funny,educational.languages.difference .

1. British/American
Vocabulary
By

2. “England and America are two
countries divided by a common
language.”
~George Bernard Shaw

3. CLOTHES
BRITISH ENGLISH
AMERICAN ENGLISH
trousers
pants
tie
necktie
vest
undershirt
waistcoat
vest
nightdress
nightgown
tracksuit
Sweats/sweatsuit/sweatpants
Jumper
sweater
Pinafore
Jumper(a dress without sleeve worn over a
shirt)
Wellies
Boot/ galoshes
spectacles
glasses
Pants
Underwear/underpants/boxers

4. TRANSPORTATION
BRITISH
AMERICAN
indicator
blinker
Handbrake
Emergency brake
boot
trunk
Numberplate
License plate
tyre
tire
bonnet
hood
windscreen
windshield
lorries
trucks
Tram( an elctric vehicle)
Trolley( an electric vehicle)
accelerator
Gas pedal

5. TRANSPORTATION
BRITISH
AMERICAN
lorries
trucks
coach
Bus
Overtake/pull out
pass
Underground
subway
motorway
Freeway / Highway
Wing mirror
Side mirror
Gear stick
Gear shift
flyover
overpass
Cycle path
Bicycle route

6. BUILDINGS
BRITISH
AMERICAN
Tv aerial
Tv antena
flat
apartment
Block of flats
Apartment buildings
pavement
Sidewalk
fence
Picket fence
Dustbin/ bin
Garbage can/ wastebasket
elevator
Lift
tap
Faucet
pram
Baby carriage
cooker
stove

7. MISCELLANEOUS
BRITISH
AMERICAN
Laundry basket
hamper
row
argument
tin
can
mince
Chopped beef
biscuit
cookie
rubber
eraser
torch
flashlight
chips
fries
handbag
purse

8. MISCELLANEOUS
BRITISH
AMERICAN
University
college
Public school
Private school
Toilet /lavotary/Gents/ Ladies/ WC/ Loo
Bathroom /restroom/ Washroom
coach
Bus
Hat stand
Coat stand
Notice board
Bulletin board
trolley
Shopping cart
cot
Crib( a small bed for a child)

9. MISCELLANEOUS
BRITISH
AMERICAN
banknotes
bills
solicitor
lawyer
Bloke/ chap
guy
Mobile phone
Cellular phone
post
mail
football
soccer
maize
corn
tortoise
turtle
Jam
jelly
Queue
line

10. MISCELLANEOUS
BRITISH
AMERICAN
cinema
Movie theatre/ movies
hoover
vacuum
zip
zipper
bung
stopper
garden
yard
Watch strap
watchband
letterbox
Mail slot
Frying pan
skillet
worktop
counter

11. Differences in British and
American English

12. What does this mean?
I put on a jumper and raced to catch a lift. Once
outside, I discovered it was dark and I was
feeling mad. "I should have brought a torch," I
thought. At the underground I bought a return
ticket. "How am I going to get a rise from my
boss?" I wondered.

13. Translate this sentence!
British English:
“I was waiting in queue for the loo before getting some petrol
for my lorry when I realized I left the hob on and the
aubergines were probably burning!”
American English:
“I was waiting in line for the bathroom before getting some gas
for my truck when I realized I left the stove on and the
eggplant was probably burning!”

14. Word confusion with multiple
meanings
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Appetizer/Entree
Bank Teller/Cashier
French fries/Chips
Cigarette/Fag
Dessert/Pudding
Eraser/Rubber
Soccer/Football
Sweater/Jumper
Suspenders/Braces
Underwear/Pants
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Flashlight/Torch
A Flirt/Tart
Hood (car)/Bonnet
Jello/Jelly
Jelly/Jam
Pants/Trousers
Private school/Public school
Public School/State school
Undershirt/Vest

15. Potentially embarrassing situations:
“rubber”
Eraser
Condom
“Excuse me, do you have a rubber?”

16. Potentially embarrasing situations”
“pants”
underwear
trousers
“ My other jeans ripped, so I’ve been
wearing these pants for the past three
days!”

