English Vocabulary: “British and American English”

While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American and British English are the two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is “correct”.

 When using vocabulary from either one it is fine to interchange them, however this could be confusing for some as the list of vocabulary differences is quite extensive in each. In ABA you will have units in both American and British English, so you will learn how both sound.

As for the accent, simply learn the language first and as you progress you can start to find a way of speaking that suits you best and that you feel comfortable with.

Below we shall look at two common rules in the spelling in British and American English.

Spelling Rules

Words ending in -or (American) -our (British): color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour etc.
Words ending in -ize (American) -ise (British): recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise etc.

The best way to make sure that you are being consistent in your spelling is to use the spell check on your word processor (if you are using the computer of course) and choose which variety of English you would like. As you can see, there are really very few differences between standard British English and standard American English. However, the largest difference is probably that of the choice of vocabulary and pronunciation.

 Vocabulary

As mentioned above there is a lot of vocabulary which is different in American and British English. We shall look at a list of a 130 words here that should make it easy for you to remember as they are the most common words in each. The best way to memorise them is through checking the meaning whilst reading or listening closely or whilst watching something in British or American English and referring to a dictionary if you are unsure. Don’t be scared to learn more or the differences in each as they are equally important, and by just knowing one you are limiting your knowledge of vocabulary in either British or American English.

They are placed with the American vocabulary first and then the British way of the same word.

1. A slice of Bacon = Rasher
2. Apartment = Flat
3. Appetizer = Starter
4. Apron = Pinny
5. Argument = Row
6. Baby carriage = Pram
7. Back-up Lights (Car) = Reversing Lights (Car)
8. Backyard = Garden
9. Baked Potato = Jacket Potato
10. Band-aid = Plaster
11. Baseball = Rounders
12. Bath Robe = Dressing Gown
13. Bathing Suit = Swimming Costume
14. Bathroom = Toilet
15. Bathroom = Loo
16. Bathroom = WC
17. Biscuit =Scone
18. Boy = Lad
19. Broil = Grill
20. Can = Tin
21. Candy = Sweets
22. Check = Bill (at Restaurant)
23. Chips = Crisps
24. Chopped beef = Mince
25. Closet = Wardrobe
26. Come over = Come around
27. Cookie (Large Biscuit) = Biscuit / Bickie
28. Corn = Maize
29. Crazy Person = Nutter
30. Cross Walk = Zebra Crossing
31. Cross Walk = Pedestrian Crossing
32. Crossing Guard = Lollipop Man or Lady
33. Cup Cake = Fairy Cake
34. Dessert = Puddings
35. Dessert = Afters
36. Dessert = Sweets
37. Detour = Diversion
38. Diaper = Nappy
39. Doctor’s Office = Surgery
40. Dumpster = Skip
41. Duplex = Semi-Detached House
42. Eggplant = Aubergine
43. Elevator = Lift
44. Eraser = Rubber
45. Fall = Autumn
46. Faucet = Tap
47. Fill the Tub = Run the Bath
48. Fire truck = Fire Engine
49. Flapjacks = Scotch Pancakes
50. Flashlight = Torch
51. Fooling Around = Mucking Around
52. Freeway = Motorway
53. French Fries = Chips
54. French Toast = Eggy Bread (Fried)
55. Friend = Mate
56. Fries = Chips
57. Gas = Petrol
58. Gas Station = Petrol Station
59. Gasoline = Petrol
60. Girl = Lass
61. Go ahead = Off you go
62. Grading Scheme = Marking Scheme
63. Green Beans = Runner Beans
64. Gum = Glue
65. Guy = Bloke
66. Highway = Motorway
67. Hood (Car) = Bonnet (Car)
68. Hot Lunch = School Dinner
69. Jello = Jelly
70. Jelly = Jam
71. Kerosene = Paraffin
72. Lawyer = Solicitor
73. License plate = Number plate
74. Line = Queue
75. Mail = Post
76. Mailman = Postman
77. Man = Bloke
78. Math = Maths
79. Mom = Mum / Mummy
80. Motor home = Caravan
81. Movie Theatre = Cinema
82. Napkin = Serviette
83. National Holiday= Bank Holiday
84. Off Task = Mucking Around
85. Open House = Open Day
86. Overpass = Flyover
87. Pacifier = Dummy
88. Paddle (ping pong) = Bat (Table Tennis)
89. Pants = Trousers
90. Parking Lot = Car Park
91. Period = Full stop
92. Pharmacist = Chemist
93. Policeman = Copper
94. Popsicle = Ice Lolly
95. Potato chips = Crisps
96. Private School = Public School
97. Public School =StateSchool
98. Radio = Wireless
99. Rain Coat = Mac
100. Range = Cooker
101. Recess = Break Time
102. Rent = Hire
103. Road Trip = Car Journey /Car Drive
104. Robe = Dressing Gown
105. Sandwich= Butty
106. Sausage = Banger
107. Sidewalk = Pavement
108. Sink =HandBasin/WashBasin
109. Sleep = Kip
110. Sneakers = Trainers
111. Soccer = Football
112. Sofa = Couch
113. Steal = Nick
114. Stove = Cooker
115. Sweater = Pullover /Jersey
116. Tail Pipe = Exhaust Pipe
117. Take Out = Take Away
118. Teachers Lounge = Staff Room
119. Telephone Booth = Phone Box
120. Teller = Cashier
121. Thumbtacks = Drawing pins
122. Town House = Terrace (Row of Houses)
123. Traffic Jam = Tailback
124. Trash Can = Dust Bin
125. Truck = Lorry
126. Trunk (Car) = Boot (Car)
127. Turtle Neck = Polo Neck
128. Undershirt = Vest
129. Panties = Knickers
130. Vacation = Holiday