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.
| British English |
American English |
| anti-clockwise |
counter-clockwise |
| articulated lorry |
trailer truck |
| autumn |
autumn, fall |
| barrister |
attorney |
| bill (restaurant) |
bill, check
|
| biscuit |
cookie |
| block of flats |
apartment building |
| bonnet (clothing) |
hat |
| bonnet (car) |
hood |
| boot |
trunk |
| bumper (car) |
bumper, fender |
| caravan |
trailer |
| car park |
parking lot |
| chemist's shop |
drugstore, pharmacy |
| chest of drawers |
dresser, chest of drawers, bureau |
| chips |
fries, French fries |
| the cinema |
the movies |
| clothes peg |
clothespin |
| coffin |
coffin, casket |
| crisps |
potato chips |
| crossroads |
intersection; crossroads (rural) |
| cupboard |
cupboard (in kitchen); closet (for clothes etc) |
| diversion |
detour |
| drawing-pin |
thumbtack |
| drink-driving |
drunk driving |
| driving licence |
driver's license |
| dual carriageway |
divided highway |
| dummy (for baby) |
pacifier |
| dustbin |
garbage can, trash can |
| dustman |
garbage collector |
| engine |
engine, motor |
| estate agent |
real estate agent |
| estate car |
station wagon |
| film |
film, movie |
| flat |
apartment, flat, studio |
| flat tyre |
flat tire |
| flyover |
overpass |
| gearbox (car) |
transmission |
| gear-lever |
gearshift |
| Girl Guide |
Girl Scout |
| ground floor |
ground/first floor |
| handbag |
handbag, purse, shoulder bag |
| high street |
main street |
| holiday |
vacation |
| hood (car) |
convertible top |
| jam |
jam, preserves |
| jug |
jug, pitcher |
| juggernaut |
18-wheeler |
| lift |
elevator |
| lorry |
truck, semi, tractor |
| mad |
crazy, insane |
| main road |
highway |
| maize |
corn |
| maths |
math |
| motorbike |
motorcycle |
| motorway |
freeway, expressway |
| motorway |
highway, freeway, expressway, interstate highway, interstate |
| nappy |
diaper |
| naughts and crosses |
tic-tack-toe |
| pants, underpants |
underpants, drawers |
| pavement |
sidewalk |
| pet hate |
pet peeve |
| petrol |
gas, gasoline |
| The Plough |
Big Dipper |
| pocket money |
allowance |
| post |
mail |
| postbox |
mailbox |
| postcode |
zip code |
| postman |
mailman, mail carrier, letter carrier |
| pub |
bar |
| public toilet |
rest room, public bathroom |
| railway |
railroad |
| return (ticket) |
round-trip |
| reverse charge |
collect call |
| ring road |
beltway, freeway/highway loop |
| road surface |
pavement, blacktop |
| roundabout |
traffic circle, roundabout |
| rubber |
eraser |
| rubbish |
garbage, trash |
| rubbish-bin |
garbage can, trashcan |
| saloon (car) |
sedan |
| shop |
shop, store |
| silencer (car) |
muffler |
| single (ticket) |
one-way |
| solicitor |
lawyer, attorney |
| spanner |
wrench |
| sweets |
candy |
| taxi |
taxi, taxi cab |
| tea towel |
dish towel |
| telly (informal), TV |
television, TV |
| third-party insurance |
liability insurance |
| timetable |
schedule |
| tin |
can |
| toll motorway |
toll road, turnpike |
| torch |
flashlight |
| trousers |
pants, trousers |
| tube (train) |
subway |
| underground (train) |
subway |
| vest |
undershirt |
| waistcoat |
vest |
| wallet |
wallet, billfold |
| wellington boots |
rubber boots, rain boots |
| whisky |
whiskey, scotch |
| windscreen |
windshield |
| zip |
zipper |
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