they hate the English then they mean me aswell, and I don't take too kindly to that.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

as an american i'm here to bring peace. it just seems as if he was reacting to wut u said about irish people hating english because they're jealous. whether or not u were kidding idk but he took offense (as an irishman i assume) and defended himself by saying that the english attacked his mother land and ****. now as an american i'm completely ignorant to ur history so idk wut happened but all i'm saying is that he has a right to defend himself after u claimed irishmen hate the english cuz they're jealous which according to him is ridiculous. it is wrong of him to be prejudice towards u cuz of wut ur english ancestors have done but heyz **** it dude, let's go bowling

[tharshmetalUK]

Hes just being narrow minded and wont let things that happened hundreds of years ago be put behind us.

What about the Americans? Do they hate the British? Because before the war of independence America was part of our empire.

[battle_axe_of_doom]

i'm a latino so i naturally hate anyone who isn't a minority :p

but yeah idk i'm pretty sure there are some hicks who still hate the british for wut happened in the 1700s but other than that i'd think it be pretty moronic to hate em. personally i think i said it on page 2 or something. UK or whatever its called is the home of eric clapton, the beatles, pink floyd, and king crimson so yeah pretty much impossible to hate UK after spawning so many awesome bandz

[lorddavid]

All anyone on here needs to know is the time... GMT...

Greenwich Mean Time

That means that England is superior to all of you, 'cause you lot don't get to sit down for dinner until we say it's time to do so! :P.

[Mordaa]

England = England

Britain = England, Wales, Scotland

Great Britain = Britain

UK (in the technical sense) = Britain + Northern Ireland

UK (in the colloquial sense) = UK (in the technical sense) + Isle of Man + Channel Islands (but not usually places like Gibraltar or the Falklands)

[FallenAce]

now as an american i'm completely ignorant to ur history so idk wut happened

I've just lost a significant amount of respect for you. It's not the fault of the US that you're uncultured and ignorant to the circumstances of the world; it's your parents' fault for not caring enough about you to see to it that you have a proper education. It's also your fault for not caring enough about yourself or anyone else to try on your own, despite your parents, to better yourself.

<B>YOU do not represent the US.</B> The only reason you would be the standard is because we always divide by the <B>lowest common denominator</B>.

[davhth4]

im scottish and if i was called english cus i live in great britain , id cut the guys balls off

[FilthyStaggie]

well, clearly not their <B>successes</B> in spelling, th<B>ar</B>shmetalUK...

:P Just kidding, man.

EDIT: Also, I just wanted to say that while Scotland, Wales, England, etc. may be considered their own "countries," the single ruling government would make it seem as though they are one national entity, which is what I needed clarified, because it made it sound like people were saying each is an individually recognized sovereign nation.

Sorry to rake up this thread, and I imagine it's far too late now, but I'll just try and confuse things further.:p

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have devolved power from the UK government. Basically we have our own governments, as well as having politicians in the UK government. There is no seperate English parliament (yet) but that's another, longer, story.

In Scotland the party we currently have in power (Scottish National Party) is pro-independence, to break away from being a United Kingdom completely. We have our own laws, a degree of tax powers, differences in health service, own education system etc.


As a point of note it's at the beginning of the 20th century the UK was pretty much universally referred to as England, it was even called England on maps etc. The rise of Nationalism in Scotland gave a voice to put a stop to that. It's similar to the way we all referred to the USSR as Russia before it broke up and the countries making up the Soviet Union regained their independence.;)

[IslandBoy91]

I mix it up...It's usually England for the country, British if I'm referring to the people.

[_GABO_]

I can't believe someone brought this up again. Wonder how many pages they had to go through to get to this..


I mix it up...It's usually England for the country, British if I'm referring to the people.
I'm gonna have to say that's a rather common thing to do, don't think I know a soul to would ordinarily say English (as oppose to British).

[Der_Lex]

This is some quality threadmancy. Still, I found one thing I as a Dutchman (albeit an expat) would like to address:



The real tricky country is Holland..... or The Netherlands..... the place with all the dutch(?).....

The Netherlands is the correct name for the country. Holland is the name of two provinces (North and South Holland) that form the political and economical heart of the country. Holland has more or less become an accepted synecdoche that refers to the whole of the Netherlands, though, just as 'Britain' is for the UK.

[Julio_Strikes_Back]

Wow, GABO I haven't seen you post in a while.

TharshmetalUK, gh2master, _GABO_ etc. This thread makes me miss the good ol days.

[LZ_69]

Woah!! back from the dead!! I remember this thread, and yeah I guess Gabo has been lurking in the shadows ever since he went MIA.