How to Measure in English | Feet and Inches 📏 | Imperial vs. Metric System

Summary

In this video, the host discusses the use of the imperial system in Canada and the U.S., comparing it to the metric system. He explains how Canadians often use imperial measurements in daily life despite the official adoption of the metric system, offering examples of height, weight, and temperature. The host also covers common unit conversions between the two systems and highlights the importance of knowing imperial measurements, especially in cooking and daily conversations. The video encourages viewers to share their own height and weight in imperial units while reminding them to be sensitive when asking about someone's weight.

Takeaways

• 😀 Canadians often use the imperial system (feet, inches, pounds) in daily life, despite officially using the metric system.
• 😀 The U.S. is one of the few countries that still uses the imperial system, such as feet, inches, and Fahrenheit, while most of the world uses metric units.
• 😀 In Canada, the imperial system is used for measuring height (in feet and inches) and weight (in pounds) in everyday conversation.
• 😀 Official documents in Canada use metric units (like centimeters for height and kilograms for weight), but most Canadians still use imperial units in daily life.
• 😀 Words like meter, kilometer, and liter are spelled with 'er' in Canada, following the British spelling convention, unlike the American spelling with 'or'.
• 😀 When measuring height, Canadians typically say their height in feet and inches (e.g., '5 foot 10' or '5' 10').
• 😀 Metric conversions: 1 meter = 3.28 feet, 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds, 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles.
• 😀 Cooking and baking in the U.S. and Canada often require understanding imperial measurements like teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, ounces, and pints.
• 😀 A pint equals two cups, and this measurement is commonly used in bars and pubs, especially in England, where pints of beer like Guinness are popular.
• 😀 It's important to be sensitive when asking someone about their weight in some cultures, as it can be considered rude or offensive.

Q & A

What system of measurement does the USA use?

The USA uses the imperial system, which includes units like feet, inches, yards, miles, gallons, and Fahrenheit.

How does Canada use the imperial system despite officially adopting the metric system?

Although Canada officially uses the metric system, many Canadians, especially older generations, use the imperial system in everyday life for things like height, weight, and distances. For example, Canadians measure height in feet and inches and weight in pounds.

What is the significance of the '177 centimeters' and '75 kilograms' on the speaker’s driver's license?

The speaker’s driver's license lists height as 177 centimeters and weight as 75 kilograms, which are the official metric measurements. However, these units are rarely used in everyday conversation in Canada, where imperial units are more common.

What is the most common way Canadians refer to their height?

Most Canadians refer to their height in feet and inches. For example, the speaker would say they are '5 foot 10' or simply '5 10'.

How do you say '5 feet 10 inches' in casual conversation?

In casual conversation, native English speakers would say '5 foot 10' or just '5 10'. They would not use the full phrase '5 feet 10 inches'.

What are some common metric-to-imperial conversions mentioned in the video?

Some common conversions mentioned are: 1 meter = 3.28 feet, 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles, 1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds, and 0 Celsius = 32 Fahrenheit.

What is a 'pint' in terms of volume measurement?

A pint is equal to two cups, and it is commonly used in the UK, especially in pubs, to measure beverages like beer or cider.

What might happen if you ask someone their weight in some cultures?

Asking someone about their weight can be considered rude or offensive in some cultures, as it is a sensitive topic. Therefore, it's important to be cautious when discussing someone's weight.

How do Canadians commonly spell certain words differently from Americans?

Canadians tend to use British English spelling, so words that end in 'er' in American English are spelled 're' in Canadian English. Examples include 'meter' (British spelling: 'metre'), 'kilometer' ('kilometre'), and 'liter' ('litre').

How would you convert 1 kilogram to pounds based on the video?

1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds, as per the conversion mentioned in the video.