What is a native Britain called?

Answer 1

Britons is formal usage; Brits is colloquial and sometimes mildly jocular.

Answer

Neither, use British or the respective countries nationality (English, Welsh, Scots....).

I would say one would cause a raised eyebrow (equivalent to another tourist, great) and the second wouldn't win you any points as it can have unfriendly connotations.

Britons is an ancient title for the P-Celtic tribes that inhabited the majority of mainland Island of Britain (modern England Wales and Scotland) before the various Anglo saxon/Viking etc invasions. It does not historically cover all of the UK missing out the Highlands of Scotland (Picts & Gaels) and Northern Ireland (Gaels) and is therefore not the same as British. It also included people who are now settled in Brittany in France following the invasions. I'm not aware of anyone referring to the modern day inhabitants of the UK as Britons.

British is a term which developed from the act of Union and in the following centuries and covers English Welsh Scottish and Northern Irish (at least for the Unionists). It is sometimes shortened to Brits but has a resonance of the Irish especially and Americans wanting rid of the British (Brits out etc). Anyone not using it out of ignorance then is either trying to be insulting or using it tongue in cheek. Given the thick skin and humour it is usually accepted without comment or alternatively will draw a similar response - Yank (especially to annoy them Southern boys) etc. It is of course perfectly OK if the British use it on themselves, self deprecation is a recognised form of humour!

Answer 2

They are mostly called "British."

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Some people in those regions prefer to be called "English", "Scottish", "Welsh" or "Irish" but they are all "British."

Answer 3

• British
• Briton
• Englishman / Englishwoman (if from England)
• Scotsman / Scotswoman (if from Scotland)
• Welshman / Welshwoman (if from Wales)
• Irishman / Irishwoman (if from Northern Ireland)

Answer 4

British, or English, Scotish or Welsh.