BRITISH ENGLISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

A
a deck of cards		a pack of cards
a pack of cigarettes		a packet of cigarettes
airplane		plane
antenna, aerial		aerial (TV, radio)
apartment (flat: apartment with a single floor)		flat
B
baby carriage, baby buggy, stoller		pram, pushchair
backpack		rucksack
baked potato		jacket potato
ball-point pen		biro
bangs		fringe
to bathe		to bath
bathroom, restroom		toilet, loo
beet		beetroot
bell pepper		pepper
bill		note
billfold		wallet
buck		quid
bulletin board		notice board
busy		engaged
C
cab		taxi
to call		to ring
can		tin
candy store		sweet shop
carpet pad		underlay
cart		trolley
catalog		catalogue
cellphone		mobile (phone)
center		centre
CEO (chief executive officer)		managing director
check		bill
checkers		draughts
checkroom, coatroom		cloakroom
clothespin		clothes peg
color		colour
comforter		duvet
cookie		biscuit
costumes		fancy dress
cotton ball		cotton wool
cotton candy		candy floss
cozy		cosy
crib		cot (Baby)
crossroad (in the country) intersection (town and country)		crossroads
crosswalk		pedestrian crossing zebra crossing
D
detour		diversion
diaper		nappy
directory assistance		directory enquiries
downtown, city center		town centre city centre
draft		draught
driver's license		driving licence
drugstore, pharmacy		chemist's shop
drunk driving		drink driving
E
eggplant		aubergine
elementary school grade school		primary school
elevator		lift
eraser		rubber
everyplace, everywhere		everywhere
Excuse me.		Sorry.
expiration date		expiry date
F
face cloth, wash cloth		flannel
faucet		tap
favorite		favourite
fender		wing
field hockey		hockey
fields day		sports day
to fill out		to fill in
film, movie		film
fire department		fire brigade
first floor, ground floor (in public buildings)		ground floor
fish-sticks		fish-fingers
flashlight		torch
flavor		flavour
freeway, highway, expressway, interstate		motorway
freight train		goods train
French fries		chips
from Monday to Friday from Monday through Friday		from Monday to Friday
front desk		reception
G
game		match
garbage		rubbish
garbage can/trash can		bin, dustbin
gas		petrol
gas pedal, accelerator		accelerator
gear shift		gear lever
German shepherd		Alsatian
grade		year
ground wire		earth wire
H
harbor		harbour
heavy cream		double cream
hood		bonnet
humor		humour
I
inquiry		enquiry
installment plan		hire purchase
inventory		stock
J
jacket, parka		anorak
janitor		caretaker
jewelery		jewellery
Joe Blow		Joe Bloggs
K
kerosene/kerosine		paraffin
kilometer		kilometre
L
ladybug		ladybird
lawyer, attorney		barrister, solicitor
license plate		number plate
to line up		to queue
liter		litre
lost and found		lost property
M
mail		post
mailbox		letterbox, postbox
mailman		postman
mashed potatoes		mashed potato
math		maths
Men's Room		Gents
mom		mum
mortician		undertaker
motorcycle		motorbike
British English American English A aerial (radio/TV) antenna American football football anorak parka articulated lorry trailer truck/semi trailer aubergine eggplant autumn fall B bank holiday legal holiday bank note bill bap hamburger bun bat (ping pong) paddle bath bathtub bath (v.) bathe bathroom bathroom/restroom/washroom big dipper roller coaster bill check (restaurant) bill/account account billion = million million billion = thousand million biscuit (sweet) cookie black or white?(coffee) with or without? blackleg/scab scab black treacle molasses blind (window) shade block of flats apartment house block of flats apartment building blue jeans dungarees/jeans bomb (success) bomb (disaster) bonnet (car) hood book (v.) make reservation boot (car) trunk bootlace/shoelace shoestring bowler/hard hat derby braces suspenders break (school) recess briefs/underpants shorts/jockey shorts broad bean lima bean bureau de change currency exchange butter muslin/cheese cloth cheese cloth C candyfloss cotton candy caravan trailer caretaker/porter janitor car park parking lot catapult slingshot cattle grid Texas gate centre (city/business) downtown central reservation median strip/divider chairman (business) president chemist druggist chemist’s shop pharmacy/drugstore chest of drawers dresser/bureau chips French fries cinema movie house/theater class/form (school) grade cloakroom check room cloakroom attendant hat check girl clothes peg clothes pin conscription draft contraceptive/condom rubber convoy caravan cooker stove corn flour corn starch corporation/local authority city/municipal government cot/crib crib cotton thread cotton reel spool cotton wool cotton batting courgette zucchini court shoe pump cream cracker soda cracker crisps chips/potato chips cul-de-sac dead end cupboard closet curtains drapes D desiccated (coconut) shredded director (company) manager directory enquiries information assistance directory enquiries directory assistance district precinct diversion detour drain (indoors) sewer pipe draper drygoods store draught excluder weather stripping draughts checkers drawing pin thumb tack dressing-gown bathrobe dual carriageway divided highway dummy pacifier dungarees overalls dustbin/bin garbage can/trash can dynamo generator E eiderdown comforter