British and American words: 120 differences
Many everyday things have different names in British and American English: a lorry is a truck, a flat is an apartment and crisps are chips. The tables below list common differences by topic.
Jump to: Home · Travel · Food · Clothes · People · School · Everyday
Home
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| flat | apartment | |
| lift | elevator | |
| ground floor | first floor | In the UK the floor above the ground floor is the first floor; in the US it is the second floor. |
| garden | yard | |
| wardrobe | closet | |
| cupboard | closet | Americans also say cupboard for kitchen storage. |
| tap | faucet | Americans also say tap. |
| cooker | stove | |
| hob | stovetop | |
| washing-up liquid | dish soap | |
| dustbin | garbage can | Also "bin" in British English and "trash can" in American English. |
| rubbish | garbage | Also "trash" in American English. |
| curtains | drapes | Americans also say curtains, especially for lighter ones. |
| duvet | comforter | |
| cot | crib | In American English a cot is a folding camp bed. |
| torch | flashlight | |
| plug socket | outlet | |
| flatmate | roommate | |
| estate agent | real estate agent |
Travel
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lorry | truck | |
| petrol | gas | Short for gasoline. |
| pavement | sidewalk | |
| motorway | highway | Also "freeway" or "interstate" in American English. |
| car park | parking lot | |
| boot | trunk | The storage space at the back of a car. |
| bonnet | hood | The cover over a car's engine. |
| windscreen | windshield | |
| number plate | license plate | |
| roundabout | traffic circle | |
| zebra crossing | crosswalk | |
| underground | subway | London's is also called the Tube. |
| return ticket | round-trip ticket | |
| single ticket | one-way ticket | |
| timetable | schedule | |
| queue | line | |
| motorbike | motorcycle | Both are used in both countries. |
| caravan | trailer | |
| holiday | vacation | |
| lay-by | rest area | |
| dual carriageway | divided highway | |
| crossroads | intersection |
Food
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| biscuit | cookie | An American biscuit is closer to a British scone. |
| chips | french fries | In the US, chips are what British people call crisps. |
| crisps | chips | |
| aubergine | eggplant | |
| courgette | zucchini | |
| coriander | cilantro | Americans use coriander for the seeds. |
| rocket | arugula | |
| sweets | candy | |
| jam | jelly | Americans also say jam. |
| jelly | jello | |
| candyfloss | cotton candy | |
| ice lolly | popsicle | |
| takeaway | takeout | |
| starter | appetizer | |
| main course | entree | In French and British usage an entrée is a starter. |
| pudding | dessert | Pudding in British English can mean any dessert. |
| mince | ground beef | |
| spring onion | scallion | Also "green onion" in American English. |
| icing sugar | powdered sugar | |
| cling film | plastic wrap | |
| tin | can | Both are used in British English. |
| bill | check | In a restaurant. |
Clothes
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| trousers | pants | In British English, pants are underwear. |
| pants | underpants | |
| jumper | sweater | Both are used in British English. |
| trainers | sneakers | |
| waistcoat | vest | |
| vest | undershirt | |
| dressing gown | bathrobe | |
| nappy | diaper | |
| tights | pantyhose | |
| braces | suspenders | In British English, suspenders hold up stockings. |
| zip | zipper | |
| handbag | purse | In British English a purse holds money. |
| wellies | rain boots |
People
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mum | mom | |
| solicitor | attorney | Also "lawyer" in both. |
| postman | mailman | Also "mail carrier". |
| chemist | pharmacist | The shop is a chemist's in British English and a drugstore or pharmacy in American English. |
| shop assistant | sales clerk | |
| headteacher | principal | |
| bloke | guy | |
| mate | buddy |
School
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| maths | math | |
| term | semester | Many British universities also use semester. |
| secondary school | high school | |
| public school | private school | In England a "public school" is an old, fee-paying private school. |
| state school | public school | |
| revision | review | Studying for an exam. |
| rubber | eraser | |
| full stop | period | The punctuation mark. |
| inverted commas | quotation marks | |
| drawing pin | thumbtack |
Everyday
| British | American | Note |
|---|---|---|
| post | ||
| postcode | zip code | |
| mobile phone | cell phone | |
| autumn | fall | Americans also say autumn. |
| fortnight | two weeks | |
| film | movie | |
| cinema | movie theater | |
| football | soccer | |
| CV | résumé | |
| shop | store | |
| chemist's | drugstore | |
| high street | main street | |
| petrol station | gas station | |
| pram | stroller | Also "pushchair" in British English. |
| dummy | pacifier | |
| plaster | band-aid | Band-Aid is a trademark. |
| paracetamol | acetaminophen | |
| nought | zero | |
| noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe | |
| quid | buck | Informal for a pound or a dollar. |
| flannel | washcloth | |
| hoover | vacuum | Hoover is a trademark used as a verb in British English. |
| sellotape | scotch tape | Both are trademarks. |
| fringe | bangs | A hairstyle. |
| bank holiday | public holiday | |
| anticlockwise | counterclockwise |