VOCABULARY DIFFERENCES

(This page will be updated whenever information is received)

THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

• British English v American English 

  • Alphabetical List

  • Categories

• British English v New Zealand English

• British English v Australian English

• Your feedback & queries

BRITISH WORDS & AMERICAN EQUIVALENTS

ACCENT:  Early American English originated from Quaker settlers who mostly travelled from the south-west area of England (i.e. Cornwall, etc., where the R-sound is very strong).   The part of America chosen by many these settlers was named:  New England.  (See Brian Milan's letter below, as he has written to say that the Quakers settled primarily in Pennsylvania, not New England)

VOCABULARY:  Many American words differ from British ones, e.g.  parts of the car.  Just as with British English, American English is an evolving language, influenced by the pop scene, scientific and technical advances.

Both types of vocabulary are acceptable, but my advice is to be consistent, i.e.  either use all British English, or all American English.  On a small scale, American and British English should be considered as separate languages (which they are);  therefore, if you are taking an American exam, or a British exam, it would be advisable to amend your vocabulary accordingly.

More words will be added to this table from time to time.  Please mail your suggestions

Individual Words

(Listed alphabetically)

• [UK] bailiff = [US] repo-man

• [UK] barrister = [US] attorney

• [UK] bath = [US] tub

• [UK] bonnet of a car = [US] hood

• [UK] boot of a car = [US] trunk

• [UK] bum (slang for bottom) = [US] butt (slang)

• [UK] crime, criminal offence, wrongdoing = [US] felony

• [UK] curtains = [US] drapes

• [UK] fool, idiot = [US] clown, joker, dummy

• [UK] gear stick (car) = [US] stick shift

• [UK] get, got, got = [US] get, got, gotten  

• [UK] main road = [US] interstate

• [UK] mobile phone (mobile) = [US] cellular phone (cell-phone)

• [UK] nappy = [US] diaper

• [UK] oujamaflip = [US] doohickey

• [UK] petrol = [US] gasoline (gas)

• [UK] post mortem = [US] autopsy

• [UK] postcode = [US] zipcode

• [UK] quilt = [US] comforter

• [UK] reading history = [US] majoring in history

• [UK] rubbish = [US] garbage

• [UK] shop = [US] store

• [UK] sneak, sneaked, sneaked = [US] sneak, snuck, snuck

• [UK] snog = [US] make out

• [UK] solicitor = [US] lawyer

• [UK] tap = [US] faucet

• [UK] term = [US] semester

• [UK] the head (headmaster/headmistress) = [US] the principal

• [UK] thingummyjig = [US] doohickey

• [UK] thingummybob = [US] doohickey

• [UK] timber = [US] lumber

• [UK] tramp = [US] bum

• [UK] wardrobe = [US] closet

• [UK] whatsit = [US] doohickey 

• [UK] whom = [US] who  

PHRASES WITH DIFFERENT WORD ORDER

CARS = AUTOS

• [UK] boot = [US] trunk

• [UK] bonnet = [US] hood

• [UK] gear stick = [US] stick shift

• [UK] petrol = [US] gasoline (gas)

DATES

• [British] 11th September , 2001 = [US] September 11, 2001 

• [British]11/9/01 = [US] 9/11/01

EDUCATION

• [UK] term = [US] semester

• [UK] reading history = [US] majoring in history

• [UK] the head (headmaster/headmistress) = [US] the principal

HOME

• [UK] bath = [US] tub

• [UK] curtains = [US] drapes

• [UK] tap = [US] faucet

• [UK] wardrobe = [US] closet

IN COURT = IN THE COURTHOUSE

• [UK] solicitor = [US] lawyer

• [UK] barrister= [US] attorney

• [UK] to act on behalf of the Crown = [US] to act on behalf of the people

• [UK] crime = [US] felony

PARTS OF THE BODY

• [UK] bum (slang) = [US] butt (slang)

PEOPLE

• [UK] bailiff = [US] repo-man

• [UK] barrister = [US] attorney

• [UK] fool, idiot = [US] clown, joker, dummy

• [UK] solicitor = [US] lawyer

• [UK] tramp = [US] bum

• [UK] whom = [US] who

VERBS

• [UK] sneak, sneaked, sneaked = [US] sneak, snuck, snuck

• [UK] get, got, got = [US] get, got, gotten

VOCABULARY:  In New Zealand, certain Maori words have been adopted into the language (example).  