state agent realtor estate car station wagon F fair (fun) carnival filling station / petrol station gas station film movie first floor second floor fish slice spatula/egg lifter fitted carpet wall to wall carpet flannel wash cloth flat apartment flex electric cord/wire fly-over overpass football/soccer soccer fortnight two weeks foyer lobby/foyer full stop (punctuation) period funny bone crazy bone G gallery (theatre) balcony gangway aisle gaol jail garden yard gear lever gear shift giddy dizzy give a bell(to phone) give a buzz goods truck (railway) freight truck goose pimples goose bumps gramophone/record player phonograph/record player greenfingers green thumb grill (v.) broil guard (railway) conductor gym shoes/plimsolls sneakers/tennis shoes tennis shoes/trainers sneakers/tennis shoes H hair grip/kirby grip bobbie pin handbag purse/pocket book hardware housewares headmaster/mistress principal hire purchase installment plan holiday vacation homely (=pleasant) homely (=ugly) hoover (n.) vacuum cleaner hoover (v.) vacuum housing estate sub-division I ice/sorbet sherbet iced lolly popsicle icing sugar powdered sugar icing sugar confectioner’s sugar identification parade line-up immersion heater(electric) water heater interval intermission ironmonger hardware store J jab (injection) shot joint (meat) roast jug pitcher jumper/sweater/pullover sweater/pullover K kiosk/box (telephone) telephone booth kipper smoked herring knickers (girl’s) underwear/panties knock up (tennis) warm up knock up (call from sleep) in American slang this means to get a woman pregnant L label tag larder pantry lavatory/toilet/w.c./loo john/bathroom/washroom lay-by pull-off leader (leading article in newspaper) editorial leader(1st violin in orchestra) concert master left luggage office baggage room let lease/rent level crossing (railway) grade crossing lift elevator limited (company) incorporated lodger roomer lorry truck lost property lost and found M mackintosh raincoat made to measure custom made managing director/MD general manager marrow squash methylated spirits denatured alcohol mileometer odometer motorway freeway/throughway motorway super highway N nappy diaper neat (drink) straight net curtains sheers/under drapes newsagent news dealer/news stand nought zero noughts and crosses tic-tac-toe number plate license plate O off license/wine merchant liquor store oven cloth/gloves pot holder/oven mitt overtake (vehicle) pass P pack (of cards) deck packed lunch sack lunch/bag lunch panel beater body shop pants (boy’s underwear) shorts/underwear paraffin kerosene parcel package pavement/footpath sidewalk personal call person-to-person call petrol gas/gasoline pillar box/letter box mail box plaster/elastoplast bandaid point/power point/socket outlet/socket post mail postal code zip code postman mailman/postman postponement raincheck pram baby carriage/baby buggy prison penitentiary public convenience bathroom/restroom/washroom public school private school pudding dessert purse change purse pushchair stroller put down/entered(goods) bought/charged put through (telephone) connect Q queue (n.) line queue (v.) stand in line/line up R rasher (bacon) slice reception (hotel) front desk receptionist desk clerk return ticket round trip ticket reverse charges call collect reversing lights back up lights ring up/phone call/phone roof/hood (car) top roundabout (road) traffic circle rubber eraser rubbish garbage/trash S saloon car sedan scribbling pad/block scratch pad sellotape scotch tape semi-detached duplex semolina cream of wheat shattered exhausted shop assistant sales clerk/sales girl sideboard buffet sideboards (hair) sideburns silencer (car) muffler single ticket one way ticket sitting room living room living room living room lounge living room drawing room living room skipping rope jump rope skirting board baseboard sledge/toboggan sled smalls (washing) underwear sofa davenport/couch solicitor lawyer/attorney sorbet sherbet spanner monkey wrench spirits (drink) liquor spring onion scallion/green onion staff (academic) faculty stalls (theatre) orchestra seats stand (for public office) run standard lamp floor lamp state school public school sellotape adhesive tape stone (fruit) pit sultana raisin surgery(doctor’s/dentist’s) office surgical spirit rubbing alcohol suspender belt garter belt suspenders garters swede turnip/rutabaga sweet corn corn sweet shop/confectioner candy store sweets/chocolate candy Swiss roll jelly roll T tadpole pollywog tap faucet teat (baby’s bottle) nipple tea trolley tea cart telegram wire telephone box phone booth term academic (3 in a year) semester(2 in a year) tights pantyhose time-table schedule tin can tip (n. and v.) dump torch flashlight traffic lights stop lights traffic lights traffic signals traffic lights stop signals trousers pants/slacks truncheon (police) night stick trunk call/long distance long distance call tube/underground subway turnover sales/revenue turn-ups (trousers) cuffs (pants) U undergraduates: undergraduates: - 1st year - freshman - 2nd year - sophomore - 3rd year - junior - 4th year - senior unit trust mutual fund

