A recent study reveals that British people can endure awkward silences in conversations for an average of 7.1 seconds, longer than Americans (6.3 seconds), Brazilians (5.5 seconds), and Italians or Colombians (6.2 seconds). This finding comes from a poll of over 26,000 by online tutor Preply, highlighting cultural differences in responses to silence. While in many Western cultures, silence can feel uncomfortable, some Asian cultures view it as a sign of politeness. Etiquette expert William Hanson suggests that pauses provide opportunities for engagement, advocating for a calm demeanor to ease social tensions during these moments.
It can be a disaster for polite social interactions.
But British people are among the best in the world at tolerating awkward silences, scientists have found.
One study calculated the exact point at which people in different countries started to feel uncomfortable if the conversation stopped. And it turns out that the average Brit only starts convulsing after 7.1 seconds of silence.
In contrast, talkative Brazilians start a conversation in just 5.5 seconds, and Italians and Colombians start a conversation in 6.2 seconds. Americans last slightly longer and start to feel awkward after 6.3 seconds.
According to a poll of more than 26,000 people by online language tutor Preply, the international average is 6.8 seconds, which means Brits are willing to put up with some social embarrassment for longer than the majority of people. means.
And while interactions with strangers are most likely to lead to uncomfortable silences, a third said they endured silence with their boss and one in five with their in-laws.
“Cultural differences shape how people respond to prolonged periods of silence,” said Yolanda Del Peso, a spokeswoman for Preply.
“In many Asian cultures, silence is considered polite and a sign of attentiveness, politeness, and thoughtful consideration.
British people are among the best in the world at enduring awkward silences during conversations, lasting an average of 7.1 seconds (file photo)
Chatty Brazilians start a conversation in just 5.5 seconds, Italians and Colombians start a conversation in 6.2 seconds, but research shows we’re most likely to spend uncomfortable silence with strangers
“However, in Western culture silence is often perceived as uncomfortable, prompting people to actively fill in the gaps. The average tipping point is about 6.8 seconds.”
William Hanson, author of etiquette guide Just Good Manners, argues that awkward pauses are “an opportunity, not a disaster.”
he said: “A calm demeanor reflects confidence, so embrace silence gracefully without fidgeting or panicking.”
“Pauses are a natural rhythm of human interaction, and your calm will allow others to engage without pressure.”
