100+ Differences between British and American English | British vs. American Vocabulary Words

Old Salt said:
Looks like we have become completely americanized here in Canada, except for two: we still say toilet rather than rest room and reception, rather than front desk (at least in the Maritimes). Or maybe it's just me. If I enter a hotel I look for "reception!" Another thing we cling to is the spelling of words that end in "our" like "honour," etc. !"
Click to expand...
We use, "Reception" here quite a lot still, also. You might hear, "Excuse me, where is Reception, please?" Or more likely, "Where is the Reception Desk?"
 

When I was working, it became common for both male and female employees to refer to the facilities (another euphemism) as the sandbox. A reference to the toilet used by their pet kitty I think.

Sailors of my day had many quite vulgar terms for the head aboard ship crapper being one of the less objectionable. This came from a legend that when American servicemen were stationed overseas during World War I, they reportedly noticed the word “Crapper” embossed on the cistern of nearly every toilet. Their return to the States made “crapper” a blanket term for toilets in general, with many assuming that sanitary engineer Thomas Crapper was the man who invented the flush toilet .

I think I will end my participation in this thread with that contribution.:LOL:
 
I've never had a bath in a tub for about 15 years, only use the shower, so much quicker and don't use as much water. Even when I bought my Villa it never had a bathtub only a shower.
 

I noticed that the British people leave out "the" before many place names. For instance where I come from we say he is in the hospital. The British would say he is in hospital. Here is another. Where I come from we say he went to the university. The British would say he went to university. Of course I have only heard this in the media as I have never been to England but for some reason it always stood out to me. I asked a lady I knew who was from England about it and she just looked at me like she was completely bewildered....o_O
 
oldpop said:
I noticed that the British people leave out "the" before many place names. For instance where I come from we say he is in the hospital. The British would say he is in hospital. Here is another. Where I come from we say he went to the university. The British would say he went to university. Of course I have only heard this in the media as I have never been to England but for some reason it always stood out to me. I asked a lady I knew who was from England about it and she just looked at me like she was completely bewildered....o_O
Click to expand...
on the opposite end.. we're always surprised that Americans say.. '' this happened Thursday''.. or where we always say ''ON Thursday''
 
Last edited:
hollydolly said:
on the opposite end.. we're always surprised that Americans say.. '' this happened Thursday''.. or where we always so ''ON Thursday''
Click to expand...
I think, well from the regions of America I live and was raised, we would say "on" Thursday in answer to a question as in, "When did that happen?" "On Thursday."

Although, eh, now I'm really thinking about it, the answer "Thursday" without the "on" does feel more natural.

It's not that no one here would say, "on Thursday," but (again from my regional experiences) simply, "Thursday" is more common.

I'm thinking of how I would say, "I went to the store on Thursday," but "Thursday, I went to the store." But could just as easily say, "I went to the store, Thursday and saw an armadillo statue I had to have."

This is fun; I love all things linguistic. :)

Along that line, I love the way my English boyfriend, when talking about dates, will say, "I'm leaving on the Monday and then arrive back on the Friday." It's the the that is not common to my experience, but sounds so nice and makes sense because he is referring to a specific Monday and Friday.
 
One quaint but deadly difference is the nearness of greenery which is permitted to grow by the side of the road. It can feel as if one is driving in a maze of clipped hedge thirty feet high. Driving on the wrong side is also rather dangerous. 😉
 
hollydolly said:
on the opposite end.. we're always surprised that Americans say.. '' this happened Thursday''.. or where we always so ''ON Thursday''
Click to expand...
We say ON Thursday in the maritimes as well!

I brought this up almost four years ago but it still baffles me: "Give me a couple of days, I will think on it!" Is this valid throughout the English speaking world? Same as "hollydolly was impatiently sitting in the courtyard waiting on Prince Harry!" This is everywhere, in books, radio, television, movies, as I silently mutter to myself: it should be think about, it should be wait for! I know that I am wrong in this. While searching for Americanisms I learned that even Shakespeare was thinking ON things! Still sounds strange to me though after years and years of thinking about things and waiting for supper!
 
oldpop said:
I noticed that the British people leave out "the" before many place names. For instance where I come from we say he is in the hospital. The British would say he is in hospital. Here is another. Where I come from we say he went to the university. The British would say he went to university. Of course I have only heard this in the media as I have never been to England but for some reason it always stood out to me. I asked a lady I knew who was from England about it and she just looked at me like she was completely bewildered....o_O
Click to expand...
And I would completely confuse you with my "English as a second language:" I would be in the hospital but attend University! Help, I am a linguistic mongrel! :)
 
Old Salt said:
We say ON Thursday in the maritimes as well!

