British Vs American Vocabulary
British Vs American Vocabulary
British Vs American Vocabulary
Here are some of the main differences in vocabulary between British and
American English. This page is intended as a guide only. Bear in mind that there
can be differences in the choice of specific terms depending on dialect and
region within both the USA and the UK.
anti-clockwise counter-clockwise
barrister attorney
biscuit cookie
boot trunk
caravan trailer
diversion detour
drawing-pin thumbtack
flyover overpass
gear-lever gearshift
British English American English
holiday vacation
juggernaut 18-wheeler
lift elevator
British English American English
maize corn
maths math
motorbike motorcycle
pavement sidewalk
post mail
postbox mailbox
pub bar
railway railroad
rubber eraser
spanner wrench
sweets candy
timetable schedule
tin can
torch flashlight
vest undershirt
waistcoat vest
whisky whisky/whiskey
windscreen windshield
zip zipper
1. First Floor – In the USA, we say the first floor to mean the ground floor of a
building. In the UK, the first floor is the second floor. Confusing? Welcome to the
troubles encountered by tourists in the UK.
2. Jumper – In the USA a jumper is someone who ends their life by jumping off
something. In the UK, a jumper is a type of sweater (usually knitted).
3. Trainer – In the USA a trainer is a professional that works with you in a gym. In
the UK trainer is the name given to Gym shoes.
4. Pants – In the USA, pants are trousers. In the UK, pants are underwear.
5. Bird – In the USA, a bird is a bird. In the UK, a bird is a name for a woman
(though it’s fallen out of fashion as it’s rather sexist) but a bird is also just a bird.
6. Bog – In the USA, a bog is a marshy area of boggy land. In the UK, a bog is
another name for a toilet. Bog roll is toiler paper.
7. Rubber – In the USA, a rubber is a condom. In the UK, a rubber is an eraser.
8. Braces – In the USA, braces are devices placed on teeth to straighten them. In
the UK, braces hold up pants (what we call suspenders).
9. Trolley – In the USA, a trolley is a public transportation conveyance (most
famous in San Francisco). In the UK, a trolly is a shopping cart.
10. Chips – In the USA, chips are potato chips (or corn chips). In the UK, chips are
what we would call fries but are a chunkier version.
11. Coach – In the USA, a coach is someone who manages a sports team. In the
UK, a coach is a bus.
12. Fanny Pack – In the USA a fanny pack is a device worn unfashionably around
the waist to store personal effects when traveling. In the UK a fanny is a term for
a woman’s lady parts. So to call something a fanny pack is a rather offensive
term. The Brits call a fanny pack a bum bag (bum is UK speak for butt).
13. Biscuit – In the USA, a biscuit is a buttery bread roll. In the UK, a biscuit is a
cookie.
14. Dummy – In the USA, a dummy is an idiot. In the UK, a dummy is a baby’s
pacifier.
15. Flannel – In the USA, a flannel is a type of button down shirt that’s very warm. In
the UK, a flannel is a washcloth.
16. Pissed – In the USA, to be pissed is to be angry. In the UK, to be pissed is to be
fall down drunk.
17. Fag – In the USA, fag is a very derogatory term for a homosexual. In the UK, a
fag is a cigarette.
18. Boot – In the USA, a boot is a form of footwear. In the UK, a boot is the trunk of
a car.
19. Bum – In the USA, a bum is a homeless person. In the UK, a bum is your butt.
20. Caravan – In the USA, a caravan is a type of minivan. In the UK, a caravan is a
type of recreational vehicle.
21. Chaps – In the USA, chaps are leather pants worn by cowboys or motorcyclists.
In the UK, chaps are your male friends.
22. Chemist – In the USA, a chemist is a scientist that works with chemicals. In the
UK, a chemist is what we would call the pharmacist.
23. Concession – In the USA a concession is a place to get snacks in a sporting
venue. In the UK, a concession is a discount on a ticket for particular group of
people (disabled, student, elderly, etc).
24. Daddy Long Legs – In the USA, a daddy long legs is a harmless spider. In the
UK, a daddy long legs is also known as the crane fly (but they do have the daddy
long legs spider and some refer it to just that).
25. Post – In the USA, a post is something in the ground holding something up. In
the UK, the post is the mail