AMERICAN ENGLISH - BRITISH ENGLISH
**Note: these words might be outdated or not commonly used because language is an ever-changing entity.
This list is just for fun - it is certainly not comprehensive. Email complaints will probably be ignored. :-) |
British English and American English. I’ve lost my key. I’ve lost my key. .postbox; also known as pillar box), also known as a collection box, mailbox, letter box or drop box (American English) is a physical box into which.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H-I |
| J | K-L | M | N-O | P | R-S | T | U-Z |
| A |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| an airplane | an aeroplane |
| aluminum | aluminium |
| anesthesiologist | anaesthetist |
| an apartment | a flat |
| an appetizer (before the meal) | a starter |
| an appointment | an engagement |
| archeology | archaeology |
| (to) awaken someone | (to) knock up |
| B |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| a babysitter | a child-minder |
| baby buggy/carriage | pram (perambulator) |
| bad manners | bad form |
| baked potato | jacket potato |
| the bathroom | the loo, toilet |
| a Band-Aid | an Elastoplast / a plaster |
| a bank teller | a cashier |
| a barrette | a hairslide |
| a baseboard | a skirting board |
| a bedspread | a duvet |
| bell boy (hotel) | page |
| bill (money) | note |
| billion | trillion / milliard |
| bleachers | terrace |
| boob tube (TV) | goggle-box |
| to book | to make reservations |
| braces (for teeth) | brace |
| built-in | in-built |
| bumper to bumper (traffic) | nose to tail |
| bus | coach |
| busy (phone) | engaged |
| C |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| to call (on the phone) | to ring |
| a can of peas | a tin of peas |
| candy | sweets |
| catnip | cat mint |
| catalog | catalogue |
| cents | pence |
| Chapstick | lip balm |
| a check | a cheque / bill (restaurant) |
| checkers (game) | draughts |
| chips | crisps |
| cigarette | fag |
| clipping (e.g., from a newspaper) | cutting |
| closet (bedroom) | wardrobe |
| clothespin | peg |
| a collect call | a reverse charge call |
| color | colour |
| come by | pop round |
| a cookie | a biscuit |
| a cop, an officer | a copper |
| corn | maize |
| corn starch | corn flour |
| corn on the cob | maize cob |
| cotton candy | candy floss |
| a commercial | an advertisment |
| a cracker, or cookie | a biscuit |
| cream of wheat | semolina |
| a crib (baby bed) | a cot |
| a cross walk | a zebra crossing |
| a crossing guard | a lollipop man / lady |
| a cupcake | a fairy cake |
| a curb | a kerb |
| D |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| deck of cards | pack of cards |
| delayed (late) | held up |
| department | faculty |
| department head | consultant |
| dessert | afters |
| a detour | a diversion |
| a diaper | a nappy |
| a dollar bill | a note |
| a druggist | a chemist |
| drunk | pissed |
| a duplex | a semi-detached house |
| E |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| an eggplant | an aubergine |
| an electric cord | a flex |
| an elevator | a lift |
| the emergency room | the casualty |
| endive | chicory |
| an eraser | a rubber |
| expensive | dear |
| extension cord (electric) | extension lead |
| F |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| faculty | staff |
| faucet | tap |
| favorite | favourite |
| financial aid, scholarship | bursary |
| fire department | fire brigade |
| first floor (building) | ground floor |
| flagpole | flagstaff |
| a flashlight | a torch |
| a flight attendant | an airhostess |
| a flirt | a tart |
| font, typeface | fount |
| freeway | motorway, carriageway |
| freezer | cold store |
| French fries | chips |
| G |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| game | match |
| garage sale | boot sale |
| garbage man, trash man | dustman |
| garter belt | suspenders |
| gasoline / gas | petrol |
| gear shift | gear lever |