At School

"Stop mucking around and get on with your work,"
shouted the teacher to two students who were off task.

British English	American English
Friend / Mate	Friend
Rubber	Eraser
Maths	Math
Public School	Private School
State School	Public School
Holiday	Vacation
Packed lunch	Sack lunch/bag lunch
School dinner	Hot Lunch
Staff Room	Teachers Lounge
Plimsolls	Gym Shoes
"Mucking Around" / Off Task	Off Task / Fooling Around / "Goofing Off"
Play Time / Break Time	Recess
Open Day / Open Evening	Open House
Marking Scheme	Grading Scheme
Drawing pins	pushpins or thumbtacks
Headmaster/mistress Headteacher	Principal
Caretaker/porter	Janitor

Buildings / Shops

British English

American English

Semi-Detached House	Duplex
Block of flats	Apartment house
Block of flats	Apartment building
First floor	Second floor
Terrace (row of houses joined)	Town House
Chemist	Drug Store / Druggist
Surgery	Doctor's office
Cafe / Caff (not 24 hrs)	Diner
Ironmonger	Hardware store
Bungalow	House (one story)  Ranch House
Newsagent	News dealer/news stand
Off license/wine merchant	Liquor store
Bureau de change	Currency exchange
Bill	Check (restaurant)

Food

Are you Peckish? (Are you Hungry?)

What's for afters? Have you had your pudding yet?

Are you feeling peckish (hungry)?

That food looks very scrummy (delicious)

British English	American English
Scone	Biscuit
Fairy Cake	Cup Cake
Courgette	Zucchini
Sweets	Candy
Sausage / Banger	Sausage
Crisps	Chips
Chips (French Fries in McDonald's)	French Fries
Starter	Appetizer
Puddings / Afters / Dessert / Sweets	Dessert
Jacket Potato / Baked Potato	Baked Potato
Jam	Jelly or Jam
Jelly (a dessert in the UK)	Jell-o (flavoured gelatin)
Aubergine	Eggplant
Sandwich / Butty / Sarny	Sandwich
Ice lolly	Popsicle
Bill (at restaurant)	check
Grill (oven grill)	Broil (oven broil)
Food / Grub / Nosh	Food
Rasher	A slice of bacon
Eggy bread (fried)	French Toast
Runner beans	Green beans
broad bean	lima bean
Soldiers (We dip soldiers in our soft boiled eggs)	Finger sized slices of toast.
bap	hamburger bun
Take-away	Take out
biscuit (sweet)	cookie
corn flour	corn starch
desiccated (coconut)	shredded
icing sugar	powdered sugar
icing sugar	confectioner’s sugar
kipper	smoked herring
marrow	squash
semolina	cream of wheat
sorbet	sherbet
Swiss roll	jelly roll
black treacle	molasses
black or white?(coffee)	with or without?
candyfloss	cotton candy

