Do You Understand British English w/o Subtitles?

I’m just curious, but do American people or people in other English speaking countries (except for the UK) understand what the characters are saying in movies or series where they speak British English?

I’m a native Japanese who was born and raised in Japan, yet I prefer to watch anime with Japanese subtitles. I recently watched Harry Potter movies and I’m wondering if people can really understand English with a different accent than their own.

I’ve been learning rather American English in school, so I hardly understand when people speak English with a quite strong British accent... (as well as other strong accents. I can understand English with a strong samurai accent tho XD)

If you’re an English speaker and not from the UK, can you understand everything what the characters say in Harry Potter movies without subtitles?

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BohemianBoo · M

Yes, British English is very similar to American English. It's pretty much the same difference as the English spoken between American states. Even with strong accents, if you speak English fluently, you can understand them all.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@BohemianBoo I take it you have never been to Glasgow.

BohemianBoo · M

@ninalanyon Scotland is a different beast. I can still understand them, but it is harder than understanding the English or Welsh.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@BohemianBoo Many years ago while hitch hiking I was given a lift from Perth to Glasgow by a Glaswegian road maintenance contractor in the back of his van. I don't think I understood more than one word in three in the whole trip and British English is my mother tongue!