Vocabulary Differences Between British and American English

English is used as the official language in governmental and commercial procedures in America and Britain. It is also an official language in Australia, Canada and South Africa. People use different vocabulary in these countries to mean the same concept. It is useful to understand the two most-recognized varieties of English. I have collected listed out 154 common words to highlight difference in words and their meanings.

AmericanBritish

1) A slice of Bacon = Rasher

2) Apartment = Flat

3) Appetizer = Starter

4) Apron = Pinny

5) Argument = Row

6) Baby carriage = Pram

7) Back-up Lights (Car) = Reversing Lights (Car)

8) Backyard = Garden

9) Baked Potato = Jacket Potato

10) Band-aid = Plaster

11) Baseball = Rounders

12) Bath Robe = Dressing Gown

13) Bathing Suit = Swimming Costume / Cozzy

14) Bathroom = Toilet

15) Bathroom = Loo

16) Bathroom = WC

17) Biscuit = Scone

18) Boy = Lad

19) Broil = Grill

20) Can = Tin

21) Candy = Sweets

22) Check = Bill (at Restaurant)

23) Chips = Crisps

24) Chopped beef = Mince

25) Closet = Wardrobe

26) Come over = Come around

27) Cookie (Large Biscuit) = Biscuit / Bickie

28) Corn = Maize

29) Crazy Person = Nutter

30) Cross Walk = Zebra Crossing

31) Cross Walk = Pedestrian Crossing

32) Crossing Guard = Lollipop Man or Lady

33) Cup Cake = Fairy Cake

34) Dessert = Puddings

35) Dessert = Afters

36) Dessert = Sweets

37) Detour = Diversion

38) Diaper = Nappy

39) Doctor's Office = Surgery

40) Dumpster = Skip

41) Duplex = Semi-Detached House

42) Eggplant = Aubergine

43) Elevator = Lift

44) Eraser = Rubber

45) Fall = Autumn

46) Faucet = Tap

47) Fill the Tub = Run the Bath

48) Fire truck = Fire Engine

49) Flapjacks = Scotch Pancakes

50) Flashlight = Torch

51) Food = Grub

52) Food = Nosh

53) Fooling Around = Mucking Around

54) Freeway = Motorway

55) French Fries = Chips

56) French Toast = Eggy Bread (Fried)

57) Friend = Mate

58) Fries = Chips

59) Gas = Petrol

60) Gas Station = Petrol Station

61) Gasoline = Petrol

62) Girl = Lass

63) Go ahead = Off you go

64) Grading Scheme = Marking Scheme

65) Green Beans = Runner Beans

66) Gum = Glue

67) Guy = Bloke

68) Highway = Motorway

69) Hood (Car) = Bonnet (Car)

70) Hot Lunch = School Dinner

71) Jello = Jelly

72) Jelly = Jam

73) Jumper = Pinafore dresses

74) Kerosene = Paraffin

75) Lawyer = Solicitor

76) License plate = Number plate

77) Line = Queue

78) Mail = Post

79) Mailman = Postman

80) Man = Bloke

81) Math = Maths

82) Mom = Mum / Mummy

83) Motor home = Caravan

84) Movie Theatre = Cinema

85) Muffler = Silencer

86) Muffler = Exhaust Pipe

87) Naked = Starkers

88) Napkin = Serviette

89) National Holiday = Bank Holiday

90) Nothing = Nought

91) Off Task = Mucking Around

92) Open House = Open Day

93) Overpass = Flyover

94) Pacifier = Dummy

95) Paddle (ping pong) = Bat (Table Tennis)

96) Panties = Knickers

97) Pants = Trousers

98) Parking Lot = Car Park

99) Period = Full stop

100) Pharmacist = Chemist

101) Policeman = Copper

102) Popsicle = Ice Lolly

103) Potato chips = Crisps

104) Private School = Public School

105) Public School = State School

106) Pushpins = Drawing pins

107) Radio = Wireless

108) Rain Coat = Mac

109) Range = Cooker

110) Recess = Break Time

111) Rent = Hire

112) Road Trip = Car Journey / Car Drive

113) Robe = Dressing Gown

114) Sandwich = Butty

115) Sandwich = Sarny

116) Sausage = Banger

117) Sidewalk = Pavement

118) Sink = Hand Basin / Wash Basin

119) Sleep = Kip

120) Sneakers = Trainers

121) Soccer = Football

122) Sofa = Couch

123) Sofa = Sette

124) Speed Bump = Sleeping Policemen

125) Speed Bump = Speed Breaker

126) Steal = Nick

127) Stepped on = Trodded on

128) Stove = Cooker

129) Sweater = Pullover / Jersey

130) Tail Pipe = Exhaust Pipe

131) Take Out = Take Away

132) Teachers Lounge = Staff Room

133) Telephone Booth = Phone Box

134) Television = Telly

135) Teller = Cashier

136) Thumbtacks = Drawing pins

137) Town House = Terrace (Row of Houses)

138) Tractor Trailor = Articulated Lorry

139) Traffic Jam = Tailback

140) Trailor Truck = Articulated Lorry

141) Trash can = Bin

142) Trash Can = Dust Bin

143) Truck = Lorry

144) Trunk (car) = Boot

145) Trunk (Car) = Boot (Car)

146) Turtle Neck = Polo Neck

147) Undershirt = Vest

148) Underwear = Knickers

149) Vacation = Holiday

150) Vest = Waistcoat

151) Windshield (car) = Windscreen

152) Yard = Garden

153) Zip code = Postal code

154) Zucchini = Courgette

Source:

1) English to English http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/2284/

2) Common Words in American and British English http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/jones/words.htm

3) What are the differences between British English and American English?http;//www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/americanbritish.html