Spellings

British English	American English
colour	color
humour	humor
favourite	favorite
theatre	theater
kilometre	kilometer
mum, mam or mom *	mom
cosy	cozy
realise	realize
dialogue	dialog
traveller	traveler
cheque	check
jewellery	jewelry
tyre	tire

There are many British words which are different from American words.

For example:

• A lorry is a slimmer truck.
• A lift is an elevator.
• A fortnight is two weeks.
• A chemist is a person who works in a drugstore.
• A dual carriageway is a freeway.

·    In and around the House

·         I watch the telly whilst lying on the settee.

·         Whilst is used in British English. It is another word for while

British English	American English
The Toilet / Loo / The John / Bog / WC / Visiting the little boys (little girl's room).	Bathroom / Restroom
Bathroom - the room where the bath is. If you asked us for the bathroom we will think you want to have a bath!
Tap	Faucet
Garden	Backyard / Yard
Cupboard	Closet
Wardrobe	Closet
Curtains	Drapes
Net curtains	Sheers/under drapes
Bin / Dust Bin	Trash Can
Telephone / Blower / Phone	Telephone
Television / Box / Telly/ TV	TV / Television
Cooker e.g. gas cooker, electric cooker	Range or Stove
Couch / Sofa / Settee	Sofa
Hand Basin / Sink	Sink
Run the bath	Fill the tub
Bath	Bath tub
Bath (v.)	Bathe
Wireless / Radio	Radio
Clothes peg	Clothes pin
Sitting room	Living room
Living room	Living room
Lounge	Living room
Drawing room	Living room
Sofa	Davenport/couch

People

British English	American English
Girl / Lass	Girl
Boy / Lad	Boy
Man / Bloke / Chap/ Gentleman / Guy /	Man / Guy
Policeman / Bobby/ Copper	Cop
Postman	Postal Worker / Mailman / Mail Carrier
Dustman	Garbage Man
Friend / Pal / Chum/ Mate / Buddy	Friend / Buddy
Cashier	Teller
Lollypop Man	Crossing Guard
Guard (railway)	Conductor
Solicitor	Lawyer/attorney
Caretaker/porter	Janitor
Nutter	Crazy Person
Mum / Mummy / Mom, Mother	Mom, Mommy, Mother, Ma

Sport

British English	American English
Football	Soccer
Rounders	Baseball
Bat (table tennis)	Paddle (ping pong)

Other Words

British English	American English
Torch	Flashlight
Plaster	Band-Aid
Autumn	Fall
Bank Holiday	National Holiday
Lift	Elevator
Queue There's a queue.	Stand in a Line There's a line.
Quid (slang for pound)	Bucks
Trodden on	Stepped on
I'm knackered	I'm Beat
Kip / sleep	sleep
Nick	steal
Starkers / naked	Naked
Come round	Come over
Off you go	Go ahead
It's gone off	It's spoiled
Lady bird	Lady bug

Clothes

In the UK, we would be embarrassed if people saw our pants. why?

British English	American English
Trousers	Pants
Pants / Underwear / Knickers	Underwear / panties
briefs/underpants	shorts/jockey shorts
Jumper / Pullover / Sweater / Jersey	Sweater
Pinafore Dress	Jumper
Vest	Undershirt
Waistcoat	Vest
Wellington Boots / Wellies	Galoshes
Mac (slang for Macintosh)	Rain Coat
Plimsolls	Gym Shoes
Trainers	Sneakers
Braces	Suspenders
Suspenders	Holds up stockings
Dressing Gown	Robe
Nappy	Diaper
Pinny / Apron	Apron
Polo Neck	Turtle Neck
Dressing Gown	Bath Robe
Swimming costume / Cozzy	Bathing Suit
Dungarees	Overalls
dressing-gown	bathrobe
bootlace/shoelace	shoestring
bowler/hard hat	derby