17. Potentially confusing situations
*If a British person
Asks you about football…
…they mean soccer
Asks you bring pudding…
…they mean dessert
Puts on a jumper…
…they mean a sweater
Wears braces….
…wears suspenders
Wears suspenders…
…wears garters

18. Other confusing situations…
• Ask for chips in England, and you’ll get French
Fries, not potato “crisps”
• Tell a British friend to pick up some jelly at the
store, and they’ll bring home gelatin (Jell-o)
not jam

19. A note on schooling
In the US, a public school
is government funded
In England, a public school
requires tutition
In the US, a private school
requires tuition
In England, a state school
is government funded

20. the languages diverge…and
converge
The differences in the languages
reached its peak right after the
industrial revolution.
With the spread of modern
technology, more terms are
becoming common.

22. Just for fun!

23. Just for fun!

24. Just for fun!

27. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
anywhere
anywhere
anyplace
autumn
autumn/fall
fall
barrister
lawyer
attorney
beeper, pager
pager
beeper
bill (restaurant)
bill
check
biscuit
cookie
cookie
block of flats
apartment block
apartment building
bonnet
hood
hood
boot (of car)
trunk (of car)
trunk (of automobile)
car
car
automobile
caravan
trailer
trailer

28. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
chemist
drugstore
drugstore
chips
French fries/chips
French fries
chocolate bar
chocolate bar
candy bar
the cinema
movies
the movies
crisps
potato chips
potato chips
crossroads
intersection
intersection

29. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
cutlery
cutlery
silverware
diversion
diversion, detour
detour
drawing-pin
thumbtack
thumbtack
driving licence
driver's licence
driver's license
dummy (for babies)
soother
pacifier
dustbin
garbage can, trash can ashcan, garbage can, trashcan
dustman
garbageman
garbage collector
engine
engine
motor
estate agent
real estate agent
realtor
film
movie
movie

30. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
flat
apartment
apartment
flat tyre
flat tire
flat
flyover
overpass
overpass
galoshes
galoshes
toe rubbers
gear-lever
gearshift
gearshift
Girl Guide
Girl Guide
Girl Scout
ground floor
ground floor, main floor
first floor
handbag
handbag
purse
holiday
holiday
vacation
jam
jam
jelly
jeans
jeans
blue jeans
jug
jug
pitcher

31. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
shop
shop, store
Store
single (ticket)
one-way (ticket)
one-way
solicitor
lawyer
Attorney
somewhere
somewhere
someplace
spanner
wrench
wrench
spirits
spirits
Hard liquor
sweets
candy, sweets
candy
tap (indoors)
tap (indoors)
faucet
tap (outdoors)
tap (outdoors)
spigot
taxi
taxi
cab
tea-towel
dish-towel
dish-towel
telly, TV
TV
TV

32. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
timetable
schedule
Schedule
tin
tin can
can
toll motorway
toll highway
Turnpike
torch
flashlight
flashlight
trousers
pants
pants
tube (train)
subway, metro
Subway
underground (train)
pants
subway, metro
Subway
underpants
van
truck
truck
vest
undershirt
undershirt
waistcoat
vest
vest
wallet
wallet
billfold
wellington boots
rubber boots
rubbers

33. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
lift
elevator
elevator
lorry
truck
truck
luggage
luggage
baggage
mad
crazy
crazy
main road
main road, main thoroughfare
highway
maize
corn
corn
maths
math
math
mobile (phone)
cellular phone
cellular
motorbike
motorbike, motorcycle
motorcycle
motorway
highway, thoroughfare
freeway, expressway
motorway
freeway
freeway
napkin
serviette, table napkin
napkin
nappy
diaper
diaper

34. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
pants
shorts
shorts
pavement
sidewalk, pavement
sidewalk
petrol
gas, gasoline
gas, gasoline
pocket money
pocket money
allowance
post
mail, post
mail
postbox
mailbox, post-box
Mailbox
postcode
postal code
zip code
postman
mailman, letter carrier
Mailman
pub
bar, pub
bar
public toilet
bathroom
Rest room

35. British/American Vocabulary
British
Canadian
American
railway
railway
Railroad
return (ticket)
return
round-trip
reverse charge
collect call, reverse the charges call collect
ring road
ring road
Beltway
road surface
road surface, asphalt
pavement
roundabout
roundabout
traffic circle
rubber
eraser
eraser
rubbish
garbage, trash, refuse
Garbage, trash
rubbish-bin
garbage can, trashcan
Garbage can, trashcan
saloon (car)
sedan (car)
sedan (automobile)