What are the Differences Between British And American Words?
British and American English speakers on many occasions spell out the same term differently. For Instance: Britisher says Aeroplane while American pronounce the same word as Airplane. Besides, colour/color and centre/center etc. You can find out here more about these differences Between British And American Words.
Here’s a list of various British words and American terms and their differences.
Differences Between British And American Words | |
British english words | American english words |
Accommodation | Accommodations |
Action replay | Instant replay |
Aerofoil | Airfoil |
Aeroplane | Airplane |
Agony aunt | Advice columnist |
Allen key | Allen wrench |
Aluminium | Aluminum |
Aniseed | Anise |
Anticlockwise | Counterclockwise |
Articulated lorry | Tractor-trailer |
Asymmetric bars | Uneven bars |
Aubergine | Eggplant |
B | |
Baking tray | Cookie sheet |
Bank holiday | Legal holiday |
Beetroot | Beet(s) |
Biscuit | Cookie; cracker |
Black economy | Underground economy |
Blanket bath | Sponge bath |
Block of flats | Apartment building |
Boiler suit | Coveralls |
Bonnet (of a car) | Hood |
Boob tube | Tube top |
Boot (of a car) | Trunk |
Bottom drawer | Hope chest |
Bowls | Lawn bowling |
Braces | Suspenders |
Brawn (the food) | Headcheese |
Breakdown van | Tow truck |
Breeze block | Cinder block |
Bridging loan | Bridge loan |
Bumbag | Fanny pack |
C | |
Candyfloss | Cotton candy |
Car park | Parking lot |
Casualty | Emergency room |
Catapult | Slingshot |
Central reservation | Median strip |
Chemist | Drugstore |
Chips | French fries |
Cinema | Movie theater; the movies |
Cling film | Plastic wrap |
Common seal | Harbor seal |
Consumer durables | Durable goods |
Cornflour | Cornstarch |
Cos (lettuce) | Romaine |
Cot | Crib |
Cot death | Crib death |
Cotton bud | Cotton swab |
Cotton wool | Absorbent cotton |
Council estate | (housing) project |
Courgette | Zucchini |
Court card | Face card |
Crash barrier | Guardrail |
Crisps | Chips; potato chips |
Crocodile clip | Alligator clip |
Cross-ply | Bias-ply |
Crotchet (music) | Quarter note |
Current account | Checking account |
D | |
Danger money | Hazard pay |
Demister (in a car) | Defroster |
Dialling tone | Dial tone |
Diamante | Rhinestone |
Double cream | Heavy cream |
Draughts (game) | Checkers |
Drawing pin | Thumbtack |
Dressing gown | Robe; bathrobe |
Drink-driving | Drunk driving |
Drinks cupboard | Liquor cabinet |
Drinks party | Cocktail party |
Driving licence | Driver’s license |
Dual carriageway | Divided highway |
Dummy (for a baby) | Pacifier |
Dust sheet | Drop cloth |
Dustbin | Garbage can |
E | |
Earth(electrical) | Ground |
Engaged (of a phone) | Busy |
Estate agent | Real estate agent, realtor (trademark) |
Estate car | Station wagon |
Ex-directory | Unlisted |
F | |
Faith school | Parochial school |
Financial year | Fiscal year |
Fire brigade/service | Fire company/department |
First floor | Second floor |
Fish finger | Fish stick |
Fitted carpet | Wall-to-wall carpeting |
Flannel | Washcloth |
Flat | Apartment |
Flexitime | Flextime |
Flick knife | Switchblade |
Flyover | Overpass |
Football | Soccer |
Footway | Sidewalk |
Fringe (hair) | Bangs |
Full stop (punctuation) | Period |
G | |
Garden | Yard; lawn |
Gearing (finance) | Leverage |
Gear lever | Gearshift |
Goods train | Freight train |
Greaseproof paper | Wax paper/waxed paper |
Green fingers | Green thumb |
Grill (noun) | Broiler |
Grill (verb) | Broil |
Ground floor | First floor |
Groundsman | Groundskeeper |
H | |
Hairslide | Barrette |
Hatstand | Hatrack |
Hen night | Bachelorette party |
Hire purchase | Installment plan |
Hoarding | Billboard |
Hob | Stovetop |
Holdall | Carryall |
Holiday | Vacation |
Holidaymaker | Vacationer |
Homely | Homey |
Hosepipe | (garden) hose |
In hospital | In the hospital |
Hot flush | Hot flash |
Housing estate | Housing development |
Hundreds and thousands | Sprinkles (for ice cream) |
I | |
Ice lolly | Popsicle (trademark) |
Icing sugar | Confectioners’ sugar |
Indicator (on a car) | Turn signal |
Inside leg | Inseam |
J | |
Jelly babies | Jelly beans |
Joe bloggs | Joe blow |
Joe public | John q. Public |
Jumble sale | Rummage sale |
Jump lead | Jumper cable |
Jumper | Sweater |
Junior school | Elementary school |
K | |
Kennel | Doghouse |
L | |
Ladybird | Ladybug |
