It’s not just spellings you need to watch out for though! Some words have different meanings depending on whether they are used in an American English or a British English context. The word ‘pants’ in American English, for example, refers to an item of clothing which is used to cover the legs (i.e. trousers), whereas in British English the word refers to underwear. Today we’re going to look at some American English words, and their British English counterparts. Scroll down to read more!
British English | American English | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| 1. | flat | apartment |
| 2. | appetizer | starter |
| 3. | fringe | bangs |
| 4. | hairslide | barrette |
| 5. | grill | broil |
| 6. | grill | broiler |
| 7. | sweet(s) | candy |
| 8. | mobile phone | cell phone |
| 9. | crisps | chips |
| 10. | snakes and ladders | chutes and ladders |
| 11. | wardrobe | closet |
| 12. | biscuit | cookie, cracker |
| 13. | candyfloss | cotton candy |
| 14. | anticlockwise | counter clockwise |
| 15. | cot | crib |
| 16. | nappy | diaper |
| 17. | chemist | drugstore |
| 18. | aubergine | eggplant |
| 19. | junior school, primary school | elementary school |
| 20. | lift | elevator |
| 21. | motorway | expressway, highway |
| 22. | chips | French fries |
| 23. | dustbin | garbage can |
| 24. | petrol | gas, gasoline |
| 25. | bonnet | hood (of a car) |
| 26. | skipping rope | jump rope |
| 27. | number plate | license plate |
| 28. | off-licence | liquor store |
| 29. | postbox | mailbox |
| 30. | oven glove | oven mitt |
| 31. | dummy | pacifier |
| 32. | trousers | pants |
| 33. | tights | pantyhose |
| 34. | car park | parking lot |
| 35. | parting | part (in hair) |
| 36. | full stop | period (punctuation) |
| 37. | public school | private school |
| 38. | state school | public school |
| 39. | dressing gown | robe, bathrobe |
| 40. | shopping trolley | shopping cart |
| 41. | pavement | sidewalk |
| 42. | sledge | sled |
| 43. | trainers | sneakers |
| 44. | football | soccer |
| 45. | hundreds and thousands | sprinkles (for ice cream) |
| 46. | pushchair | stroller |
| 47. | underground | subway |
| 48. | braces | suspenders |
| 49. | jumper | sweater |
| 50. | takeaway | takeout (food) |
| 51. | drawing pin | thumbtack |
| 52. | noughts and crosses | tic-tac-toe |
| 53. | boot | trunk (of a car) |
| 54. | indicator | turn signal (on a car) |
| 55. | vest | undershirt |
| 56. | holiday | vacation |
| 57. | waistcoat | vest |
| 58. | flannel | washcloth |
| 59. | postcode | zip code |
| 60. | courgette | zucchini |
Can you think of any other British English words that have a different meaning in America? Or any American English words that have a different meaning in Britain? leave a comment below, and we’ll include them in our next list!
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