Paulus Krisna Wisnumurti

A1 / K2213054
British vs American 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.
British English
anti-clockwise
articulated lorry
autumn
barrister
bill (restaurant)
biscuit
block of flats
bonnet (clothing)
bonnet (car)
boot
caravan
car park
chemist's shop
chest of drawers
chips
the cinema
clothes peg
coffin
crisps
crossroads
cupboard
diversion
drawing-pin
drink-driving
driving licence
dual carriageway
dummy (for baby)
dustbin
dustman
engine
estate agent
estate car
film
flat

American English
counter-clockwise
trailer truck
autumn, fall
attorney
bill, check
cookie
apartment building
hat
hood
trunk
trailer
parking lot
drugstore, pharmacy
dresser, chest of drawers, bureau
fries, French fries
the movies
clothespin
coffin, casket
potato chips
intersection; crossroads (rural)
cupboard (in kitchen); closet (for clothes etc)
detour
thumbtack
drunk driving
driver's license
divided highway
pacifier
garbage can, trash can
garbage collector
engine, motor
real estate agent
station wagon
film, movie
apartment, flat, studio

British English
flat tyre
flyover
gearbox (car)
gear-lever
Girl Guide
ground floor
handbag
high street
holiday
hood (car)
jam
jug
juggernaut
lift
lorry
mad
main road
maize
maths
motorbike
motorway
motorway
nappy
naughts and crosses
pants, underpants
pavement
pet hate
petrol
The Plough
pocket money
post
postbox
postcode
postman
pub
public toilet
railway
return (ticket)
reverse charge
ring road
road surface
roundabout
rubber
rubbish

American English
flat tire
Overpass
Transmission
Gearshift
Girl Scout
ground/first floor
handbag, purse, shoulder bag
main street
Vacation
convertible top
jam, preserves
jug, pitcher
18-wheeler
Elevator
truck, semi, tractor
crazy, insane
Highway
Corn
Math
Motorcycle
freeway, expressway
highway, freeway, expressway, interstate highway, interstate
Diaper
tic-tack-toe
underpants, drawers
Sidewalk
pet peeve
gas, gasoline
Big Dipper
Allowance
Mail
Mailbox
zip code
mailman, mail carrier, letter carrier
Bar
rest room, public bathroom
Railroad
round-trip
collect call
beltway, freeway/highway loop
pavement, blacktop
traffic circle, roundabout
Eraser
garbage, trash

British English
rubbish-bin
saloon (car)
shop
silencer (car)
single (ticket)
solicitor
spanner
sweets
taxi
tea towel
telly (informal), TV
third-party insurance
timetable
tin
toll motorway
torch
trousers
tube (train)
underground (train)
vest
waistcoat
wallet
wellington boots
whisky
windscreen
zip

American English
garbage can, trashcan
Sedan
shop, store
Muffler
one-way
lawyer, attorney
Wrench
Candy
taxi, taxi cab
dish towel
television, TV
liability insurance
Schedule
Can
toll road, turnpike
Flashlight
pants, trousers
Subway
Subway
Undershirt
Vest
wallet, billfold
rubber boots, rain boots
whisky/whiskey
Windshield
zipper

Source : https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/british-american.htm
11.28 WIB. September, 7th 2015.

5 biggest differences between speaking

British English and American English
While both versions of the language have the same roots, the last 400-odd years have
produced some pretty strong variation in the English language that can seem worlds apart.
While we may initially only notice French fries being referred to as chips, and the terms
cheeky, knackered and brilliant being used just about everywhere, the two dialects
actually differ in an abundance of ways.

Depending on the region, American and British English have large differences in
spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary, punctuation, and tenses. Here are just a few:
1) Spelling:
Many differences between American and British English stem from Latin-derived spellings
and Greek-derived spellings. Those differences are seen in the unstressed endings to words
such as:
Latin-derived spellings:
American English
Color
Behavior
Honor

British English
Colour
Behaviour
Honour

Greek-derived spellings:
American English
Organize
Dialogue
Analyze

British English
Organise
Dialog
Analyse

2) Pronunciation:
There are some words that are spelled the same in both dialects, but that are
pronounced with a distinct stress on difference syllables: controversy and schedule are just a
few. The word aluminium in Britain and the English colonies has a curious extra letter and
syllable added, to make it alumini-EE-um. Then there are words that have both differing
spelling and pronunciation: defense (British version: Defence) and axe (British version: ax).

3)
Vocabulary:
Some words in one
completely different
vice versa. A boot
would be a pair of
the boot would
a car, as in:
tire out of
the boot.

dialect may have a

meaning in the other, or
to an American
shoes, but to a Brit,
refer to the trunk of
just getting my
So to keep
your
miscommunications to a minimum, here are

some helpful translations:

American English > British English
Cookie > Biscuit
Pharmacy > Chemists
French Fries > Chips
Highway > Carriageway
Trash > Dustbi

4) Phrasing:
Phrases such as a week today, or Tuesday week, (referring to a week in the future)
are common in Britain but are often confusing to the American ear. And fortnight Sunday
would refer to two weeks following this Friday.
In the UK, dates are usually written differently in the short (numerical) form.
Valentines Day 2015, for example, is 14/2/15, with the day preceding the month.
5) Punctuation:

The most common form of differing punctuation is seen through titles. In American
English titles such as Dr., Mrs., Ms., Mr., are spelled with the use of a period, while its not
uncommon for the British version will omit the period altogether.
All in all, youll find that written forms of British and American English vary
surprisingly little, while the most noticeable differences will be in the spoken form of British
English. Winston Churchill once said: England and America are two countries separated by
a common language. True then, true now, but perhaps we can make the gap a little bit
smaller. Or, as the Brits might say, make it teeny.

Source : https://www.verbling.com/articles/5-biggest-differences-between-speaking-britishenglish-and-american-english/
08.14 WIB. September, 14th 2015