Question
Updated on
20 Sep 2021
- Japanese
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English (UK)
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English (US)
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Korean
Question about English (UK)
I learned that the word "alien" can mean both a "foreigner" and a "creature" from other planets. But I wonder if it wouldn't sound awkward to refer to foreigners as "aliens" because it could mean extraterrestrial as well. Do you not get confused? How can you distinguish these two meanings? How often do you use the word "alien" instead of "foreigner"?
I learned that the word "alien" can mean both a "foreigner" and a "creature" from other planets. But I wonder if it wouldn't sound awkward to refer to foreigners as "aliens" because it could mean extraterrestrial as well. Do you not get confused? How can you distinguish these two meanings? How often do you use the word "alien" instead of "foreigner"?
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- English (UK)
- English (US)
It's never ever used in the UK to mean foreigner. I have only heard it used like that in America, and yes I agree it sounds very awkward. You just have to tell by context, for example 'illegal alien' is never going to mean an extraterrestrial.
In America though, it would be used only in the context of immigration and matters of law. I don't think they'd say 'there's lots of aliens here on holiday as tourists'. Alien usually implies that they shouldn't be there, that they have immigrated illegally.
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- English (UK)
Alien is used in the UK, but not in everyday speech. For example see here: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/detai... or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliens_Restrictio... (parts of which still seem to be in force).
The term "alien" is also applied to plants and animals - we talk of an alien plant, i.e. one that is not native to the country.
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