King's English
1
7.9
- noun
- UK
:
Inglés del Rey
- As a graduate of an elite university, he is proud to be fluent in the King's English.
- speak the King's English
Examples
-
Moreover, Achebe and Rushdie argue that they are not surrendering to their old colonial masters by writing in English because they do not write the King's English.
Academic text (1998) -
- [Alexander] Confounded woman, do you not understand the King's English?
-
Chief, some of us can speak King's English.
-
How speak you the King's English with no trace of accent?
-
Speak the King's English.
-
I'd like anyone from the left to define "objective" for me because clearly it means something different in their lexicon than it does in the King's English.
Blog text (30) -
I hear it, in private, all the time, because I dress conservatively, have a "bankers'" haircut, and speak the King's English; they think I am a card-carrying Republican....
Blog text (26) -
An orator of prodigious talent and a man who spoke the King's English better than most Englishmen, Eban was a representative of Israel who was respected by the media.
Academic text (2009) -
In her writing class, she emphasized the importance of using the King's English to ensure clarity and correctness.
-
Many people appreciate when others speak the King's English, as it reflects a high standard of education.
Synonyms
1
2.0
English used in the United Kingdom with different spelling and words
1
7.7
Standard British English spoken by educated people, especially in southern England and by the royal family
A form of English used in the United Kingdom with British spelling and pronunciation
How Standard
1
3.7
- UK
1
7.9
1
7.4
- Informal
7
6.5
- Slang
49
7.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
King's + English
The possessive 'King's' plus 'English' allows learners to infer a prestigious or formal variety of English (i.e., the English associated with royalty or high status), so part of the meaning is recoverable from the constituents. However, the conventional sense—specifically the historical/cultural notion of the standard, prescriptive British English of educated speakers—is idiomatic and culturally loaded, so a B1 learner who only knows the words may not fully grasp the precise standardizing/prescriptive nuance without prior exposure.
Etymology
King's English comes from the idea that the King's way of speaking was seen as the best form of English, because people long ago listened to and copied the king and his court. So the phrase now means 'standard' or 'correct' British English.