| British English | American English |
|
|
| aerial (radio/TV) | antenna |
| American football | football |
| anorak | parka |
| articulated lorry | trailer truck/semi trailer |
| aubergine | eggplant |
| autumn | fall |
|
|
| bank holiday | legal holiday |
| bank note | bill |
| bap | hamburger bun |
| bat (ping pong) | paddle |
| bath | bathtub |
| bath (v.) | bathe |
| bathroom | bathroom/restroom/washroom |
| big dipper | roller coaster |
| bill | check (restaurant) |
| bill/account | account |
| billion = million million | billion = thousand million |
| biscuit (sweet) | cookie |
| black or white?(coffee) | with or without? |
| blackleg/scab | scab |
| black treacle | molasses |
| blind (window) | shade |
| block of flats | apartment house |
| block of flats | apartment building |
| blue jeans | dungarees/jeans |
| bomb (success) | bomb (disaster) |
| bonnet (car) | hood |
| book (v.) | make reservation |
| boot (car) | trunk |
| bootlace/shoelace | shoestring |
| bowler/hard hat | derby |
| braces | suspenders |
| break (school) | recess |
| briefs/underpants | shorts/jockey shorts |
| broad bean | lima bean |
| bureau de change | currency exchange |
| butter muslin/cheese cloth | cheese cloth |
| C |
| candyfloss | cotton candy |
| caravan | trailer |
| caretaker/porter | janitor |
| car park | parking lot |
| catapult | slingshot |
| cattle grid | Texas gate |
| centre (city/business) | downtown |
| central reservation | median strip/divider |
| chairman (business) | president |
| chemist | druggist |
| chemist’s shop | pharmacy/drugstore |
| chest of drawers | dresser/bureau |
| chips | French fries |
| cinema | movie house/theater |
| class/form (school) | grade |
| cloakroom | check room |
| cloakroom attendant | hat check girl |
| clothes peg | clothes pin |
| conscription | draft |
| contraceptive/condom | rubber |
| convoy | caravan |
| cooker | stove |
| corn flour | corn starch |
| corporation/local authority | city/municipal government |
| cot/crib | crib |
| cotton | thread |
| cotton reel | spool |
| cotton wool | cotton batting |
| courgette | zucchini |
| court shoe | pump |
| cream cracker | soda cracker |
| crisps | chips/potato chips |
| cul-de-sac | dead end |
| cupboard | closet |
| curtains | drapes |
|
|
| desiccated (coconut) | shredded |
| director (company) | manager |
| directory enquiries | information assistance |
| directory enquiries | directory assistance |
| district | precinct |
| diversion | detour |
| drain (indoors) | sewer pipe |
| draper | drygoods store |
| draught excluder | weather stripping |
| draughts | checkers |
| drawing pin | thumb tack |
| dressing-gown | bathrobe |
| dual carriageway | divided highway |
| dummy | pacifier |
| dungarees | overalls |
| dustbin/bin | garbage can/trash can |
| dynamo | generator |
|
|
| eiderdown | comforter |
| state agent | realtor |
| estate car | station wagon |
| F |
| fair (fun) | carnival |
| filling station / petrol station | gas station |
| film | movie |
| first floor | second floor |
| fish slice | spatula/egg lifter |
| fitted carpet | wall to wall carpet |
| flannel | wash cloth |
| flat | apartment |
| flex | electric cord/wire |
| fly-over | overpass |
| football/soccer | soccer |
| fortnight | two weeks |
| foyer | lobby/foyer |
| full stop (punctuation) | period |
| funny bone | crazy bone |
| G |
| gallery (theatre) | balcony |
| gangway | aisle |
| gaol | jail |
| garden | yard |
| gear lever | gear shift |
| giddy | dizzy |
| give a bell(to phone) | give a buzz |
| goods truck (railway) | freight truck |
| goose pimples | goose bumps |
| gramophone/record player | phonograph/record player |
| greenfingers | green thumb |
| grill (v.) | broil |
| guard (railway) | conductor |
| gym shoes/plimsolls | sneakers/tennis shoes |
| tennis shoes/trainers | sneakers/tennis shoes |
| H |
| hair grip/kirby grip | bobbie pin |
| handbag | purse/pocket book |
| hardware | housewares |
| headmaster/mistress | principal |
| hire purchase | installment plan |
| holiday | vacation |
| homely (=pleasant) | homely (=ugly) |
| hoover (n.) | vacuum cleaner |
| hoover (v.) | vacuum |
| housing estate | sub-division |
| I |
| ice/sorbet | sherbet |
| iced lolly | popsicle |
| icing sugar | powdered sugar |
| icing sugar | confectioner’s sugar |
| identification parade | line-up |
| immersion heater(electric) | water heater |
| interval | intermission |
| ironmonger | hardware store |
| J |
| jab (injection) | shot |
