I know they say they were in a car wreck, not a car crash or car accident (at least, I think so). But if a Brit was to say 'have you had a crash?' or 'have you had an accident?', what would Americans say?

TIA!

Deb

Americans would use any of those terms---crash, wreck, accident. Wreck would be more dramatic, you'd only use that if it was pretty serious, like if the car was totaled. Accident would be what most people would say.

Oh, that's interesting, Carol. Thank you! Very useful!

American's love their alphabet so they may call it an 'R.T.A' (road traffic accident) and a minor bump is called a'fender bender'.

Edel

Oh, that's useful, Edel, thanks! RTA sounds good in the context.

Deb

But I think Crash is used for serious conditions while Accidents happen to anybody, minor or major. It depends upon the situations.

Michael

Thanks Mox!

Actually, Edel, I saw an American friend the other day and asked him, and he said they never use RTA cos it's a British acronym. He said wreck was a really bad one, otherwise I think he said they would use crash or accident, much as we do.

Deb

Okay, whatever. Good luck ! But forgive me please, I thought you were a guy. Nice talk.

Michael

Hi Michael, your info was useful too - hope I didn't imply otherwise.

I'm curious, why did you think I was a guy?

Deb

Because I thought your were 'Deborah' or maybe 'Debac'. The question, "is Deborah a man or a woman?", or "what is the gender of the name Deborah?" So it confused me , later I thought maybe you are 'male' but When saw your profile I apologized. You are Debbie. Nice name

Michael

Hi Michael,

I am really surprised you're not familiar with the name Deborah as a woman's name. I've known loads of Debbies and Deborahs and Debras, but none of them were male.

I'm not offended at all - just a bit puzzled..... <???>

Deb

<Added>

I see you're from Australia. Do they not have the name Deborah out there?

Hi Debbie,

No, it's not like that, I know many Debbies, but not Deborahs, and my confusion is not exceptional I googled it and found its common name for female, over 70 % or 80 %. I know an actor Debac who is male. Even on the site somewhere I read it's general confusion to first time hearers for Deborahs.

Never mind.

I didn't know Debac was actually a name, so I understand in that case you thinking I was actually called that.

However, I am still baffled you think most people don't know the name Deborah as a woman's name....??? It's very common in the UK, esp for my age group (40s).

Deb

Twenty years back, you were a youngster so at that your name may have been popular. Popularity varies as decade goes by. And one thing I've noticed, WWers often hide their age, Now I wonder you're in your forty. And I hesitate to post 'Is anybody twenty or teens out there?'

Michael

Yes, it was popular in my age group. That means anyone in the UK would be familiar with it as a name for my age group. Once we were young and now we're in our forties.

I still don't understand your point TBH.

I don't hide my age - I just don't like to put my whole date of birth on the internet, cos it can be used to assist identity theft. I don't think you can put the year of birth on WW without putting the whole DOB, but it's been a few years since I signed up so I may be misremembering.

Deb