Looking for differences between British vs American English Vocabulary? You’ll find everything you need here!
Every language has its differences. Some of them are in the way people pronounce words, some are in how people structure sentences, and some are in the words they use to refer to the same thing. These differences are even more salient when the same language is spoken in different parts of the world, since each culture uses the language in a different reality, and with different cultural influences. English is no exception. One can easily find a lot of changes in the way British people and American people use their language. Here you can find a comprehensive list of the differences regarding British vs. American English vocabulary. If you want to check the difference in the pronunciation of some of these words, go to The Free Dictionary.
BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH VOCABULARY
| British English | American English |
| aerial | antenna |
| accelerator | gas pedal; accelerator |
| Alsatian | German shepherd |
| American football | football |
| American Indian | Native American |
| angry | mad |
| anorak | jacket; parka |
| anti-clockwise | counter-clockwise |
| anywhere | anywhere; anyplace |
| articulated lorry | trailer truck |
| aubergine | eggplant |
| autumn | fall |
| bank-note | bill |
| bank holiday | national holiday; federal holiday |
| barrister; solicitor | lawyer; attorney |
| beetroot | beet |
| biro | ball-point pen |
| bonnet (clothing) | hat (clothing) |
| bonnet (car) | hood (car) |
| boot (car) | trunk (car) |
| bill (restaurant) | bill; check (restaurant) |
| block of flats | apartment building |
| bloke | guy; man |
| braces | suspender |
| candy floss | candy cotton |
| car park | parking lot |
| caravan | trailer |
| caretaker | janitor |
| city centre | downtown; city center |
| chemist’s shop | drugstore; pharmacy |
| chest of drawers | chest of drawers; dresser; bureau |
| chips | french fries |
| cloakroom | checkroom; coatroom |
| clothes peg | clothespin |
| the cinema | the movies |
| coffin | coffin; casket |
| condom | rubber |
| constable | patrolman |
| cooker | stove |
| corn; wheat | wheat |
| cot | crib |
| cotton | thread |
| cotton wool | cotton ball |
| courgette | zucchini |
| crash | wreck |
| crossroads | intersection |
| curtains | drapes |
| curriculum vitae | résumé; resume; curriculum vitae |
| dinner jacket | tuxedo; tux |
| draughts (game) | checkers (game) |
| draught | draft |
| drawing pin | thumb tack |
| drink-driving | drunk driving |
| dressing gown | robe |
| dual carriageway | divided highway |
| dummy | pacifier |
| dustbin; rubbish-bin | trashcan; garbage can |
| dustman | garbage collector |
| duvet | comforter |
| dynamo | generator |
| earth wire | ground wire |
| engine | motor |
| engine driver | engineer |
| estate agent | real estate agent |
| estate car | station wagon |
| expiry date | expiration date |
| Father Christmas | Santa Claus |
| fancy dress | costume |
| film | movie |
| flat | apartment; flat; studio |
| flannel | face cloth; wash cloth |
| flyover | overpass |
| fizzy drink | soda |
| fire brigade | fire department |
| football | soccer |
| fortnight | two weeks |
| fringe | bangs |
| Girl Guide | Girl Scouts |
| garden | yard |
| gear-lever | gear-shift |
| graduate | alumnus |
| grill | boiler |
| ground floor | first floor |
| gumshoes; wellington boots | rubbers |
| gym shoes; tennis-shoes | sneakers |
| handbag | hand bag; purse; shoulder bag |
| headmaster; headteacher | principal |
| hoarding | billboard |
| holiday | vacation |
| hoover | vacuum cleaner |
| icing sugar | powdered sugar |
| ill | sick |
| interval | intermission |
| jersey; jumper; pullover; sweater | sweater |
| jam | jam; preserves |
| jug | jug; pitcher |
| lad | boy |
| ladybird | ladybug |
| lift | elevator |
| lorry | truck |
| luggage | baggage |
| mackintosh; raincoat | raincoat |
| mad | crazy |
| match | game |
| main road | highway |
| maize | corn |
| maths | math |
| mean | stingy |
| mobile (phone) | cellphone |
| motorbike | motorcycle |
| motorway | freeway; expressway; highway; interstate (highway) |
| nappy | diaper |
| nasty | vicious; mean |
| notice board | bulletin board |
| nowhere | nowhere; noplace |
| number plate | license plate |
| optician | optometrist |
| off-license | liquor store |
| pack of cards, a | deck of cards, a |
| packet of cigarettes, a | pack of cigarettes, a |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| paraffin | kerosene |
| pedestrian crossing; zebra crossing | crosswalk |
| peep | peek |
| pet hate | pet peeve |
| petrol | gas; gasoline |
| phone box | phone booth |
| pocket money | allowance |
| polo neck | turtleneck |
| post | |
| postbox | mailbox |
| postcode | zip code |
| postman | mail man; mail carrier |
| potato crisps | potato chips |
| pram; push chair | baby carriage; baby buggy; stroller |
| prawn | shrimp |
| pub | bar |
| public toilet | restroom; public bathroom |
| puncture | blow-out |
| push-chair | stroller |
| queue | line |
| railway | railroad |
| railway carriage | railway car |
| reception | front desk |
| reel of cotton | spool of thread |
| return ticket | round-trip ticket |
| reverse charge | call collect |
| ring road | belt way; freeway/highway loop |
| rise (in salary) | raise (in salary) |
| road surface; roadway | pavement; blacktop |
| roundabout | traffic circle |
| round brackets | parentheses |
| row | argument |
| rubber | eraser |
| rubbish | trash; garbage |
| rucksack | backpack |
| saloon (car) | sedan (car) |
| sellotape | Scotch tape |
| share | stock |
| shop | store |
| shop assistant | sales clerk |
| silencer | muffler |
| single ticket | one-way ticket |
| starter | appetizer |
| national insurance number | social security number |
| somewhere | someplace |
| sultana | raisin |
| spanner | wrench |
| sump | oil pan |
| sweet | dessert |
| sweets | candy |
| sweet shop | candy store |
| tap | faucet |
| tap (outdoors) | spigot |
| taxi | (taxi) cab |
| tea-towel | dish-towel |
| term | semester |
| tic-tac-toe | noughts and crosses |
| tights | pantyhose |
| timetable | schedule |
| tin | can |
| toll motorway | toll road; turnpike |
| torch | flashlight |
| toilet; loo | bathroom |
| tram | streetcar |
| tramp | hobo |
| trolley | cart |
| trousers | pants |
| turn-ups | cuffs |
| underground; tube (train) | subway (train) |
| underpants | shorts |
| university | college |
| verge (of a road) | shoulder (of a road) |
| waistcoat | vest |
| wallet | wallet; billfold |
| wardrobe | closet |
| wash one’s hands and face | wash up |
| wellington boots | rubber boots; rain boots |
| windscreen | windshield |
| wing | fender |
| year | grade |
| zip | zipper |
Well, now you know a lot of the existing differences between British vs American English vocabulary. Don’t forget to review this list periodically so that you can remember the words whenever you need them!
If you want to read more tips on vocabulary, click here!
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