British vs American English! What’s the difference between British vs American English?
British vs American English
British vs American English
American English is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects used within the United States of America. British English is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the United Kingdom
Most people are well aware of some of the most obvious differences between British vs American English. For example, American English omits the “u” in colour, neighbour, honour, etc. However, you might not have noticed that there are many British words which are not widely used in the United States.
Commonly Used British Words not Widely Used in the United States
(This list is intended as a guide only)
No | British English | Meaning | American English |
1 | Accountancy | keeping financial accounts | accounting |
2 | All change | the public-transportation announcement for the last stop | All out |
3 | (Be) arsed | (informal) to be made to get off one’s arse, usually as a negative or conditional | be bothered to |
4 | Barmy | crazy, unbalanced | balmy |
5 | Biccie, bicky, bikky | a biscuit | cookie |
6 | Boiled sweet | type of confection | hard candy |
7 | Bureau de change | an office where money can be exchanged | currency exchange |
8 | carer | a person who cares for another, such as a child, elderly, or disabled person | caregiver |
9 | Car boot | storage area of car | trunk |
10 | Cool box | box for keeping food and liquids cool | (US and UK also) cooler |
11 | Crisps | very thinly sliced fried potatoes, often flavoured, eaten cold as a snack | potato chips |
12 | Current account | personal bank account used for everyday transactions | checking account |
13 | Cuppa | [cup of] tea | a cup of tea |
14 | Dodgy | unsound, unstable, and unreliable | sketchy |
15 | Dogsbody | someone who carries out menial tasks on another’s behalf; a drudge | grunt |
16 | Draughts | the board game | checkers |
17 | Drawing pin | pin with a large, flat head, used for fixing notices to noticeboards | thumbtack |
18 | Economy class | the cheapest class of passenger airline travel | coach or coach class |
19 | Electric fire | domestic electric heater | space heater |
20 | Engaged tone | tone indicating a telephone line in use | busy signal |
21 | estate agent | a person who sells property for others | realtor, real estate agent |
22 | flyover | a road crossing over another road | overpass |
23 | footie | (slang) football | soccer |
24 | foot-path, footpath | path that is only for use by those on foot that may or may not be alongside a road. Not usually used for paved or widened path that directly abuts the road at a kerb, which is referred to as pavement | Sidewalk |
25 | funfair | a travelling fair with amusements, stalls, rides etc | carnival or traveling carnival |
26 | gaol | a prison, mostly historical | jail |
27 | gearbox | system of gears in a vehicle or other machinery | transmission |
28 | gear-lever / gearstick | handle for changing gears in a vehicle or other machinery | gearshift |
29 | go-slow | a protest in which workers deliberately work slowly | slowdown or work to rule |
30 | green fingers | talent for growing plants | green thumb |
31 | half- | [as in ‘half-eight’] meaning thirty minutes past the hour | Half past |
32 | high street | primary business and shopping street | main street |
33 | hire | (v.) to borrow for a set period of time | to rent |
34 | hot up | to become more exciting | heating up |
35 | invigilator | person who monitors an examination | proctor |
36 | knickers | girls’ and women’s underpants | panties |
37 | ladybird | red and black flying insect | ladybug |
38 | learnt | past tense of “learn” | learned |
39 | life assurance | also described as life insurance regardless of coverage | life insurance |
40 | letter box | a slot in a wall or door through which incoming post is delivered | mail slot, mailbox |
41 | lorry | a large goods-carrying motor vehicle | truck |
42 | loo | toilet (usually the room, not just the plumbing device) | bathroom, restroom |
43 | main | pipe that carries gas or water | line |
44 | maths | mathematics | math |
45 | mince | ground meat, especially beef | ground beef |
46 | mobile phone | cell phone | |
47 | move house, move flat, etc. | to move out of one’s house or other residences into a new residence | move, move out |
48 | newsagent | strictly a shop owner or shop that sells newspapers | newsdealer |
49 | nicked | arrested | up the river, busted |
50 | oughtn’t | A contraction of ought not | shouldn’t, ought not |
51 | petrol | refined mixture of hydrocarbons used esp. to fuel motor vehicles | gasoline, gas |
52 | phone box | payphone, public phone. See also “telephone kiosk” | phone booth |
53 | pram, perambulator | wheeled conveyance for babies | baby-carriage |
54 | provisional licence, provisional driving licence | a licence for a learner driver, who has not yet passed a driving test | learner’s permit |
55 | quieten | used in the phrase “quieten down” | quiet down |
56 | quid | the pound sterling monetary unit; remains quid in plural form (“Can I borrow ten quid?”) | US buck, meaning dollar |
57 | road-works | upgrade or repairs of roads | construction; roadwork |
58 | rubber | a pencil eraser | eraser |
59 | rubbish | worthless, unwanted material that is rejected or thrown out; debris; litter | trash, garbage |
60 | saloon | a four-door car | sedan |
61 | shan’t | A contraction of shall not | won’t |
62 | skint | informal) out of money | broke |
63 | spot on | exactly | right on |
64 | suck it and see | to undertake a course of action without knowing its full consequences | take your chances |
65 | tea towel | a cloth which is used to dry dishes, cutlery, etc., after they have been washed | dish towel |