Wednesday, January 15, 2014

American and British English: Differences in Vocabulary



US: apartment building
UK: block of flats

US: apartment/flat
UK: English: flat

US: antenna
UK: aerial

US: area code  
UK: dialing code

US: attorney  
UK: barrister/solicitor

US: ATM  
UK: cashpoint

US: bathroom  
UK: loo/ WC/ toilet

US: band-aid 
UK: plaster

US: baby carriage  
UK: pram

US: buddy  
UK: mate

US: beet 
UK: beetroot

US: busy (phone line)  
UK: engaged

US: candy  
UK: sweets

US: can (of food)  
UK: tin

US: cafeteria  
UK: canteen

US: chips  
UK: crisps

US: check (rest.)/bill  
UK: bill

US: clothes peg 
UK: clothespin

US: corn  
UK: maize

US: cookie  
UK: biscuit

US: cotton candy  
UK: candy floss

US: crosswalk  
UK: zebra crossing

US: counter-clockwise  
UK: anti-clockwise

US: diaper  
UK: nappy

US: detour  
UK: diversion

US: dead end  
UK: cul-de-sac

US: driver's license  
UK: driving license

US: divided highway  
UK: dual carriageway

US: eggplant  
UK: aubergine

US: first floor  
UK: ground floor

US: fall/autumn  
UK: autumn

US: fries 
UK: chips

US: flashlight  
UK: torch

US: gearshift  
UK: gear-lever

US: garbageman/garbage collector  
UK: dustman/dustbin man

US: game (sports)  
UK: match

US: gas  
UK: petrol

US: guy  
UK: bloke

US: freeway/highway  
UK: motorway

US: to honk  
UK: to hoot/to honk

US: hood (car) 
UK: bonnet

US: jelly  
UK: jam

US: jello  
UK: jelly

US: kerosene 
UK: paraffin

US: line  
UK: queue

US: laundromat  
UK: laundrette

US: movie theater  
UK: cinema

US: motor home  
UK: caravan

US: mail  
UK: post


US: muffler  
UK: silencer

US: napkin  
UK: serviette

US: overpass  
UK: flyover

US: one-way ticket  
UK: single ticket

US: parking lot  
UK: car park

US: pacifier  
UK: dummy

US: pants  
UK: trousers

US: pet peeve  
UK: pet hate

US: period  
UK: full stop

US: private school  
UK: public school

US: pharmacy (or drugstore)  
UK: chemist's shop

US: red hair  
UK: ginger hair

US: real estate agent  
UK: estate agent

US: résumé/CV  
UK: CV

US: restroom  
UK: public toilet

US: to rent (a car)  
UK: to hire (a car)

US: shrimp  
UK: prawn

US: semi-trailer  
UK: articulated lorry

US: sedan (car)  
UK: saloon

US: soccer  
UK: football

US: station wagon  
UK: estate car

US: sidewalk  
UK: pavement

US: store  
UK: shop

US: trailer  
UK: carvan

US: thumbtack  
UK: drawing pin

US: tank top  
UK: vest

US: truck  
UK: lorry

US: trash/garbage can  
UK: rubbish bin

US: turn signal  
UK: indicator

US: two weeks  
UK: fortnight

US: trunk (car)  
UK: boot

US: vest  
UK: waistcoat

US: windshield  
UK: windscreen

US: zucchini  
UK: courgette

US: zip code  
UK: postcode

US: z (pron. "zee") 
UK: z (pron. "zed")