| German Shepard/police dog | Alsatian |
| green thumb | green fingers |
| gizzards | offal |
| golashes, rain boots | wellingtons, wellies |
| good many, large number | good few |
| glove compartment | facia pocket |
| glue | gum |
| grandfather clock | long-case clock |
| graduate | pass out |
| granola | muesli |
| gray | grey |
| ground beef | minced meat |
| gum | glue or paste |
| gutter | gully |
| H |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| hamburger bun | bap |
| to handle, touch | to fondle |
| hardware store | ironmonger |
| headlights (car) | headlamps |
| hem and haw (speech) | m and r |
| high school | grammar school |
| honor | honour |
| hood (of a car) | bonnet |
| horn (of a car) | hooter |
| hospital emergency room | casualty |
| house (one story) | bungalow |
| humor | humour |
| hungry | peckish |
| insane | mad |
| intermission | interval |
| J |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| jail | gaol |
| janitor | caretaker |
| jello / gelatin dessert | jelly |
| jelly | jam |
| jewelry | jewellery |
| K-L |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| kerosene | paraffin |
| kindergarten | infant's school |
| to kiss (passionately) | to snog |
| to knock up (slang term) | to make pregnant |
| ladybug | ladybird |
| laid off (job) | made redundant |
| law offices | chambers |
| lawyer, attorney | barrister, solicitor / pleader |
| leash (for a dog) | lead |
| leather | hide |
| legal age | full age |
| library card | library ticket |
| license plate | number plate |
| a line (of people) | queue |
| linens | muslins |
| living room | lounge |
| liquor store | off Licence, offy |
| lunch box | piece-tin |
American Post Box With Stand
| M |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| mail | post |
| mailbox | postbox |
| mail carrier | postman, posty |
| maneuver | manoeuvre |
| to make reservations | to book |
| math | maths |
| memo or voucher | chit |
| menopause | the maenopause |
| mirror | glass |
| molasses | treacle |
| mold | mould |
| monkey wrench | spanner |
| movie | film / picture |
| movie theater | cinema |
| N-O |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| napkin | serviette |
| nominate | adopt |
| notebook | jotter |
| nudist | naturist |
| oatmeal | porridge |
| on/off ramp | slip road |
| oven | cooker |
| overalls | dungarees |
| overhead expense | on-cost |
| overpass (bridge) | flyover |
| P |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| pacifier (baby) | dummy |
| package | bundle |
| pajamas | pyjamas |
| panties | knickers |
| pants | trousers |
| paper towel | kitchen towel, kitchen paper |
| parade | carnival |
| parking lot | car park |
| peanuts | monkey nuts |
| peek-a-boo | peep-bo |
| a period (punctuation) | a full stop |
| pharmacist | chemist |
| pickles | pickled cucumbers |
| picnic basket | picnic hamper |
| pie crust | pastry base |
| pine cone | fir apple |
| pitcher | jug |
| plastic wrap | clingfilm |
| Plexiglas | perspex |
| a police officer | a copper |
| Popsicle | ice lolly |
| postage meter | franking machine |
| potato chips | crisps |
| principal | headmaster |
| private school | public school |
| public library | lending library |
| public school | state school |
| purse | handbag |
| R-S |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| raincoat | mackintosh / mack |
| raisin | sultana |
| realtor | estate agent |
| to rent | to hire |
| repair | mend |
| robe | dressing gown |
| rubber boots | gum boots |
| S-curve (road) | double bend |
| sand box | sand pit |
| Santa Claus | Father Christmas |
| security deposit | key money |
| scrambled eggs | buttered eggs |
| shampoo | hair wash |
| shopping cart | trolley |
| sidewalk | pavement / footway |
| Sir | Squire, Guv'nor |
| a slash (punctuation) | an oblique |
| slipcovers | loose covers |
| sneakers | trainers, plimsolls, pumps |
| soccer | football |
| solitaire | patience |
| spelled | spelt |
