American & British English
Updated: March 29, 2005
These lists are not extensive.
- Vocabulary: American English to British English
- Vocabulary: British English to American English
- Other differences
Vocabulary: American English to British English
| American | British |
|---|---|
| airplane | aeroplane |
| apartment | flat |
| apartment building | block of flats |
| calendar (appointments) | diary (appointments) |
| candy | sweets |
| cookie | biscuit |
| counterclockwise | anti-clockwise |
| cupcake | fairy cake |
| diaper | nappy |
| drunk driving | drink driving |
| eggplant | aubergine |
| elevator | lift |
| fall | autumn |
| ladybug | laydbird |
| leash | lead |
| license plate | number plate |
| line | queue |
| loaned | lent |
| post | |
| molasses | treacle |
| pajamas | pyjamas |
| parking lot | car park |
| pass (a car) | overtake (a car) |
| period | full stop |
| pharmacist | chemist |
| rent (a car) | hire (a car) |
| resume | CV |
| run for office | stand for election |
| shot (injection) | jab (injection) |
| sidewalk | pavement |
| speed bump | sleeping policeman |
| trailer | caravan |
| truck | lorry |
| windshield | windscreen |
| zip code | postcode |
| zucchini | courgette |
Vocabulary: British English to American English
| British | American |
|---|---|
| anti-clockwise | counterclockwise |
| aubergine | eggplant |
| autumn | fall |
| biscuit | cookie |
| car park | parking lot |
| caravan | trailer |
| chemist | pharmacist |
| courgette | zucchini |
| CV | resume |
| diary (appointments) | calendar (appointments) |
| drink driving | drunk driving |
| fairy cake | cupcake |
| flat | apartment |
| full stop | period |
| hire (a car) | rent (a car) |
| jab (injection) | shot (injection) |
| ladybird | ladybug |
| lead | leash |
| lent | loaned |
| lift | elevator |
| lorry | truck |
| nappy | diaper |
| number plate | license plate |
| overtake (a car) | pass (a car) |
| pavement | sidewalk |
| post | |
| postcode | zip code |
| pyjamas | pajamas |
| queue | line |
| sleeping policeman | speed bump |
| stand for election | run for office |
| sweets | candy |
| treacle | molasses |
| windscreen | windshield |
Other differences
Speakers of American English consult (with) someone. (With is optional.)
Speakers of British English consult someone.
Speakers of American English say that the students in a course are there to learn.
Speakers of British English say that the students on a course are there to learn.
Speakers of American English are real sorry to hear that you think this newsletter is boring.
Speakers of American English can also be really sorry. (Real sorry is informal.)
Speakers of British English are really sorry to hear that you think this newsletter is boring.
In American English, you write (to) someone. (To is optional.)
In British English, you write to someone.