| joint (meat) | roast |
| jug | pitcher |
| jumper/sweater/pullover | sweater/pullover |
| K |
| kiosk/box (telephone) | telephone booth |
| kipper | smoked 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 |
| label | tag |
| larder | pantry |
| lavatory/toilet/w.c./loo | john/bathroom/washroom |
| lay-by | pull-off |
leader
(leading article in newspaper) | editorial |
| leader(1st violin in orchestra) | concert master |
| left luggage office | baggage room |
| let | lease/rent |
| level crossing (railway) | grade crossing |
| lift | elevator |
| limited (company) | incorporated |
| lodger | roomer |
| lorry | truck |
| lost property | lost and found |
| M |
| mackintosh | raincoat |
| made to measure | custom made |
| managing director/MD | general manager |
| marrow | squash |
| methylated spirits | denatured alcohol |
| mileometer | odometer |
| motorway | freeway/throughway |
| motorway | super highway |
| N |
| nappy | diaper |
| neat (drink) | straight |
| net curtains | sheers/under drapes |
| newsagent | news dealer/news stand |
| nought | zero |
| noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe |
| number plate | license plate |
| O |
| off license/wine merchant | liquor store |
| oven cloth/gloves | pot holder/oven mitt |
| overtake (vehicle) | pass |
| P |
| pack (of cards) | deck |
| packed lunch | sack lunch/bag lunch |
| panel beater | body shop |
| pants (boy’s underwear) | shorts/underwear |
| paraffin | kerosene |
| parcel | package |
| pavement/footpath | sidewalk |
| personal call | person-to-person call |
| petrol | gas/gasoline |
| pillar box/letter box | mail box |
| plaster/elastoplast | bandaid |
| point/power point/socket | outlet/socket |
| post | mail |
| postal code | zip code |
| postman | mailman/postman |
| postponement | raincheck |
| pram | baby carriage/baby buggy |
| prison | penitentiary |
| public convenience | bathroom/restroom/washroom |
| public school | private school |
| pudding | dessert |
| purse | change purse |
| pushchair | stroller |
| 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 |
| receptionist | desk clerk |
| return ticket | round trip ticket |
| reverse charges | call collect |
| reversing lights | back up lights |
| ring up/phone | call/phone |
| roof/hood (car) | top |
| roundabout (road) | traffic circle |
| rubber | eraser |
| rubbish | garbage/trash |
| S |
| saloon car | sedan |
| scribbling pad/block | scratch pad |
| sellotape | scotch tape |
| semi-detached | duplex |
| semolina | cream of wheat |
| shattered | exhausted |
| shop assistant | sales clerk/sales girl |
| sideboard | buffet |
| sideboards (hair) | sideburns |
| silencer (car) | muffler |
| single ticket | one way ticket |
| sitting room | living room |
| living room | living room |
| lounge | living room |
| drawing room | living room |
| skipping rope | jump rope |
| skirting board | baseboard |
| sledge/toboggan | sled |
| smalls (washing) | underwear |
| sofa | davenport/couch |
| solicitor | lawyer/attorney |
| sorbet | sherbet |
| spanner | monkey wrench |
| spirits (drink) | liquor |
| spring onion | scallion/green onion |
| staff (academic) | faculty |
| stalls (theatre) | orchestra seats |
| stand (for public office) | run |
| standard lamp | floor lamp |
| state school | public school |
| sellotape | adhesive tape |
| stone (fruit) | pit |
| sultana | raisin |
| surgery(doctor’s/dentist’s) | office |
| surgical spirit | rubbing alcohol |
| suspender belt | garter belt |
| suspenders | garters |
| swede | turnip/rutabaga |
| sweet corn | corn |
| sweet shop/confectioner | candy store |
| sweets/chocolate | candy |
| Swiss roll | jelly roll |
| T |
| tadpole | pollywog |
| tap | faucet |
| teat (baby’s bottle) | nipple |
| tea trolley | tea cart |
| telegram | wire |
| telephone box | phone booth |
| term academic (3 in a year) | semester(2 in a year) |
| tights | pantyhose |
| time-table | schedule |
| tin | can |
| tip (n. and v.) | dump |
| torch | flashlight |
| traffic lights | stop lights |
| traffic lights | traffic signals |
| traffic lights | stop signals |
| trousers | pants/slacks |
| truncheon (police) | night stick |
| trunk call/long distance | long distance call |
| tube/underground | subway |
| turnover | sales/revenue |
| turn-ups (trousers) | cuffs (pants) |
| U |
| undergraduates: | undergraduates: |
| - 1st year | - freshman |
| - 2nd year | - sophomore |
| - 3rd year | - junior |
| - 4th year | - senior |
| unit trust | mutual fund |
