DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN TERMS

British English/American English Vocabulary

Here are some of the main differences in vocabulary between British and American English. This page is intended as a guide only. Bear in mind that there can be differences in the choice of specific terms depending on dialect and region within both the USA and 

the UK.

U.K. a lettuce	U.S.A. a head of lettuce
accommodation	accommodations
action replay	instant replay
aerofoil	airfoil
aeroplane	airplane
agony aunt	advice columnist
Allen key	Allen wrench
aluminium	aluminum
aniseed	anise
anticlockwise	counterclockwise
anti-clockwise	counter-clockwise
articulated lorry	trailer truck
articulated lorry	tractor-trailer
asymmetric bars	uneven bars
aubergine	eggplant
autumn	autumn, fall
baking tray	cookie sheet
bank holiday	legal holiday
barrister	attorney
beetroot	beet(s)
bill	check
bill (restaurant)	bill, check
biscuit	cookie
biscuit	cookie; cracker
black economy	underground economy
blanket bath	sponge bath
blind	(window) shade
block of flats	apartment building
block of flats	apartment building
boiler suit	coveralls
bonnet (of a car)	hood
bonnet (car)	hood
bonnet (clothing)	hat
boob tube	tube top
boot	trunk
boot (of a car)	trunk
bottom drawer	hope chest
bowls	lawn bowling
braces	suspenders
brawn (the food)	headcheese
breakdown van	tow truck
breeze block	cinder block
bridging loan	bridge loan
bumbag	fanny pack
candyfloss	cotton candy
car park	parking lot
car park	parking lot
caravan	trailer
casualty	emergency room
catapult	slingshot
central reservation	median strip
chemist	drugstore
chemist's shop	drugstore, pharmacy
chest of drawers	dresser, chest of drawers, bureau
chips	fries, French fries
chips	French fries
cinema	movie theater; the movies
cling film	plastic wrap
clothes peg	clothespin
coffin	coffin, casket
common seal	harbor seal
consumer durables	durable goods
cornflour	cornstarch
cos (lettuce)	Romaine
cot	crib
cot death	crib death
cotton bud	cotton swab
cotton wool	absorbent cotton
council estate	(housing) project
courgette	zucchini
court card	face card
crash barrier	guardrail
crisps	potato chips
crisps	chips; potato chips
crocodile clip	alligator clip
cross-ply	bias-ply
crossroads	intersection; crossroads (rural)
crotchet (music)	quarter note
cupboard	cupboard (in kitchen); closet (for clothes etc)
current account	checking account
danger money	hazard pay
demister (in a car)	defroster
dialling tone	dial tone
diamante	rhinestone
diversion	detour
double cream	heavy cream
draughts (game)	checkers
drawing pin	thumbtack
drawing-pin	thumbtack
dressing gown	robe; bathrobe
drink-driving	drunk driving
drink-driving	drunk driving
drinks cupboard	liquor cabinet
drinks party	cocktail party
driving licence	driver's license
driving licence	driver’s license
dual carriageway	divided highway
dual carriageway	divided highway
dummy (for a baby)	pacifier
dummy (for baby)	pacifier
dust sheet	drop cloth
dustbin	garbage can, trash can
dustbin	garbage can
dustman	garbage collector
earth (electrical)	ground
engaged (of a phone)	busy
engine	engine, motor
estate agent	real estate agent
estate agent	real estate agent, realtor (trademark)
estate car	station wagon
estate car	station wagon
ex-directory	unlisted
faith school	parochial school
film	film, movie
financial year	fiscal year
fire brigade/service	fire company/department
first floor	second floor
fish finger	fish stick
fitted carpet	wall-to-wall carpeting
flannel	washcloth
flat	apartment, flat, studio
flat	apartment
flat tyre	flat tire
flexitime	flextime
flick knife	switchblade
flyover	overpass
flyover	overpass
football	soccer
footway	sidewalk
fringe (hair)	bangs
full board (in hotels)	American plan
full stop (punctuation)	period
garden	yard; lawn
gear lever	gearshift
gearbox (car)	transmission
gearing (finance)	leverage
gear-lever	gearshift
Girl Guide	Girl Scout
goods train	freight train
greaseproof paper	wax paper/waxed paper
green fingers	green thumb
grill (noun)	broiler
grill (verb)	broil
ground floor	ground/first floor
ground floor	first floor
groundsman	groundskeeper
hairslide	barrette
handbag	handbag, purse, shoulder bag
hatstand	hatrack
hen night	bachelorette party
high street	main street
hire purchase	installment plan
hoarding	billboard
hob	stovetop
holdall	carryall
holiday	vacation
holiday	vacation
holidaymaker	vacationer
homely	homey
hood (car)	convertible top
hosepipe	(garden) hose
hot flush	hot flash
housing estate	housing development
hundreds and thousands	sprinkles (for ice cream)
ice lolly	Popsicle (trademark)
icing sugar	confectioners’ sugar
in hospital	in the hospital
indicator (on a car)	turn signal
inside leg	inseam
jam	jam, preserves
jelly babies	jelly beans
Joe Bloggs	Joe Blow
Joe Public	John Q. Public
jug	jug, pitcher
juggernaut	18-wheeler
jumble sale	rummage sale
jump lead	jumper cable
jumper	sweater
junior school	elementary school
kennel	doghouse
ladybird	ladybug
level crossing	grade crossing
lift	elevator
lift	elevator
lollipop lady (or man)	crossing guard