ACCENT:  The accent in the South Island is predominantly Scottish, as the early settlers originated from Scotland;  however, the accent in the North Island is not very strong, as people emigrated to it from all over England.

Please send relevant information on this subject to Bibi

• [UK] corner shop = [NZ] dairy

• [UK] press-studs = [NZ] domes

• [UK] crisps = [NZ] chips

• [UK] lorry/truck = [NZ] truck

• [UK] sleeping policemen/speed bumps = [NZ] judder bars

VOCABULARY:  

• There is a general trend towards shortening words as follows:-

  • The first syllable + ie (unless the first syllable is a prefix) e.g. barbie

  • If the first syllable is a prefix, another syllable clearly indicates the meaning is chosen instead   

• Certain Aborigine words have been adopted into the language   

• Londoners were among the first to travel to Australia from Britain and their influence is obvious:

  •  they took with them a rhyming slang, referred to as Cockney Slang;  This slang has evolved and now an Australian version of rhyming slang exists  

• American films are having a strong influence on Australian vocabulary and spelling.

ACCENT:  The accent in Australia originated from the London area but, in comparison with British pronunciation, the 'A' sound is now broader.  People have since emigrated to Australia from all over Britain and this will have had some effect on accent in different areas.

Please send relevant information on this subject to Bibi

ENGLISH

• [UK] to do a U-turn = [AUS] to chuck a uey

• [UK] to go down the drain = [AUS] to go down the gurgler

• [UK] That's life = [AUS] That's the way the cookie crumbles

• [UK] VW (Vauxwagon Car) = [AUS] V-DUB

• [UK] aerial = [AUS] antennae

• [UK] little'uns = [AUS] littlies

• [UK] loft-hatch = [AUS] manhole

• [UK] manhole   = 

• [UK] shoplifter = [AUS] shop stealer

From: "Brian Milan" <bkm91-gov@hotmail.com
Subject: Correction on website
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 19:28:54 -0500
Excuse me. I was looking at your page with the list of different 
words in American and British English and I noticed a few mistakes.

Americans NEVER under any circumstances say the word "auto." They 
always use "car" just like British people. Also, Americans do not 
call "bailiffs" "repo-men." I have no idea where you got that from, 
but if you said repo-man to an American, they would have no idea 
what you are talking about. Bibi's Reply:  I have removed this;  I believe it is actually Australian.  Thanks for pointing it out.

Also, another small mistake. When you said "Are your family all 
there?" for the American version, it should say "Is your family all 
there?" because collective nouns are singular in American English. 
Again, if you used are with family, that would sound very strange to 
an American.  Bibi's Reply:  I have changed the error.  Thanks

Also, in the introduction about the accent differences; Quakers 
settled primarily in Pennsylvania, not New England. The facts about the Quakers and New England came from a documentary and maybe there are two versions of history, one on each side the the Atlantic.  I will therefore include both.

Being an American, I know that what I said is true. Of course, you 
do not have to take my corrections, but the way you have it is 
wrong.  Bibi's Reply:  Thanks for taking the trouble to write to me.

• From : Liz and Rob <ro.li@bigpond.com>

• Sent : 28 July 2005 17:17:09

• Subject :  Irony

Hi, my husband and I are having a hot debate as to the correct meaning and usage of irony, I'm hoping you'll be willing to clear this up for us. Thanks. Liz Thompson

Bibi's Reply:  Thank you for your interesting query.  I cannot better the explanation you will find at  http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv2-70

From : Jean <palabra9@nbnet.nb.ca>
Sent : 11 October 2004 20:49:38

Hi, Do you know about a rule for PEOPLE and PERSON
 
Can you say many persons are...
 
