British English / American English

British English / American English

British and American Spelling variants
British English
American English
-our / -orbehaviourbehavior
colourcolor
favouritefavorite
humourhumor
labourlabor
neighbourneighbor
   
-re / -ercentrecenter
fibrefiber
theatretheater
litreliter
metremeter
   
-ogue / -oganalogueanalog
cataloguecatalog
dialoguedialog
   
ae, oe / eanaemiaanemia
anaesthesiaanesthesia
diarrhoeadiarrhea
foetusfetus
haemorrhagehemorrhage
   
-ence / -ensedefencedefense
offenceoffense
pretencepretense
   
Exceptionsaluminiumaluminum
chequecheck
jewelleryjewelry
kerbcurb
manoeuvremaneuver
mouldmold
ploughplow
tyretire
sulphursulfur
   
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S
| T | U
British EnglishAmerican English
A
aerial (radio/TV)antenna
American footballfootball
anorakparka
articulated lorrytrailer truck/semi trailer
aubergineeggplant
autumnfall
B
bank holidaylegal holiday
bank notebill
baphamburger bun
bat (ping pong)paddle
bathbathtub
bath (v.)bathe
bathroombathroom/restroom/washroom
big dipperroller coaster
billcheck (restaurant)
bill/accountaccount
billion = million millionbillion = thousand million
biscuit (sweet)cookie
black or white?(coffee)with or without?
blackleg/scabscab
black treaclemolasses
blind (window)shade
block of flatsapartment house
block of flatsapartment building
blue jeansdungarees/jeans
bomb (success)bomb (disaster)
bonnet (car)hood
book (v.)make reservation
boot (car)trunk
bootlace/shoelaceshoestring
bowler/hard hatderby
bracessuspenders
break (school)recess
briefs/underpantsshorts/jockey shorts
broad beanlima bean
bureau de changecurrency exchange
butter muslin/cheese clothcheese cloth
C
candyflosscotton candy
caravantrailer
caretaker/porterjanitor
car parkparking lot
catapultslingshot
cattle gridTexas gate
centre (city/business)downtown
central reservationmedian strip/divider
chairman (business)president
chemistdruggist
chemist’s shoppharmacy/drugstore
chest of drawersdresser/bureau
chipsFrench fries
cinemamovie house/theater
class/form (school)grade
cloakroomcheck room
cloakroom attendanthat check girl
clothes pegclothes pin
conscriptiondraft
contraceptive/condomrubber
convoycaravan
cookerstove
corn flourcorn starch
corporation/local authoritycity/municipal government
cot/cribcrib
cottonthread
cotton reelspool
cotton woolcotton batting
courgettezucchini
court shoepump
cream crackersoda cracker
crispschips/potato chips
cul-de-sacdead end
cupboardcloset
curtainsdrapes
D
desiccated (coconut)shredded
director (company)manager
directory enquiriesinformation assistance
directory enquiriesdirectory assistance
districtprecinct
diversiondetour
drain (indoors)sewer pipe
draperdrygoods store
draught excluderweather stripping
draughtscheckers
drawing pinthumb tack
dressing-gownbathrobe
dual carriagewaydivided highway
dummypacifier
dungareesoveralls
dustbin/bingarbage can/trash can
dynamogenerator
E
eiderdowncomforter
state agentrealtor
estate carstation wagon
F
fair (fun)carnival
filling station / petrol stationgas station
filmmovie
first floorsecond floor
fish slicespatula/egg lifter
fitted carpetwall to wall carpet
flannelwash cloth
flatapartment
flexelectric cord/wire
fly-overoverpass
football/soccersoccer
fortnighttwo weeks
foyerlobby/foyer
full stop (punctuation)period
funny bonecrazy bone
G
gallery (theatre)balcony
gangwayaisle
gaoljail
gardenyard
gear levergear shift
giddydizzy
give a bell(to phone)give a buzz
goods truck (railway)freight truck
goose pimplesgoose bumps
gramophone/record playerphonograph/record player
greenfingersgreen thumb
grill (v.)broil
guard (railway)conductor
gym shoes/plimsollssneakers/tennis shoes
tennis shoes/trainerssneakers/tennis shoes
H
hair grip/kirby gripbobbie pin
handbagpurse/pocket book
hardwarehousewares
headmaster/mistressprincipal
hire purchaseinstallment plan
holidayvacation
homely (=pleasant)homely (=ugly)
hoover (n.)vacuum cleaner
hoover (v.)vacuum
