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**Note: these words might be outdated or not commonly used because language is an ever-changing entity.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. :-) |
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 |
M | |
AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH |
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 |
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