Differences between British and American vocabulary
- 10.01.09
Differences between British and American vocabulary
|
British |
American |
| bill/account | account |
| aeroplane | airplane |
| gangway | aisle |
| pocket money | allowance |
| aerial (radio/TV) | antenna |
| anywhere | anyplace |
| flat | apartment |
| block of flats | apartment building |
| diary | appointment book |
| dialing code | area code |
| dustbin | ashcan, garbage can, trashcan |
| car | automobile |
| pram | baby carriage/baby buggy |
| luggage | baggage |
| gallery (theatre) | balcony |
| plaster/elastoplasts | band aid |
| pub | bar |
| dressing-gown | bathrobe |
| lavatory/toilet/w.c./loo | bathroom/restroom/washroom/john |
| bath | bathtub |
| bank note | bill |
| wallet | billfold |
| bomb (success) | bomb (disaster) |
| grill (v.) | broil |
| arse-licker | brownnoser, ass-kisser |
| chest of drawers | bureau |
| taxi | cab |
| canteen, staff restaurant | cafeteria |
| reverse charges | call collect |
| sweets | candy |
| sweets | candy |
| fair (fun) | carnival |
| mobile phone | cellphone |
| bill (restaurant) | check |
| current account | checking account |
| wardrobe | closet |
| biscuit | cookie |
| maize | corn |
| mad | crazy |
| nappy | diaper |
| city centre, town centre | downtown |
| driving-licence | driver’s license |
| chemist’s | drugstore |
| aubergine | eggplant |
| lift | elevator |
| rubber | eraser |
| shattered | exhausted |
| staff (academic) | faculty |
| autumn | fall |
| tap (indoors) | faucet |
| fire brigade | fire department |
| ground floor (US: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, …, UK: ground, 1st, 2nd, …) | first floor |
| torch | flashlight |
| American football | football |
| motorway | freeway, expressway |
| chips | French fries |
| reception (hotel) | front desk |
| litter, rubbish | Garbage/trash |
| bin | garbage can |
| rubbish-bin/ dustbin/bin | garbage can, trashcan |
| Dustman/ dustbin man | garbage collector |
| dustbin lorry | garbage truck |
| filling station / petrol station | gas station |
| petrol | gas, gasoline |
| gear-lever | gearshift |
| Girl Guide | Girl Scout |
| class/form (school) | grade |
| level crossing (railway) | grade crossing |
| postgraduate course | graduate studies |
| bloke, guy | guy |
| bap | hamburger bun |
| spirits | hard liquor |
| ironmonger | hardware store |
| main road | highway |
| homely (=pleasant) | homely (=ugly) |
| bonnet | hood |
| limited (company) | incorporated |
| directory enquiries | information assistance/ directory assistance |
| crossroads | intersection |
| gaol | jail |
| caretaker/porter | janitor |
| jam | jelly |
| skipping rope | jump rope |
| paraffin | kerosene |
| trade union | labor union |
| Solicitor/ barrister | lawyer/attorney |
| let | lease/rent |
| bank holiday | legal holiday |
| queue | line |
| lost property | lost and found |
| post | |
| pillar box/letter box/ postbox | mail box |
| postman | mailman |
| book (v.) | make reservation |
| director (company) | manager |
| problem sum/ maths | math |
| propelling pencil | mechanical pencil |
| mum, mummy | mom, mommy |
| engine | motor |
| motorbike | motorcycle |
| film | movie |
| cinema | movie house/theater |
| silencer | muffler |
| bank holiday | national holiday |
| teat (baby’s bottle) | nipple |
| surgery(doctor’s/dentist’s) | office |
| single ticket | one-way ticket |
| stalls (theatre) | orchestra seats |
| dungarees | overalls |
| flyover | overpass |
| dummy (for babies) | pacifier |
| trousers | pants |
| car park | parking lot |
| overtake (vehicle) | pass |
| road surface | pavement |
| prison | penitentiary |
| full stop (punctuation) | period |
| chemist’s shop | pharmacy/drugstore |
| soft drink, pop, fizzy drink | pop, soda |
| crisps | potato chips |
| chairman (business) | president |
| headmaster/mistress | principal |
| handbag | purse |
| railway | railroad |
| state agent | realtor |
| break (school) | recess |
| public toilet | rest room |
| curriculum vitae | resume |
| joint (meat) | roast |
| big dipper | roller coaster |
| return ticket | round trip ticket |
| contraceptive/condom | rubber |
| shop assistant | sales clerk/sales girl |
| timetable | schedule |
| sellotape | scotch tape |
| first floor | second floor |
| saloon car | sedan |
| bootlace/shoelace | shoestring |
| jab (injection) | shot |
| pavement/footpath | sidewalk |
| gym shoes/plimsolls/ trainers | sneakers/tennis shoes |
| football/soccer | soccer |
| petrol | gas (gasoline) |
| cotton reel | spool |
| queue (v.) | stand in line/line up |
| shop | store |
| cooker | Stove/ oven |
| Tube/ underground (train) | subway |
| braces | suspenders |
| kiosk/box (telephone) | telephone booth |
| trainers | tennis shoes, running shoes, sneakers |
| semester | term academic (3 in a year) |
| cotton | thread |
| noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe |
| schedule | time-table |
| can | tin |
| tyre | tire |
| Stop light | traffic lights |
| caravan | trailer |
| pants | trousers |
| Lorry/ van | truck |
| subway | tube/underground |
| swede | turnip/rutabaga |
| fortnight | two weeks |
| degree | undergraduate school |
| vest | undershirt |
| holiday | vacation |
| hoover | Vacuum/ vacuum cleaner |
| waistcoat | vest |
| black or white?(coffee) | with or without?(coffee) |
| garden | yard |
| nought | zero |
| zipper | zip |
| Postcode/ postal code | zip code |
| courgette | zucchini |
Tel: 4743-1790
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