I brought this up almost four years ago but it still baffles me: "Give me a couple of days, I will think on it!" Is this valid throughout the English speaking world? Same as "hollydolly was impatiently sitting in the courtyard waiting on Prince Harry!" This is everywhere, in books, radio, television, movies, as I silently mutter to myself: it should be think about, it should be wait for! I know that I am wrong in this. While searching for Americanisms I learned that even Shakespeare was thinking ON things! Still sounds strange to me though after years and years of thinking about things and waiting for supper!
Click to expand...
yes think ON.. is to ponder.. think Of.. is to remember

Waiting ON.. is waiting on someone.. attending to their whims.. waiting For.. is awaiting something
 
Last edited:
hollydolly said:
yes thik ON.. is to ponder.. think Of.. is to remember

Waiting ON.. is waiting on someone.. attending to their whims.. waiting For.. is awaiting something
Click to expand...
To me, thinking about always meant to ponder as well! I made no fine distinction! Waiting ON someone was always as you described. A waiter/waitress waited on you. Everything/everyone else you waited for!
 
British Canadian
Home Home
Bath. Bath/Bathtub
Dustbin. Garbage Bin/Can
Tap Tap
The Cinema The Cinema
First Floor Second Floor
Garden. Garden
Flat Flat or Apartment
(depends on size)
Lift Elevator
Reception. Reception
Sweet Shop Candy Store
Torch Flashlight
Wardrobe Wardrobe / closet
(depends on style)
Toilet Toilet
Trolley Shopping cart
Wash basin Sink
Pushchair Baby carriage
Pram Stroller

Mark Mark / Grade
Academic staff Teaching staff

Holiday Holiday/Vacation
Head Master Principal
Maths Math
Open Day Open House
Break Time Recess
Packed Lunch Packed Lunch
Rubber Rubber/ Eraser
Staff Room Staff room
Teachers Lounge
Full Stop Period
Time table Time Table
Schedule

Plimsolls Running Shoes
Runners
Primary school Elementary
school

Auburgine Egg plant
Beetroots Beetroots
Candy Floss Candy Floss
Cotton Candy
Biscuit Biscuit/Cookie
Depends on item
Chips Chips/ Fries
Cutlery Cutlery/Utensils
Silverware
Eggy Bread French Toast
Fairy Cake Cupcake
Flan Flan & Fruit pie
Completely
Different items
Gammon Ham
Jam/Jelly Jam/Jelly
Jug Jug/pitcher
Maize. Corn
Minced Meat Minced meat
Ground meat
Spring onions. Green onions
Tin Tin/can
Clothes pegs Clothes peg/pin
Wellingtons. Rain boots
Jumper Cardigan
Sweater
Nappy Diaper
Underwear Underwear/
Panties
Dungarees Overalls
Trainers Running Shoes
Trousers Trousers / pants
Swimming suite Swimming suite
Zip Zipper
Waist Coat Vest
Dressing Gown Housecoat/
Dressing gown
Bathrobe
Pyjamas Pyjamas
Fire Engine Fire engine/truck
Car Park Parking lot
Crossroads. Intersection
Lorry. Truck
Motorbike Motorbike/cycle
Pavement Sidewalk
Petrol Gas/gasoline
Roundabout Roundabout
Taxi Taxi/cab
Aeroplane Airplane
Tyre Tire
Windscreen Windshield
Anti clockwise Counter
Clockwise
Autumn Autumn/fall
Football Soccer
Ladybird Ladybug
Post Code Postal Code
Queue Line
Post. Mail
High street. Main Street
Kit. Uniform
Film. Film/Movie
Cashier Cashier
Sellotape. Scotch tape
Dustman. Garbage man
Postman. Post/mail man
Nil. Nil/zero/zip/
Zilch/nada
Caretaker Janitor
Dear Expensive
Draughts. Checkers
Fire Brigade. Fire department
Lass. Girl
Gumble sale Yard/garage sale
Loo Loo/ bathroom
Washtub
Mum. Mum/mom
Noughts & crosses - tic-tac-toe
Parcel. Parcel/package
Phone box. Phone booth
Plaster. Bandaid
Pitch. Field

With 5 repeats
This was done in lists but it doesn’t show that way.
 