| squash | marrow |
| station wagon | estate car |
| steering wheel | driving wheel |
| stingy | mean |
| stroller | pram, pushchair |
| studio apartment | bedsitter |
| styrofoam | polystyrene |
| suspenders | braces |
| sweater | pullover, jumper |
| T |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| take-out (food) | take-away |
| talk show | chat show |
| telephone | blower |
| telephone booth | call box |
| tip, gratuity | dash |
| tissue / kleenex | paper handkerchief |
| toll free (phone) | free phone |
| traffic jam | tailback |
| transmission | gear box |
| thread | cotton |
| thumb tack | drawing pin |
| tic tac toe | naughts and crosses |
| tire | tyre |
| toothpick | cocktail stick |
| tract housing | housing estate |
| trailor | caravan |
| trash | rubbish |
| trash bag | bin liner |
| trash can | bin, dustbin (the one outside) |
| truck | lorry |
| trunk (of a car) | boot |
| turn signals | flashers |
| tux / tuxedo | dinner jacket |
| two weeks | fortnight |
| U-Z |
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
| umbrella | brolly |
| undershirt | vest |
| underwear | pants, knickers |
| vacation | holiday |
| vest | waistcoat |
| waken or rouse | knock up |
| wall to wall carpeting | fitted carpet |
| wallet (a man's) | notecase |
| wallet (a woman's) | purse |
| a washcloth | a flannel |
| a water heater | a geyser |
| wheel chair | invalid chair |
| window screen | flyscreen |
| windshield | windscreen |
| yard | garden |
| zee (the letter Z) | zed |
| zip code | post code |
| zucchini | courgette |
Here you will find words which have different meanings or are spelled differently in British and American English.
| British English | American English |
|---|
| N |
|---|
| nappy | diaper |
| national insurance number | social security number |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| note | bill |
| notice board | bulletin board |
| number plate | license plate |
| P |
|---|
| a pack of cards | a deck of cards |
| a packet of cigarettes | a pack of cigarettes |
| pants | underpants |
| paraffin | kerosene/kerosine |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| pedestrian crossing | crosswalk |
| pepper | bell pepper |
| petrol | gas |
| phone box | phone booth |
| plane | airplane |
| polo neck | turtleneck |
| post | mail |
| post code | zip code |
| postman | mailman |
| pram, pushchair | baby carriage, baby buggy, stoller |
| prawn | shrimp |
| primary school | elementary school
grade school |
| programme | program |
| Q |
|---|
| to queue | to line up |
| quid | buck |
| R |
|---|
| railway | railroad |
| reception | front desk |
| to ring | to call |
| roadway | pavement |
| roundabout | traffic circle, rotary |
| rucksack | backpack |
| rubber | eraser |
| rubbish | garbage |
| S |
|---|
| share | stock |
| shop | store |
| shop assistant | sales clerk |
| sick | nauseated |
| single ticket | one-way ticket |
| Sorry. | Excuse me. |
| spanner | wrench |
| sports day | fields day |
| public school | private school |
| stock | inventory |
| subway | underpass |
| sultana | raisin |
| sweet shop | candy store |
| T |
|---|
| tap | faucet |
| taxi | cab |
| term | semester |
| theatre | theater |
| timetable | schedule |
| tin | can |
| toilet, loo | bathroom, restroom |
| town centre | downtown, city center |
| torch | flashlight |
| trainers | sneakers |
| tram | streetcar |
| travelled | traveled |
| trolley | cart |
| trousers | pants |
| tyre | tire |
| U |
|---|
| underground, tube | subway |
| underlay | carpet pad |
| undertaker | mortician |
| V |
|---|
| vest | undershirt |
| W |
|---|
| waistcoat | vest |
| wallet | billfold |
| wardrobe | closet |
| to wash | wash up |
| wing | fender |
| Y |
|---|
| year | grade |
| Z |
|---|
| zebra crossing | crosswalk |
| zip | zipper |
American Post Box Inglewood
American Post Boxes
Thanks to Carl, Declan, Edeet, Gabriele, Hans, John, Karin, Liz, Monika, Ron, Ulrike and Vicky.
