Can the same language mean different things in different cultures?

The only british usage I have trouble with is "knickers".

The thing is not to talk about politics or anything that US Americans would perceive as an insult to their national pride.

They are proud to be Americans and if you avoid talking about conflicting situations where you know that they may react negatively, then don't press your luck.

There are plenty of other topics you can address and that may not cause any conflicts. If both parties remain civil and don't get heated about the debate, you can even talk on topics that may be conflicting. The thing is to know when to draw a limit to what is acceptable and what is no longer tolerated.

My American ex was a teacher in London and was shocked when a child asked her to borrow a rubber (eraser).

If you accidentally insult someone, you just explain what you meant. That can happen with any language.
I grew up speaking English and German, so I've confused Americans by saying German idioms in English. They weren't insulted, just very puzzled.

It is quite easy to cause offence due to the ambiguity of words. Not just between people of different nations, but also between regions and social strata of the same nation. The remedy is to listen closely and not be quick to jump to conclusions 🙂

If a brit says he knocked up your girlfriend its generally OK 😀

I don't think it's that easy to insult someone because context is a great clue, plus they would know you're from a different culture so they would likely ask what you meant before getting offended. That reminded me how in my own language I often use a word that signifies something bad, but I use it for something cute/sweet and people get confused until I explain it to them lol but it's a regional thing I guess that I've picked up from my place of origin. The key is that people should ask before assuming anything bad if they don't understand something.

Yup. You gotta be careful on that one.

Example: KFC Finger licking good slogan for chicken was interpreted as 'eat your fingers off' in China.

when i last visited the US i had a fun convo with a friend about the use of the C-word. rhymes with hunt.

here where i live it's more used as an edgy and cheeky term of endearment among friends but it's really taboo over there. then again most things that sound like an insult on paper are meant as endearing and it was weird for them to grasp that calling you're best friend a C*** can be friendly.

I guess the idea of getting to know people, making sure they’re comfortable before throwing slang around, is a good rule of thumb. I have a couple of English friends who are expats living in the U.S. We’ve been friends 30 & 35 years, so I trust them. Once, one friend upset another American friend by referring to "coloured people" which is a sensitive term here, but less so in the UK.
All three of us being black, it was obvious that the Brit wasn’t making a racial slur and the other American learned something new. 😅

Sure there definitely can be miscommunication especially when the person calls them names. Yeah it can be taken the wrong way

Misunderstandings with language happen across the world . You just have to work it out with the person if it's a problem. Language can be fun to talk about too.

Fuck 'em! If Uncle Sam & his wife want to be prissy and call a toilet/loo etc "the BATHROOM" they deserve all they get! lol 😂

Less chance now than ever. The Brits watch a lot of American TV and we watch more British TV. Movies too..there’s significant exhange.

Unlike Latin’s evolution

Yes .
Pissed and mad mean completely different things to Americans and Brits.

I just love to insult them 😂

Yes