What is an Anglophile?

WHAT IS AN ANGLOPHILE?

Technically
According to Merriam-Webster, an Anglophile is someone who is especially fond of England or of things English. (Personally, I think the definition is more complex.)

UNITED KINGDOM / Wikimedia Commons

The more complex answer
To weigh in on the definition of "Anglophile," one must first understand UK geography. Consider these place names:

UNITED KINGDOM is a sovereign state consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (Officially called “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.")

GREAT BRITAIN (or just “Britain”) is an island consisting of England, Wales, and Scotland (but excluding Northern Ireland).

IRELAND is an island. It is divided into two countries: NORTHERN IRELAND, which is one region of the United Kingdom, and the REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, which is not part of the United Kingdom.

ENGLAND is a country and one region of the United Kingdom.

SCOTLAND is a country and one region of the United Kingdom.

WALES is a country and one region of the United Kingdom. (Historically, Wales was a "principality," i.e., a territory under the jurisdiction of a prince, but today, it is not governed by a prince, though Prince Charles does happen to be the Prince of Wales.)

Clear as dregs at the bottom of a whiskey cask, right?

(By the way . . . so few Americans understand this basic geography about the UK that if you master it, you are in an elite league.)

A bit of humor
We Anglophiles just can't help ourselves: We need to express our British alter egos. Some of us display Union Jacks, some cross the pond every chance we get, some incessantly watch BBC programming, and some extreme types have even been know to affect a British accent and use a monocle and walking stick! Many accuse us of being an eccentric lot, to which we reply, "Why, thank you!"

Here are several quizzes and lists I have found that determine whether you're an Anglophile. G'luck!

ARE YOU AN ANGLOPHILE? (Non-Brits only) QUIZ

ARE YOU AN ANGLOPHILE? QUIZ

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ANGLOPHILE IF.... LIST

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ANGLOPHILE WHEN.... LIST

A more definitive answer
So back to the question, “What is an Anglophile?” A lover of England, yes. But what about lovers of the UK? Of Britain? Of Wales and/or Scotland? I see no reason to push those folks out from under the “Anglophile” umbrella—at least not here on Anglophiles United!

Now, if the only division of the UK someone adores is Ireland, then I might (gently!) bulk at calling them an Anglophile. Here’s why: I think the Irish culture is singular enough—and vibrant enough and strong enough—to compete with the rest of the UK’s culture. To lump it with the rest of the UK's culture would show a failure to recognize this singularity. Many, I’m sure, would argue that the same is true of Scottish culture, but while I greatly admire the uniqueness of Scottish culture, I do consider it a closer cousin to English culture than Northern Ireland’s. So here at Anglophiles United, when talking about Anglophiles, I’m generally referencing Great Britain—or sometimes, depending on the context, the UK. But everyone is welcome!

Shall I contact Merriam-Webster to quibble about their definition? Ha, ha! I think not!

Gaining a clearer picture of an Anglophile
Still not sure what an Anglophile is? Then simply click through the pages of Anglophiles United, and you will soon peer into the soul of the Anglophile, seeing what we think about and care about!