Discussion/Off-Topic Post #1

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Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

Um...what do people call cinemas in the US?? Is it theater or does it have to be movie theater, or...? and also if cinemas are theatres then what do you call theatres?? Or do you just use the same word?

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

Theater or movie theater, either way.

And yeah, we use the same word for the other kind of theater.

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

Cinemas are movie theaters and play theaters are theaters or we just say we're going for a movie/play instead of saying we're going to the movie theater or we're going to the theater.

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

We also say "going to the movies" sometimes, instead of "going to the movie theater."

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

OP - sweet, thanks guys c:

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

you can call them cinemas if you're being snooty, particularly small art-house type theaters that would never stoop to screening a blockbuster. we do know what the word means; we just don't use it much. ;)

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

Is the RE/ER spelling important, or is that just a pretentious theatre thing?

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

Theater is the American spelling. Theatre is British.

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

Ah. I see theater as American and theatre as Brits and pretentious American art folks

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

uh, afaik from what i've been taught in drama classes, "theatre" is what you DO, and "theater" is where you DO IT.

for example: i love to do musical theatre in my local theater.

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

I say cinemas fairly often, but I think I'm the only one in my circle that does. Generally, we just say we're going to the movies.

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

^Me again.

I'm 800 miles from New York City, which is 200 miles longer than the entire length of the island of Great Britain, so what my folks say may not be relevant.

Re: Americanisms...

[(Anonymous)]

As an American on the west coast, I do say cinema often, and I've certainly never heard it called snooty. It's just a way to distinguish between cinemas/movie theaters versus live acting venues. Can't speak for the rest of the country, though.