Differences between American English and british English

Me   Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:06 pm GMT
I'd like to know the differences between British and American English, in writing words (like "colour/color")
Native Koren   Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:29 pm GMT
In terms of spelling,
colour/color
centre/center
programme/program
labour/labor
defence/defense
travelling/traveling
recognise/recognize
honour/honor
theatre/theater
cheque/check
catalogue/catalog

In terms of vocabulary

elevater / lift
lima bean / butter bean
license plate / number plate
legal holiday / bank holiday
last name / surname
laundromat / laundrette
lawyer / solicitor
kitty corner / catty corner
kiwi fruit / Chinese gooseberry
kerosene / paraffin
jump rope / skipping rope
jelly / jam
jerk / wanker
janitor / caretaker
inseam / inside leg (clothing)
inside lane / outside lane
installment plan / hire purchase
intermission / interval
intersection / junction (road)
Inc. / Ltd. (business)
ice cream cone / cornet
iceberg lettuce / Wee's lettuce
hutch / Welsh dresser
hot dog bun / bridge roll
horny / randy
hood / bonnet (car)
hooky / truant
hickey / love bite
hair spray / hair lacquer
guy / bloke
gurney / trolley
grounded / earthed (electric)
grits / maize
green onion / spring onion
green beans / French beans
grades / marks (school)
graduate degree / postgraduate degree
goose bumps / goose pimples
gofer / tea boy
given name / Christian name
Girl Scout / Girl Guide
generator / dynamo
gas station / garage
garbage truck / dustbin lorry
garters / suspenders
gas / petrol
garbage / junk, rubbish
game / match (sports)
front desk / reception
frosting / icing
fries / chips
freshman / fresher
freeway / motorway
floor lamp / standard lamp
flashlight / torch
first floor / ground floor (영국에선 first floor가 우리말로 2층임)
faculty / staff (academic)
fall / autumn
exit / way out
expiration date / expiry date, sell-by date
eraser / rubber
endive / chicory
English muffin / American muffin
electrical outlet / power point, socket
electric cord / flex
eggplant / aubergine
editorial / leader, leading article (newspaper)
dumpster / skip
dump truck / tipper
drugstore / chemist's
drapes / curtains
driver's license / driving-license
doorman / porter
doctor's office / surgery
district attorney / public prosecutor
dish towel / tea towel
dirt road / unpaved road
diesel / derv (fuel)
dessert / pudding, afters, sweet
detour / diversion
diaper / nappy
daylight saving time / British Summer Time
cotton candy / cotton floss
course / programme (school)
corn / maize
corned beef / salt beef
construction / roadwork (road)
connect / put through (telephone)
conductor / guard (railway)
condominium / owner-occupied flat
commercial / advert. (TV)
comforter / duvet
collect call / reverse charges call
coach / economy (plane, train)
clothespin / peg
citation / summons (law)
chips / crisps
checking account / current account (bank)
check in / book in (hotel)
check / bill (restaurant)
cellphone / mobile
cart / trolley
canola / rapeseed oil
car / coach (train)
candy / sweets
busy signal / engaged tone (telephone)
Business Reply Mail / Freepost
bulletin board / noticeboard
braid / plait (verb)
booth / kiosk
bobby pin / hair grip
blender / liquidiser
bell pepper / capsicum
BB gun / air gun
bathroom sink / basin
bar / pub
back up / reverse (car)
baby carriage / pram
ATM / cashpoint
apartment / flat
antenna / aerial
amusement park / funfair
aisle / gangway
line / queue
liquor / spirits
living room / sitting room
lobby / foyer
long distance call / trunk call
lumber / timber
Macintosh / Apple Mac (computer)
mail / post
Main Street / high street
make reservation / book
mechanical pencil / propelling pencil
movie / film
muffler / silencer (car)
mutual fund / unit trust
nail polish / nail varnish
napkin / serviette
newsstand / bookstall
notary public / commissioner for oaths
on-ramp / slip-road
one-way ticket / single ticket
overalls / dungarees
overpass / flyover (road, rail)
panties / knickers
pantry / larder
pantyhose / tights
parentheses / round brackets
parking lights / sidelights
parking lot / car park
PED XING / zebra crossing
(pedestrian) underpass / subway
period / full stop, full point (writing)
pit / stone (fruits etc.)
pitcher / jug
plexiglass / perspex
podiatrist / chiropodist
popsicle / lollipop
principal / headmaster
purse / handbag (ladies)
quotation marks / inverted commas
railroad / railway
railroad crossing / level crossing
realtor / estate agent
recess / break (school)
rent / let, hire
rest area / lay by
restroom / toilet
romaine lettuce / cos lettuce
rubber / johnny (condom)
rubber band / elastic band
Scotch tape / Sellotape
sedan / saloon (car)
self-serve / self-service
sheet rock / plaster board
shift / change (car gears)
sideburns / sideboards (hair)
sidewalk / pavement
signal / indicate (car, verb)
slingshot / catapult
sliver / splinter
snaps / press studs
sneakers / plimsolls, trainers
soccer / football
soda cracker / cream cracker
solitaire / patience (card game)
speed bump / speed retarder
spatula / fish slice
stick / manual (car)
store / shop
stove / cooker
straight razor / cut-throat razor
straight / neat (drink)
streetcar / tram
stroller / pushchair
studio apartment / bedsit
subway / tube, underground
suspenders / braces
sweater / jumper
swimsuit / swimming costume, swimming trunks
switch blade / flick-knife
tag / label
tailpipe / exhaust pipe
teleprompter / autocue
thumb tack / drawing pin
tic-tac-toe / noughts and crosses
toll-free / freefone (telephone)
trailer / caravan
transmission / gear box (car)
trunk / boot (car)
unlisted / ex-directory (telephone)
upcoming / forthcoming
upscale / upmarket
vacation / holiday
vacuum / hoover
vest / waistcoat
undershirt / siglet, vest
wash cloth / face flannel
water heater / geyser (gas), immersion heater (electric)
wax paper / grease-proof paper
windshield / windscreen
windup / clockwork (adjective)
wrench / spanner
yard / garden
yield / give way (road sign)
furrykef   Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:14 pm GMT
Wikipedia has an article about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences

By the way, my impression is that the British "wanker" is a much stronger term than the American "jerk". It might be closer in intensity to "asshole", but that's only a wild guess.

- Kef
Pub Lunch   Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:41 am GMT
Ok, I'm bored so I am going to correct or update some AmE/BrE differences:

<<laundromat / laundrette>>

I hear older generations use laundromat so it must have been used here once. I think 'Eastenders' may be to blame for its disappearance.

<<lawyer / solicitor >>

I am positive we have lawyers here too??? Google time me thinks.

<<kitty corner / catty corner >>

??????????? Kitty litter or cat tray???????

<<kiwi fruit / Chinese gooseberry >>

Chinese gooseberry?? Must be an old one, it's Kiwi fruit all the way.

<<jelly / jam>>

Now this one confuses me, I always thought the same, but this is a misconception, I am sure I saw Jam in America (Orlando) and it was the same as here, I also saw preserves as well. No Jelly though. Not sure what that is actually. I think is a bit like jam but not the same.

<<speed bump / speed retarder >>

No chance - its speed bump all the way!!

<<hot dog bun / bridge roll >>

Bridge roll???

<<horny / randy

Randy is definitely dying out, I bet Horny is used more now (blame the Americans :)).

<<programme/program >>

When referring to a television programme, radio programme or a theatre/sports programme etc then yes it is spelt programme. But when referring to a computer programme then it is spelt program. I have no idea why (I think I can blame the Americans :), in-fact program seems to be making inroads in all uses due to everyone using computers these days. Programme will die out, watch.

<<bar / pub >>

Different things, basically if it is not a pub then it’s a bar. Bars also tend to be places where music is played and perhaps has a dance floor which basically means it is a nightclub except that it isn't.

<<guy / bloke>>

Bloke is dying out, guy is being used much more now (blame the Americans :))

<<iceberg lettuce / Wee's lettuce >>

Wee's lettuce?????

<<romaine lettuce / cos lettuce >>

Cos lettuce?????

<<hair spray / hair lacquer??

We have hair spray - we do!!

goose bumps / goose pimples - game / match (sports) - exit / way out

We use both

<<eraser / rubber >>

Eraser is replacing rubber and rubber is replacing Johnny (or rubber Johnny - blame the Americans again :)).

<<grades / marks (school) >>

Hmmnn, if you get a % then its a mark, if you get a letter such as an A, B, C etc then it is a grade (I think). So I am not sure if I can blame the Americans there

<<dessert / pudding, afters, sweet >>

We use dessert too!! In-fact pudding, afters and sweet have all but died out (not sure if I can blame the Americans here either)

<<English muffin / American muffin>>

Nope - two different things.

<<diesel / derv (fuel)>>

Derv ???????

<<corned beef / salt beef >>

Again two different things, we have both.

<<course / programme (school) >>

We use both

<<comforter / duvet>>

Comforter?? Hee heee.

<<movie / film>>

We use both (blame the Americans)

<<apartment / flat>>

We use both - not sure what the difference is??

<<eggplant / aubergine>>

Americans use Eggplant?? Oh dear, that does not sound right.

<<living room / sitting room>>

We use lounge more, but living room almost as much (blame the Americans?????)

