If I’m talking to an English speaker from outside of the US, is there any confusion if I say “soccer”?

For example, when I was in college a friend asked for a “torch”. I was confused for quite some time, because I didn’t know it was another word for “flashlight”. Does the same thing happen with the word “soccer”? Should I clarify by saying, “…or football”?

Thank you!

  • drcouzelisOPEnglish
    62·
    11 months ago

    Haha it’s true! When my Malaysian friend asked me for a torch, I was running around for five minutes looking for a lighter, like this one.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aKrxd1q3Mw&t=8

    It’s all I could picture, no one ever asked me for a TORCH before. Like in Indiana Jones?? 😅

    Until I stopped and asked, “Wait, what do you need it for?”

    “To look at my car, something is wrong with the engine.”

    …and that’s when I realized. We had a good laugh.