OK...so over here in the US we say "ass" in the UK our friends say "arse." Ever wonder why?

Arse is an English term referring to the buttocks, first recorded circa 1400 (in arce-hoole) and is commonly used in English speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, parts of Canada and former parts of the British Empire. In the United States and other parts ofCanada the variant form ass is used.

Etymology

"Arse", from Old English ærs "tail, rump," from Proto-Germanic root arsoz (cf. Old Norse ars, Middle Dutch ærs), meaning anus (see also: arsehole), and by extension the crease between the buttocks of any animal (see also: buttcrack), but especially the human bottom. There are many cognates such as German Arsch, Dutch aars (meaning anus), Scots airse, Swedish arsle or arsel bottom (from earlier ars-hål anus) and Norwegian and Icelandic rass (through metathesis). Greek orros "tail, rump, base of the spine," Hittite arrash, Old Irish err "tail" has been connected with it. Arse or ass, in this sense, has no etymological common root with the word "ass" when it refers to the donkey.

Geographic implications

• Is it still considered swearing if I'm in the US and I say "arse"? Yes, it still counts.
• Would using "arse" instead of "ass" lessen the severity of my US-based swearing? No. Used properly, a Yank could even get more mileage with "arse."

Most people say the word "face" like this: fās. MJ and I like to say it like this: FAH-chay—as if it were spoken by an Italian or Lakota person.