PEOPLE never with ** S **  

it's plural ...you say People are...
 
Bibi's Reply:  An interesting question.  The usual forms are:-

Singular:  a person/ one person

Plural:     people

Nevertheless, in formal situations, e.g. a Coroner's Court, the verdict might be "killed by a person, or persons unknown".  The word persons is rarely used and it is never used as per your question.

I recommend you avoid the word 'persons' (unless it is specific to your needs), as the use of this word is not usual for everyday speech.

From: Concerned mother tongue English speaker
Subject: The English language...
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 17:49:31 -0700
 
Hi Bibi,  I am a New Zealander, currently living in Vancouver in Canada, but spend a significant amount of time in the U.S.  Try reading some old books such as David Copperfield, to see how rich the English language used to be! Today's language is shameful.  It is not evolving in America, it is regressing. People have forgot how to open their mouth and pronounce words properly (due to poor education of the language in American schools and uneducated philistines addressing mass populations on radio and t.v.)  The phonetic "noise" they make is wrong hence the wrong spelling is used.
It would seem most people on this side of the world don't even know how to construct a sentence properly e.g.

• "Paper or plastic?" = "Would you like a paper or plastic bag?"

• "Do you give your dog raw?" = "Do you give your dog raw meat?"

• "We got burgers" = "We have (got) burgers"

• "I'm done" = "I have finished"

• "You done real good" = "You did really well"

• "It's so fun" = "It's so much fun"

• "ya'all" A friend asked an American what that meant and was told it was plural for "you"!

You can't tell me that the American English (oxymoron) is evolving

• People here also have a propensity to add "age" to words ..yardage, lease-age.

• "Boughten" was used at The Home Depot the other day to describe someone buying something in the past tense.

• Have you read the book entitled "Eats, shoots and leaves"?

• More Europeans understand English as a second language than people in North America.  How many people here know what a verb, noun, adjective, pronoun, indefinite article.....mean?

Bibi's Reply:  Thank you for your useful and valid comments.  I have not read the book you mention.  I do understand that many changes are detrimental.  Much of the problem is that English is now an International language and translation errors peculiar to each nationality are being adopted.  Of course, some of the problem must be laid at the door of social changes.
The examples you cite are interesting to me and I thank you for them.  

From: honwai <honwai@shaw.ca
Subject:  question
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 19:10:19 -0700

"Last warning on lunch breaks"
Under Employment Standards Act, part 4, section32 (1) (a), "An employee
must ensure that no employee works more than 5 consecutive hours without a meal break."

The above is the memo posted on the employee board. I looked up some
dictionaries. They say "warn" is followed by about, of, or against . In this case, I do not know whether "on" is ok or not. As an English learner, prepositions are hard for me to learn. Are there any good books on prepositions you could suggest?  Dave Dawn

The use of the word 'last' suggests that earlier in the text, or at some time before that notice, there have been warnings.

• warning ON = warning REGARDING = warning about

There was nothing wrong with your dictionary.  This is not a common verb/preposition combination, but an interesting one;  that is why you had difficulty in finding a reference to it.  I recommend that you do not use it, as 9 times out of 10 you will almost certainly be wrong.  

An advanced book for practising prepositions is:  Practical English Grammar.  It comes as a set of three books:  One grammar book and two practice books.  I notice you live in Canada.  It is possible that, in conversation, some prepositions may differ from British English, just as spellings do.

From : Loke Seowlh <seowlh@pd.jaring.my>
Sent : 15 April 2004 06:04:04
Subject : brinjal and turning

Hi Bibi. Could you please clarify?   Thank you, From Loke

1.  the pronunciation of the word `brinjal'? I can't find this word from an Oxford Advance Dictionary.

