U.K. is not a synonym of England

[Svartalf]

You make me hungry.

[ronmcd]

I'm unsatisfied with the pat answer of why the 'UK' is singular when it is composed of at least two kingdoms. No matter that the same monarch sits on both thrones.

Because it is a singular Kingdom? Similarly, a car is singular, even though it is composed of multiple components. But it would have been quite reasonable to have called the UK "The United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", I suppose, but I think that sounds more like the United States, each state with it's own government. That wasn't the case. Well, until recently, post devolution.

[Jason]

Northern Ireland is a Kingdom? Is Animavore king?

I was referring to Scotland/England.

[JimC]

Northern Ireland is a Kingdom? Is Animavore king?

I was referring to Scotland/England.

Ani is a Dublin lad, I think...

Mind you, all you foreigners seem the same to me...

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

The last King of Scotland was............Idi Amin.

FACT.

[ronmcd]

Northern Ireland is a Kingdom? Is Animavore king?

I was referring to Scotland/England.

I don't disagree. I wasnt suggesting the "united kingdoms" were GB and NI, the name refers to the United Kingdoms of GB (two kingdoms) ... AND NI (although not a Kingdom).

So it's correct to call it the United Kindom (singular), and then identify the constituent parts of GB and NI.

Not sure the missing/additional (s) really matters though, or changes the meaning?

[ronmcd]

The last King of Scotland was............Idi Amin.

FACT.

Here's the current king ... my kingdom for a Tunnock's Teacake .... mmmm

[Coito ergo sum]

It should probably be the United Kingsdom, not Kingdoms.

[Tyrannical]

Just to clear things up, geographically the name of the main island without the surrounding islands is called Great Britain?

[Jason]

Does Ireland count as a 'surrounding island'?

[devogue]

Does Northern Ireland count as a surrounding kingdom geographically but not politically?

:shitstir:

[ronmcd]

Just to clear things up, geographically the name of the main island without the surrounding islands is called Great Britain?

I think Great Britain is an island, the name doesn't refer to the surrounding islands which are commonly included in the political understanding of GB as everything in UK except NI.



I think ...

[ronmcd]

Does Northern Ireland count as a surrounding kingdom geographically but not politically?

:shitstir:

Is Northern Ireland technically an enclave? I'm not sure it fits any definition! Other than ... tricky. And complicated.

[Jason]

So what are the British Isles? Does it include Ireland and the channel islands? What about the Falklands?

[Rum]

This thread has become silly.