housing estatesub-division
I
ice/sorbetsherbet
iced lollypopsicle
icing sugarpowdered sugar
icing sugarconfectioner’s sugar
identification paradeline-up
immersion heater(electric)water heater
intervalintermission
ironmongerhardware store
J
jab (injection)shot
joint (meat)roast
jugpitcher
jumper/sweater/pulloversweater/pullover
K
kiosk/box (telephone)telephone booth
kippersmoked herring
knickers (girl’s)underwear/panties
knock up (tennis)warm up
knock up (call from sleep)in American slang this
means to get a woman pregnant
L
labeltag
larderpantry
lavatory/toilet/w.c./loojohn/bathroom/washroom
lay-bypull-off
leader
(leading article in newspaper)
editorial
leader(1st violin in orchestra)concert master
left luggage officebaggage room
letlease/rent
level crossing (railway)grade crossing
liftelevator
limited (company)incorporated
lodgerroomer
lorrytruck
lost propertylost and found
M
mackintoshraincoat
made to measurecustom made
managing director/MDgeneral manager
marrowsquash
methylated spiritsdenatured alcohol
mileometerodometer
motorwayfreeway/throughway
motorwaysuper highway
N
nappydiaper
neat (drink)straight
net curtainssheers/under drapes
newsagentnews dealer/news stand
noughtzero
noughts and crossestic-tac-toe
number platelicense plate
O
off license/wine merchantliquor store
oven cloth/glovespot holder/oven mitt
overtake (vehicle)pass
P
pack (of cards)deck
packed lunchsack lunch/bag lunch
panel beaterbody shop
pants (boy’s underwear)shorts/underwear
paraffinkerosene
parcelpackage
pavement/footpathsidewalk
personal callperson-to-person call
petrolgas/gasoline
pillar box/letter boxmail box
plaster/elastoplastbandaid
point/power point/socketoutlet/socket
postmail
postal codezip code
postmanmailman/postman
postponementraincheck
prambaby carriage/baby buggy
prisonpenitentiary
public conveniencebathroom/restroom/washroom
public schoolprivate school
puddingdessert
pursechange purse
pushchairstroller
put down/entered(goods)bought/charged
put through (telephone)connect
Q
queue (n.)line
queue (v.)stand in line/line up
R
rasher (bacon)slice
reception (hotel)front desk
receptionistdesk clerk
return ticketround trip ticket
reverse chargescall collect
reversing lightsback up lights
ring up/phonecall/phone
roof/hood (car)top
roundabout (road)traffic circle
rubbereraser
rubbishgarbage/trash
S
saloon carsedan
scribbling pad/blockscratch pad
sellotapescotch tape
semi-detachedduplex
semolinacream of wheat
shatteredexhausted
shop assistantsales clerk/sales girl
sideboardbuffet
sideboards (hair)sideburns
silencer (car)muffler
single ticketone way ticket
sitting roomliving room
living roomliving room
loungeliving room
drawing roomliving room
skipping ropejump rope
skirting boardbaseboard
sledge/toboggansled
smalls (washing)underwear
sofadavenport/couch
solicitorlawyer/attorney
sorbetsherbet
spannermonkey wrench
spirits (drink)liquor
spring onionscallion/green onion
staff (academic)faculty
stalls (theatre)orchestra seats
stand (for public office)run
standard lampfloor lamp
state schoolpublic school
sellotapeadhesive tape
stone (fruit)pit
sultanaraisin
surgery(doctor’s/dentist’s)office
surgical spiritrubbing alcohol
suspender beltgarter belt
suspendersgarters
swedeturnip/rutabaga
sweet corncorn
sweet shop/confectionercandy store
sweets/chocolatecandy
Swiss rolljelly roll
T
tadpolepollywog
tapfaucet
teat (baby’s bottle)nipple
tea trolleytea cart
telegramwire
telephone boxphone booth
term academic (3 in a year)semester(2 in a year)
tightspantyhose
time-tableschedule
tincan
tip (n. and v.)dump
torchflashlight
traffic lightsstop lights
traffic lightstraffic signals
traffic lightsstop signals
trouserspants/slacks
truncheon (police)night stick
trunk call/long distancelong distance call
tube/undergroundsubway
turnoversales/revenue
turn-ups (trousers)cuffs (pants)
U
undergraduates:undergraduates:
- 1st year- freshman
- 2nd year- sophomore
- 3rd year- junior
- 4th year- senior
unit trustmutual fund