Here are a few of
the more common words which are different in American and British English.
This is only meant to highlight some of the variety which exists within
English, and is not a complete list by any means. It also does not address
different vocabulary which is used in Australia, Canada, South Africa and
India as well as the Caribbean, Africa, and the many other places in the
world which use English as the language of commerce or government.
|
American |
British |
|
apartment |
flat |
|
argument |
row |
|
baby carriage |
pram |
|
band-aid |
plaster |
|
bathroom |
loo or WC |
|
can |
tin |
|
chopped beef |
mince |
|
cookie |
biscuit |
| corn | maize |
|
diaper |
nappy |
|
elevator |
lift |
|
eraser |
rubber |
|
flashlight |
torch |
|
fries |
chips |
|
gas |
petrol |
|
guy |
bloke, chap |
|
highway |
motorway |
| hood (car) | bonnet |
|
jello |
jelly |
|
jelly |
jam |
|
kerosene |
paraffin |
|
lawyer |
solicitor |
|
license plate |
number plate |
|
line |
queue |
|
|
post |
|
motor home |
caravan |
|
movie theater |
cinema |
|
muffler |
silencer |
|
napkin |
serviette |
|
nothing |
nought |
|
overpass |
flyover |
|
pacifier |
dummy |
|
pants |
trousers |
|
parking lot |
car park |
|
period |
full stop |
|
pharmacist |
chemist |
|
potato chips |
crisps |
|
rent |
hire |
|
sausage |
banger |
|
sidewalk |
pavement |
|
soccer |
football |
|
sweater |
jumper |
|
trash can |
bin |
|
truck |
lorry |
| trunk (car) | boot |
|
vacation |
holiday |
|
vest |
waistcoat |
| windshield (car) | windscreen |
|
zip code |
postal code |
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