There are few words in British English with the same mix of whimsy and judgment as “bonkers”. It is playful but still sharply critical. It suggests things are a combination of mad, silly and crazy, as in “you’re stark raving bonkers!”.
And now, according to a recent Daily Mail article, “bonkers” is booming in the United States. Researchers from Northern Arizona University and Babbel analysed a vast trove of American speech—five million words, 1,000 hours of chatter—and found that “bonkers” topped the list of Britishisms now regularly used by Americans. It’s being used to describe everything from wild football finishes and celebrity scandals to the more chaotic corners of American politics.
While the researchers cite Gen Z, internet culture, and British TV exports like “Love Island” as drivers of this linguistic import, you can’t help suspect that the frequency of “bonkers” has risen alongside the political theatre of Trumponomics epitomised by his most recent shoot-your-ecomomy-in-the-foot tariffs. When US daily headlines lurch from the absurd to stark raving madness you have to resort to something new and “bonkers” seems to have filled the need. The word that almost captured the Trump-Vance presidential campaign was “weird” but now it seems to have gone up a notch to downright “bonkers”.
Where does bonkers come from?
“Bonkers” is a relatively recent addition to the English language. It first popped up in the mid 20th century as British slang, possibly from the military. The exact origin is unclear, though some etymologists suggest it may be linked to “bonk” meaning to hit—suggesting a knock to the head, and thus a loss of sense.
Originally used to describe people who were a bit mad (but not dangerously so), bonkers has broadened its meaning. It can now apply to people, plans, policies, parties—anything that seems irrational, outlandish, or completely unhinged. The key is that it still carries a note of humour or disbelief to surreal situations.
‘Britishisms’ in the US
Bonkers isn’t alone. The same study found other British words increasingly appearing in American speech. The most popular ‘Britishisms’ being used by Americans were:
- Bonkers (24%)
- Amongst (14%)
- Queue (13%)
- Wonky (11%)
- Cheeky (10%)
- Snarky (10%)
- Cheers (6%)
- Keen (5%)
- Maths (3%)
- Nil (2%)
The researchers describe this as a symptom of “cultural globalisation” where British TV, music, and celebrities help carry these words across borders.
A word for our time
Now in a time of ludicrous, sometimes outrageous, misinformation spread and a parallel loss of a truth filter in public discourse, “bonkers” has found its moment, certainly in the US.