Bibi’s Reply:  BRINJAL = a name used in India & Africa for ‘aubergine’

• PRONOUNCED: /brIndz¶l/  (this is the best I can do with the symbols on my computer)

• PRONUNCIATION of the ‘I’ is similar to PIN, WIN

• PRONUNCIATION of the ‘J’ is similar to the French word ‘JE’ and this sound can also be found in the final syllable of the English word ‘treaSURE‘

• RHYTHM & INTONATION: similar to WINKLE, TWINKLE, SPRINKLE (emphasis is on the first syllable and the 2^nd syllable is weak with a schwa sound /¶/ + L /l/ )

2.  Is it correct to write `to make a 3 o'clock turning'  to decribe a turning at a roundabout.  Example : Make a 3'oclock turning at the roundabout.

Bibi’s Reply:  Firstly, pilots and the Forces (military) often use o’clock descriptions for position.  It does occur occasionally in everyday speech, but is rare. Normally, we say to take the 1^st, 2^nd,3^rd (junction/turning/turn-off) at the roundabout

Secondly the use of the verb ‘MAKE’ is incorrect;  however, you could say:  Take the 3 o’clock (junction/turning/turn-off) at the roundabout if you were sure that the listener could understand clearly and if the roundabout was not a complicated one.

From : Allison Parris
Sent : 27 February 2004 16:50:33
Subject : Things have been getting on top of me

Bibi Baxter---I came across your site and was wondering if you could help me.  I'm an American, and I want to know exactly what the British phrase "things have been getting on top of me" means.  Please help.  Thank you!  Allison P.

Bibi's Reply:  Once I have explained it to you, I would be grateful if you would send me the American equivalent and I will include it on my special web-page for differences between American & British English.
 
The phrase means that the person (who is mentioned:  me, us, him, her.) is not coping very well, because they have a lot of problems, too much work, or financial problems.

Allison:  Thank you so much--that helps.  I saw it on a depression screening that I found online and wasn't sure what it meant.  Would you say that is similar to saying "Lately, I have been bothered by things that usually don't bother me"?

Bibi's Reply: Similar, but not exactly, from an English point of view, because it conveys a much stronger picture than your sentence. (ie: depression, misery, dishevelled appearance possibly, pessimistic, financial problems, piles of work to do, etc)    Having said that, American logic differs from British logic and so your sentence may conjure up a stronger picture for you than it does for me.  Usually it is said when someone is a bit depressed and overwhelmed by every small problem.  

Another expression which has an overlap of meaning (in respect of the depression and pessimism):  Everything has been getting me down lately.  

Interestingly, both sayings conjure up a picture of someone being crushed under a pile of problems.  Logic varies so dramatically from nation to nation,  communication cannot depend upon language alone.

From: Juanita Dircks
Subject: im going to london! YAY!
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 00:35:32 -0800
 
hi, my name is kendra and im canadian not american (if that makes a difference) and im going to go to london this summer and i was really hoping if there were any more words that are so different that i wont be able to figure out what they are saying could you please send me a small list of words that might have something to do with directions or transportation or events. if you could find the time to do this it would be greatly appreciated and if you cant i completly understand. thanks for your help. kendra.

Bibi's Reply:  One important vocabulary difference has occurred to me.  I don't know what you call your underground railway in Canada.  (Subway in America & Metro in France) In London, it is called The London Underground;  however, many people call it The Tube.
Although there are some words (Cockney Slang) which are very different in the East End of London, you do not need to worry.  Just say you do not understand and most people will speak in easier English for you to understand.  If you are interested in learning Cockney Slang, it is very entertaining. 

• Received: November 2003 

Jack poses the following questions:

• Who thinks that "hallo" is an American spelling?

• Who spells "judgement" and who "judgment"?

Bib's Comment:  

• Hallo is shown mostly as halloo in practically all my dictionaries;  however, hello and hullo can also be found.  My ancient dictionary only shows the spelling of halloo..   

• Both spellings of judgement are acceptable.   My ancient dictionary shows the spelling of judgment WITHOUT an E, but judgeship WITH an E.  

• On a personal basis, I use HELLO and JUDGEMENT.  Would anyone like to comment?

R-Z

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