<<sideburns / sideboards (hair)>>

Sideburns all the way! Sideboards are something else entirely.

<<newsstand / bookstall>>

Not sure, slightly different things I think. I'm sure we have both here?? I think a newsstand is a place that sells just papers but a bookstall has magazines etc as well. Like I said, I'm not sure.

<<soccer / football>>

I heard David Beckham use ''soccer'' recently - oh no!! (actually the newspapers use soccer quite often, so maybe we did use soccer in the old days?? No one in there right mind uses it on the streets however.

<<spatula / fish slice>>

Fish slice?????????

<store / shop>>

Store is used for big shops such as DIY/gardening centres etc. I hear Americans use shop quite a lot.

<<yield / give way (road sign)>>

Those yield signs crease me up!!!

Ok now I am even more bored than I was before. Blimey, I must have been writing for 30 mins now - not good. Adieu.
Guest   Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:34 am GMT
<<sideburns / sideboards (hair)>>

>>Sideburns all the way! Sideboards are something else entirely<<

Well I think this just shows the influence American English now has on British English. I remember when I was a kid (over 20 years ago), that the term was indeed 'sideboards', at least where I lived. But now I would only ever refer to them as 'sideburns', 'sideboards' no longer sounds right and, as you implied, would make me think of the table type thing we had in our dining room lol.
Adam   Sun Jun 03, 2007 10:51 am GMT
American English has virtually NO impact on British English.

I've hardly heard anyone say "license plate" instead of number plate, "trunk" instead of boot, "dumpster" instead of skip or "gas" instead of petrol.
Adam   Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:00 am GMT
Sideburns are named after an American Civil War General called Ambrose Burnside (1824-1881). His hairstyle connected thick sideburns via the moustache but left the chin clean-shaven. Therefore they were originally called burnside. Over time, for unknown reasons, "burnsides" changed to "sideburns".
Pub Lunch   Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:04 am GMT
Mate, I'm 27 and have never heard sideboards mentioned for sideburns and never imagined that to be an influence of AmE, I mean it's not something that comes up often in films/telly programmes etc is it??. Wow it runs deeper than I thought (no offence intended to the Americans of course).

My dad just confirmed it though "everyone wanted sideboards like George Best' is exactly what he just said ha ha - that is legend!!

I think I like sideburns better!!
Damian in Edinburgh   Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:55 pm GMT
My best encounter in the great British English v American English linguistic divide was when I was at uni and we were in the college library working. One of the guys (English) asked if anyone had a rubber he could borrow. The reaction of the two Americans present was great....they probably wondered what was next on the day's agenda. The thing is they already knew what he meant but it just sounded funny to them all the same. He could have made it even funnier by promising to knock them up the next morning.

The American rubber has a whole lot of different names over here. :-)
Liz   Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:10 pm GMT
Almost all of these "British" words mentioned by Pub Lunch seem rather obsolete to me, too.
Damian   Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:16 pm GMT
Damian, that's a well known story as it has happened to practically every Brit/British speaker on the other side of the puddle (or anywhere else, in the presence of Americans). :-)
Guest   Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:17 pm GMT
<<American English has virtually NO impact on British English>>

Adam, surely you jest?

Have you not heard how people pronounce words such as shedule, lieutenant, kilometre, privacy, hurricane, advertisement etc etc the American way? (not that their way is wrong - just that it is THEIR way)

Have you not heard how 'I suppose' has been virtually replaced by 'I guess'??

Have you not heard all the 'Oh my gods' and I'm like' they were like' 'he was like' 'she was likes' and hey guys'??

Have you not heard dates suddenly being pronounced June 3 as opposed to June the 3rd or the 3rd of June?

Have you not heard people saying 'I'm good' when being asked 'how they are' as opposed to 'I'm fine'?

Have you not heard people say 'thats sick' as in 'that's good'?

Have you not heard people say 'elevator' instead of 'lift' or 'diapher' instead of 'nappy' and so on and so forth.

How about this recent 'friends speak' phenomenon of raising the tone at the end of virtually EVERY sentence so it sounds as if you are being asked a question ALL THE TIME ala 'this one time at bandcaMPP!! PLEASE STOP IT!! Talk to me like a normal person for christs sake!!!!

Surely all of these are dare I say 'Americanisms'??

I really like how the Americans speak, just would prefer it if the British spoke well British. Not too much to ask surely?
Liz   Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:17 pm GMT
Oh...sorry!!! That was me...Why the hell did I put Damian's name in there? :-)
Andrew   Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:22 pm GMT
Just to let you know, sideboards are on a car !
Liz   Sun Jun 03, 2007 2:28 pm GMT
I mean...not Guest above me but Damian above Guest was me.