British English and American English

While English speakers will normally have no problem understanding each other no matter where they come from in the English speaking world, it’s worth knowing some of the main variations between British English and American English.

British English and American English

 

British and American English

The differences between British English and American English are mainly to do with vocabulary and spelling. In this post we’re giving you a list of some of the main vocabulary items that are different.

 

British English

American English

accommodation

accommodations

aerofoilairfoil
aeroplaneairplane
aluminiumaluminum
aniseedanise
anticlockwisecounterclockwise
aubergineeggplant
baking traycookie sheet
bank holidaylegal holiday
beetrootbeet(s)
biscuitcookie; cracker
black economyunderground economy
blanket bathsponge bath
block of flatsapartment building
boiler suitcoveralls
bonnet (of a car)hood
bottom drawerhope chest
bowlslawn bowling
bracessuspenders
breeze blockcinder block
bridging loanbridge loan
bumbagfanny pack
candyflosscotton candy
car parkparking lot
casualtyemergency room
catapultslingshot
central reservationmedian strip
chemistdrugstore
chipsFrench fries
cinemamovie theater; the movies
cling filmplastic wrap
common sealharbor seal
consumer durablesdurable goods
cornflourcornstarch
cotton woolabsorbent cotton
council estate(housing) project
courgettezucchini
court cardface card
crotchet (music)quarter note
current accountchecking account
dialling tonedial tone
diamanterhinestone
double creamheavy cream
draughts (game)checkers
drawing pinthumbtack
dressing gownrobe; bathrobe
drink-drivingdrunk driving
driving licencedriver’s license
dual carriagewaydivided highway
dummy (for a baby)pacifier
dust sheetdrop cloth
dustbingarbage can
earth(electrical)ground
engaged (of a phone)busy
estate agentreal estate agent, realtor (trademark)
estate carstation wagon
ex-directoryunlisted
faith schoolparochial school
financial yearfiscal year
fire brigade/servicefire company/department
first floorsecond floor
fish fingerfish stick
flatapartment
flexitimeflextime
flick knifeswitchblade
flyoveroverpass
footballsoccer
footwaysidewalk
fringe (hair)bangs
full stop (punctuation)period
gardenyard; lawn
gearing (finance)leverage
gear levergearshift
goods trainfreight train
greaseproof paperwax paper/waxed paper
green fingersgreen thumb
grill (noun)broiler
grill (verb)broil
ground floorfirst floor
groundsmangroundskeeper
hairslidebarrette
hatstandhatrack
hen nightbachelorette party
hire purchaseinstallment plan
hoardingbillboard
holidayvacation
holidaymakervacationer
homelyhomey
hosepipe(garden) hose
in hospitalin the hospital
icing sugarconfectioners’ sugar
indicator (on a car)turn signal
inside leginseam
jelly babiesjelly beans
jumble salerummage sale
jump leadjumper cable
jumpersweater
junior schoolelementary school
kenneldoghouse
ladybirdladybug
a lettucea head of lettuce
level crossinggrade crossing
liftelevator
lollylollipop
lorrytruck
loudhailerbullhorn
low loaderflatbed truck
lucky dipgrab bag
marshalling yardrailroad yard
mathsmath
metalled roadpaved road
mobile phonecell phone
mum/mummymom/mommy
nappydiaper
noughts and crossestic-tac-toe
number platelicense plate
off-licenceliquor store; package store
opencast miningopen-pit mining
ordinary sharecommon stock
oven gloveoven mitt
paddling poolwading pool
paracetamolacetaminophen
parting (in hair)part
patiencesolitaire
pavementsidewalk
pay packetpay envelope
pedestrian crossingcrosswalk
pegclothespin
pelmetvalance
petrolgas; gasoline
physiotherapyphysical therapy
pinafore dressjumper
plain chocolatedark chocolate
plain flourall-purpose flour
polo neckturtleneck
positive discriminationreverse discrimination
postal voteabsentee ballot
postboxmailbox
postcodezip code
potato crisppotato chip
power pointelectrical outlet
prambaby carriage; stroller
press studsnap
press-uppushup
private soldierGI
public schoolprivate school
public transportpublic transportation
punchbagpunching bag
pushchairstroller
pylonutility pole
queueline
racing carrace car
railwayrailroad
real tenniscourt tennis
recorded deliverycertified mail
registration platelicense plate
remould (tyre)retread
reverse the chargescall collect
reversing lightsback-up lights
right-angled triangleright triangle
ring roadbeltway
roundabout (at a fair)carousel
roundabout (in road)traffic circle
rowing boatrowboat
sailing boatsailboat
saloon (car)sedan
sandpitsandbox
sandwich cakelayer cake
semibreve (music)whole note
semitone (music)half step
share optionstock option
shopping trolleyshopping cart
skimmed milkskim milk
skipping ropejump rope
skirting boardbaseboard
sledgesled
sleeperrailroad tie
sleeping partnersilent partner
slowcoachslowpoke
snakes and ladderschutes and ladders
solicitorlawyer
spring onionscallion
state schoolpublic school
sweetscandy
takeaway (food)takeout; to go
taxi ranktaxi stand
tea toweldish towel
terrace houserow house
tickcheck mark
ticket toutscalper
timberlumber
trade unionlabor union
trainerssneakers
trolleyshopping cart
undergroundsubway
vacuum flaskthermos bottle
verge (of a road)shoulder
vestundershirt
veterinary surgeonveterinarian
wagon(on a train)car
waistcoatvest
wardrobecloset
worktopcountertop
zebra crossingcrosswalk
zipzipper

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