lolly	Popsicle (trademark)
loo (toilet)	john
loose cover	slipcover
lorry	truck, semi, tractor
lorry	truck
loudhailer	bullhorn
low loader	flatbed truck
lucky dip	grab bag
luggage van	baggage car
mad	crazy, insane
main road	highway
maize	corn
maize	corn
mangetout	snow pea
market garden	truck farm
marshalling yard	railroad yard
maths	math
maths	math
metalled road	paved road
milometer	odometer
minim (music)	half note
mobile phone	cell phone
monkey tricks	monkeyshines
motorbike	motorcycle
motorway	freeway, expressway
motorway	highway, freeway, expressway, interstate highway, interstate
motorway	expressway; highway
mum/mummy	mom/mommy
nappy	diaper
nappy	diaper
naughts and crosses	tic-tack-toe
needlecord	pinwale
newsreader	newscaster
noughts and crosses	tic-tac-toe
number plate	license plate
off-licence	liquor store; package store
opencast mining	open-pit mining
ordinary share	common stock
oven glove	oven mitt
paddling pool	wading pool
pants, underpants	underpants, drawers
paracetamol	acetaminophen
parting (in hair)	part
patience	solitaire
pavement	sidewalk
pavement	sidewalk
pay packet	pay envelope
pedestrian crossing	crosswalk
peg	clothespin
pelmet	valance
pet hate	pet peeve
petrol	gas, gasoline
petrol	gas; gasoline
physiotherapy	physical therapy
pinafore dress	jumper
plain chocolate	dark chocolate
plain flour	all-purpose flour
pocket money	allowance
polo neck	turtleneck
positive discrimination	reverse discrimination
post	mail
postal vote	absentee ballot
postbox	mailbox
postbox	mailbox
postcode	zip code
postcode	zip code
postman	mailman, mail carrier, letter carrier
potato crisp	potato chip
power point	electrical outlet
pram	baby carriage; stroller
press stud	snap
press-up	pushup
private soldier	GI
pub	bar
public school	private school
public toilet	rest room, public bathroom
public transport	public transportation
punchbag	punching bag
pushchair	stroller
pylon	utility pole
quantity surveyor	estimator
quaver (music)	eighth note
queue	line
racing car	race car
railway	railroad
railway	railroad
real tennis	court tennis
recorded delivery	certified mail
registration plate	license plate
remould (tyre)	retread
return (ticket)	round-trip
reverse charge	collect call
reverse the charges	call collect
reversing lights	back-up lights
right-angled triangle	right triangle
ring road	beltway, freeway/highway loop
ring road	beltway
road surface	pavement, blacktop
room only	European plan
roundabout	traffic circle, roundabout
roundabout (in road)	traffic circle
roundabout (at a fair)	carousel
rowing boat	rowboat
rubber	eraser
rubbish	garbage, trash
rubbish-bin	garbage can, trashcan
sailing boat	sailboat
saloon (car)	sedan
saloon (car)	sedan
sandpit	sandbox
sandwich cake	layer cake
sanitary towel	sanitary napkin
self-raising flour	self-rising flour
semibreve (music)	whole note
semitone (music)	half step
share option	stock option
shop	shop, store
shopping trolley	shopping cart
show house/home	model home
silencer (on a car)	muffler
silencer (car)	muffler
silverside	rump roast
single (ticket)	one-way
skeleton in the cupboard	skeleton in the closet
skimmed milk	skim milk
skipping rope	jump rope
skirting board	baseboard
sledge	sled
sleeper	railroad tie
sleeping partner	silent partner
slowcoach	slowpoke
snakes and ladders	chutes and ladders
solicitor	lawyer, attorney
solicitor	lawyer
soya/soya bean	soy/soybean
spanner	wrench
splashback	backsplash
spring onion	green onion
stag night	bachelor party
Stanley knife	utility knife
starter	appetizer
state school	public school
storm in a teacup	tempest in a teapot
surtitle	supertitle
swede	rutabaga
sweet(s)	candy
sweets	candy
takeaway (food)	takeout; to go
taxi	taxi, taxi cab
taxi rank	taxi stand
tea towel	dish towel
tea towel	dish towel
telly (informal), TV	television, TV
terrace house	row house
the cinema	the movies
The Plough	Big Dipper
third-party insurance	liability insurance
tick	check mark
ticket tout	scalper
tights	pantyhose
timber	lumber
timetable	schedule
tin	can
titbit	tidbit
toffee apple	candy apple
toll motorway	toll road, turnpike
torch	flashlight
touch wood	knock on wood
trade union	labor union
trading estate	industrial park
trainers	sneakers
tram	streetcar; cable car
transport cafe	truck stop
trolley	shopping cart
trousers	pants, trousers
tube (train)	subway
twelve-bore	twelve-gauge
unalike	unlike
underground	subway
underground (train)	subway
vacuum flask	thermos bottle
verge (of a road)	shoulder
vest	undershirt
vest	undershirt
veterinary surgeon	veterinarian
wagon (on a train)	car
waistcoat	vest
waistcoat	vest
walking frame	walker
wallet	wallet, billfold
wardrobe	closet
water ice	Italian ice
weatherboard	clapboard
wellington boots	rubber boots, rain boots
whisky	whisky/whiskey
white coffee	coffee with cream
white spirit	mineral spirits
wholemeal bread	wholewheat bread
windcheater	windbreaker
windscreen	windshield
windscreen	windshield
wing (of a car)	fender
worktop	countertop
Yale lock	cylinder lock
zebra crossing	crosswalk
zed (letter Z)	zee
zip	zipper
zip	zipper