Last edited:
oldpop said:
PeppermintPatty>
I noticed you mentioned Tyre and Tire
We call it a Tar in these parts....;)
Click to expand...
We call what goes on a wheel a tire
I had this all made up in lists . One side British and one side Canadian but it doesn’t show that way when I posted it.
Tar? Over here, that’s what they use on railroad tracks. Where do you live where your cars have tars. 😅
 
One big difference must be in regards to our school systems! We have Elementary School, Jr. High School, High School, Community College (Trade School ) and University.

At the moment I am completely stumped as I am reading in one of my romances that a British girl is doing "A-Levels!" U.K. people explain please!
 
Old Salt said:
One big difference must be in regards to our school systems! We have Elementary School, Jr. High School, High School, Community College (Trade School ) and University.

At the moment I am completely stumped as I am reading in one of my romances that a British girl is doing "A-Levels!" U.K. people explain please!
Click to expand...
A-Levels (short for Advanced levels) are UK national curriculum school-leaving qualifications that are taken by many students in the UK. Students usually choose three or four subjects, and take two years to study for these A-levels between the ages of 16 and 18.
These are exams taken at higher level in school.. and only for those who are smarter than the average kid. Can only be taken after the age of 16.. and are usually needed to be able to obtain a place at University.. ( not needed for college which is more like a lower level university for more manual studies, like hairdressing, or motor mechanics et al )..

My DD sat her O leavels.. passed 9... then A levels at 18, and passed 4 with A's ..then went onto study music at Music college
 
hollydolly said:
A-Levels (short for Advanced levels) are UK national curriculum school-leaving qualifications that are taken by many students in the UK. Students usually choose three or four subjects, and take two years to study for these A-levels between the ages of 16 and 18.
These are exams taken at higher level in school.. and only for those who are smarter than the average kid. Can only be taken after the age of 16.. and are usually needed to be able to obtain a place at University.. ( not needed for college which is more like a lower level university for more manual studies, like hairdressing, or motor mechanics et al )..

My DD sat her O leavels.. passed 9... then A levels at 18, and passed 4 with A's ..then went onto study music at Music college
Click to expand...
Thanks for the quick reply, hollydolly! I'll need some time to digest this new information! I thought it was something similar to our grade eight, nine and so on!
 
hollydolly said:
These are exams taken at higher level in school.. and only for those who are smarter than the average kid. Can only be taken after the age of 16.. and are usually needed to be able to obtain a place at University.. ( not needed for college which is more like a lower level university for more manual studies, like hairdressing, or motor mechanics et al )..
Click to expand...
Thank you for that explanation of A levels Holly. I've learned something. :)

With regard to colleges and universities, I'm still confused. I think of colleges in Britain as, for example, Lincoln College which is one of many that comprise Oxford University (if I've got that right). In the US, these are often referred to as "Schools", i.e Harvard Law School, Western Michigan University School of Engineering & Applied Sciences". We typically call organizations that offer training for hairdressers or motor mechanics as Trade Schools.
 
Tommy said:
Thank you for that explanation of A levels Holly. I've learned something. :)

With regard to colleges and universities, I'm still confused. I think of colleges in Britain as, for example, Lincoln College which is one of many that comprise Oxford University (if I've got that right). In the US, these are often referred to as "Schools", i.e Harvard Law School, Western Michigan University School of Engineering & Applied Sciences". We typically call organizations that offer training for hairdressers or motor mechanics as Trade Schools.
Click to expand...
yes there are 'colleges' within Universities, but they differ from the colleges which are pretty much places now where the young go to sit an apprenticeship.. as we would have done years ago... . when they leave school without the required qualifications for University.

University is where you go to train to be a Doctor, a teacher a scientist, where people go to get Doctorate Degrees.. ..whereas College tends to be more for those who wish to train as Hairdressers, Beauticians, IT... Motor mechanics etc..

All that said.. some people obtain the necessary qualifications for University while studying at College.. and go onto University..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleges_within_universities_in_the_United_Kingdom
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top