A lettuce | A head of lettuce |
Level crossing | Grade crossing |
Lift | Elevator |
Lolly | Lollipop |
Lollipop lady (or man) | Crossing guard |
Loose cover | Slipcover |
Lorry | Truck |
Loudhailer | Bullhorn |
Low loader | Flatbed truck |
Lucky dip | Grab bag |
Luggage van | Baggage car |
M | |
Maize | Corn |
Mangetout | Snow pea |
Market garden | Truck farm |
Marshalling yard | Railroad yard |
Maths | Math |
Metalled road | Paved road |
Milometer | Odometer |
Minim (music) | Half note |
Mobile phone | Cell phone |
Monkey tricks | Monkeyshines |
Motorway | Expressway; highway |
Mum/mummy | Mom/mommy |
N | |
Nappy | Diaper |
Needlecord | Pinwale |
Newsreader | Newscaster |
Noughts and crosses | Tic-tac-toe |
Number plate | License plate |
O | |
Off-licence | Liquor store; package store |
Opencast mining | Open-pit mining |
Ordinary share | Common stock |
Oven glove | Oven mitt |
P | |
Paddling pool | Wading pool |
Paracetamol | Acetaminophen |
Parting (in hair) | Part |
Patience | Solitaire |
Pavement | Sidewalk |
Pay packet | Pay envelope |
Pedestrian crossing | Crosswalk |
Peg | Clothespin |
Pelmet | Valance |
Petrol | Gas; gasoline |
Physiotherapy | Physical therapy |
Pinafore dress | Jumper |
Plain chocolate | Dark chocolate |
Plain flour | All-purpose flour |
Polo neck | Turtleneck |
Positive discrimination | Reverse discrimination |
Postal vote | Absentee ballot |
Postbox | Mailbox |
Postcode | Zip code |
Potato crisp | Potato chip |
Power point | Electrical outlet |
Pram | Baby carriage; stroller |
Press stud | Snap |
Press-up | Pushup |
Private soldier | Gi |
Public school | Private school |
Public transport | Public transportation |
Punchbag | Punching bag |
Pushchair | Stroller |
Pylon | Utility pole |
Q | |
Quantity surveyor | Estimator |
Quaver (music) | Eighth note |
Queue | Line |
R | |
Racing car | Race car |
Railway | Railroad |
Real tennis | Court tennis |
Recorded delivery | Certified mail |
Registration plate | License plate |
Remould (tyre) | Retread |
Reverse the charges | Call collect |
Reversing lights | Back-up lights |
Right-angled triangle | Right triangle |
Ring road | Beltway |
Roundabout (at a fair) | Carousel |
Roundabout (in road) | Traffic circle |
Rowing boat | Rowboat |
S | |
Sailing boat | Sailboat |
Saloon (car) | Sedan |
Sandpit | Sandbox |
Sandwich cake | Layer cake |
Sanitary towel | Sanitary napkin |
Self-raising flour | Self-rising flour |
Semibreve (music) | Whole note |
Semitone (music) | Half step |
Share option | Stock option |
Shopping trolley | Shopping cart |
Show house/home | Model home |
Silencer (on a car) | Muffler |
Silverside | Rump roast |
Skeleton in the cupboard | Skeleton in the closet |
Skimmed milk | Skim milk |
Skipping rope | Jump rope |
Skirting board | Baseboard |
Sledge | Sled |
Sleeper | Railroad tie |
Sleeping partner | Silent partner |
Slowcoach | Slowpoke |
Snakes and ladders | Chutes and ladders |
Solicitor | Lawyer |
Soya/soya bean | Soy/soybean |
Splashback | Backsplash |
Spring onion | Scallion |
Stag night | Bachelor party |
Stanley knife | Utility knife |
Starter | Appetizer |
State school | Public school |
Storm in a teacup | Tempest in a teapot |
Surtitle | Supertitle |
Swede | Rutabaga |
Sweet(s) | Candy |
T | |
Takeaway (food) | Takeout; to go |
Taxi rank | Taxi stand |
Tea towel | Dish towel |
Terrace house | Row house |
Tick | Check mark |
Ticket tout | Scalper |
Timber | Lumber |
Titbit | Tidbit |
Toffee apple | Candy apple or caramel apple |
Touch wood | Knock on wood |
Trade union | Labor union |
Trading estate | Industrial park |
Trainers | Sneakers |
Transport cafe | Truck stop |
Trolley | Shopping cart |
Twelve-bore | Twelve-gauge |
U | |
Underground | Subway |
V | |
Vacuum flask | Thermos bottle |
Verge (of a road) | Shoulder |
Vest | Undershirt |
Veterinary surgeon | Veterinarian |
W | |
Wagon(on a train) | Car |
Waistcoat | Vest |
Walking frame | Walker |
Wardrobe | Closet |
Water ice | Italian ice |
Weatherboard | Clapboard |
White coffee | Coffee with cream |
White spirit | Mineral spirits |
Wholemeal bread | Wholewheat bread |
Windcheater | Windbreaker |
Windscreen | Windshield |
Wing (of a car) | Fender |
Worktop | Countertop |
Z | |
Zebra crossing | Crosswalk |
Zed(letter z) | Zee |
Zip | Zipper |
https://www.seekergk.com/english-precis-and-composition/words-used-instead-of-very/
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