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Paul Sparks
- Xiangtan University, Online Postgraduate (Masters Degree) English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas...
Speaking Lesson: American
English v British English
Source: http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/~jphb/american.html
(by Peter Burden)
Differences in Word Usage:
Different words are used to describe
the same thing
American
|
British
|
airplane
|
aeroplane
|
AM
|
Medium
Wave
|
antenna
|
aerial
|
apartment
|
flat
|
apartment
house/building
|
block of
flats
|
appetizer
|
starter,
hors d'oeuvre
|
area code
|
dialling
code
|
asphalt
|
Tarmac
|
attached
home
|
semi-detached
house
|
attorney
|
lawyer
|
auto,
automobile
|
car
|
automated
teller machine (ATM)
|
cashpoint
|
baby
carriage
|
pram
|
backpack/backbag
|
rucksack
|
back-up
light
|
reversing
light
|
baked
potato
|
jacket
potato
|
baking
soda
|
bicarbonate
of soda
|
Band-Aid
|
sticking
plaster
|
bandshell
|
bandstand
|
bangs
|
fringe
|
bankroll
|
foot the
bill
|
bar
|
pub,
public house
|
barrette
|
hair slide
|
baseboard
|
skirting
board
|
bathrobe
|
dressing
gown
|
bathroom
|
toilet
|
bathtub
|
bath
|
battle
stations
|
action
stations
|
beater
|
banger
|
beer
|
lager
|
bell
pepper
|
red
pepper, green pepper
|
beltway,
loop
|
ring road,
circular road
|
bill
|
note
|
billfold
|
wallet
|
billion
|
thousand
million
|
binder
clip
|
bulldog
clip
|
biscuit
|
scone
|
blacktop
|
Tarmac
|
blinders
|
blinkers
|
blinkers
|
indicators
|
blood
sausage
|
black
pudding
|
bobby pin
|
hair grip,
Kirby grip
|
boneyard
|
scrapyard,
junkyard
|
bouillon
cube
|
stock cube
|
boxcar
|
no
equivalent
|
braid
|
plait
|
breakdown
lane
|
hard
shoulder
|
brewpub
|
no
equivalent
|
Brit
|
Briton
|
brown bag
lunch
|
packed
lunch
|
bun
|
bap, roll
|
bureau
|
chest of
drawers
|
burlap
|
hessian
|
bus
|
coach
|
busy
signal
|
engaged
tone
|
caboose
|
guard's
van
|
cadaver
|
corpse
|
cafeteria
|
canteen
|
candy
|
sweet
|
canine
cookie
|
dog
biscuit
|
car
|
carriage
|
caravan
|
convoy
|
carnival
|
travelling
fair or circus
|
carousel
|
merry-go-round
|
cart
|
trolley
|
casket
|
coffin
|
cattle
guard
|
cattle
grid
|
cell
phone, cellular phone
|
mobile
phone
|
check
|
cheque
|
checkers
|
draughts
|
checking
account
|
current
account
|
chesterfield
|
settee
|
chicory
|
endive
|
chief
executive officer (CEO)
|
managing
director (MD)
|
chifforobe
|
gentleman's
wardrobe
|
chips
|
crisps
|
city
|
town
|
closet
|
fitted
wardrobe
|
closing
out
|
closing
down
|
clothes
pin
|
clothes
peg
|
coach
|
economy
|
collect
call
|
reverse
charge call
|
comfort
station
|
public
convenience, toilet
|
comforter
|
quilt,
eiderdown
|
concert
master
|
leading or
first violin, leader
|
condominium,
condo
|
block of
flats
|
conductor
|
guard
|
consignment
|
second
hand goods
|
cookie
|
biscuit
(sweet)
|
cooler
|
cool box
|
cord
|
lead, flex
|
corn
|
sweet
corn, maize, corn-on-the-cob
|
corn
starch
|
corn flour
|
cotton
batting obs
|
cotton
wool
|
cotton
candy
|
candy
floss
|
cotton
swab
|
cotton bud
|
couch
|
settee
|
county
|
|
cow pie
|
cow pat
|
crackers
|
biscuits
|
crane fly
|
daddy-long-legs
|
crawl
space
|
under
floor void
|
crazy bone
|
funny bone
|
cream of
wheat
|
semolina
|
creek
|
stream,
brook
|
crosswalk
|
pedestrian
crossing
|
cuffs
|
turn-ups
|
cupcake
|
fairy cake
|
custom
made
|
bespoke,
made to measure
|
davenport
|
bed-settee
|
daylight
saving(s) time
|
(British)
summer time
|
dead end
|
cul-de-sac
|
deck
|
pack
|
deck
|
no
equivalent
|
deductible
|
excess
|
deep
freeze
|
freezer
|
delivery
tanker
|
tanker
|
delivery
truck
|
van
|
denatured
alcohol
|
methylated
spirits, meths
|
desk clerk
|
receptionist
|
dessert
|
pudding
|
detour
|
diversion
|
diaper
|
nappy
|
differ...
than
|
differ...
from
|
dime
|
no
equivalent
|
diner
|
café
|
discount
|
concession
|
district
attorney
|
public
prosecutor
|
divided
highway
|
dual
carriageway
|
docent
|
curator,
guide
|
doctor's
office
|
surgery
|
double
whole note
|
breve
|
downtown
|
town
centre
|
(the)
draft
|
conscription
|
drapes
|
net
curtains
|
dresser
|
chest of
drawers, dressing table
|
driver's
license US, driver's permit Can
|
driving
licence
|
drug store
|
pharmacy,
chemists
|
druggist
|
chemist,
pharmacist
|
dry goods
store
|
drapery,
haberdashery
|
dumpster
|
skip
|
duplex
(house)
|
semi-detached
house
|
editorial
|
leader
|
eggplant
|
aubergine
|
eighth
note
|
quaver
|
electrician's
tape
|
insulating
tape
|
elevator
|
lift
|
England
|
United
Kingdom
|
entree
|
main
course
|
eraser
|
rubber
|
exit
|
junction
|
expressway
|
main road
|
Exxon
|
Esso
|
eyeglasses
|
spectacles,
specs
|
fair
|
show
|
fall
|
autumn
|
fanny pack
|
bum bag
|
faucet
|
tap
|
fava bean
|
broad bean
|
feminine
napkin
|
sanitary
towel
|
fender
|
wing
|
mudguard
|
field
|
pitch
|
fire hall
|
fire
station
|
firehouse
|
fire
station
|
fire
starter
|
fire
lighter
|
fire truck
|
fire
engine or fire appliance
|
first
floor
|
ground
floor
|
First
Nations
|
Native
Americans, Indians
|
flagstaff
|
flag pole
|
flashlight
|
torch
|
flatware
|
cutlery
|
float home
obs
|
house boat
|
float
plane
|
sea plane
|
floor lamp
|
standard
lamp
|
football
|
American
football
|
four way
(stop)
|
cross
roads
|
freeway
|
motorway
|
french
fries
|
chips
|
freshman
|
no
equivalent
|
funeral
director
|
undertaker
|
furnace
|
central
heating boiler
|
galoshes
|
Wellington
boots, wellies
|
garbage,
trash
|
rubbish,
refuse
|
garbage
can
|
dustbin
|
garter
belt
|
suspender
|
gas
|
petrol
|
gear
shift, gear stick
|
gear lever
|
generator
|
dynamo
|
girl
scouts US
|
girl
guides
|
goaltender
|
goalkeeper
|
goatsucker
|
nightjar
|
golden
raisin US
|
sultana
|
goose
bumps
|
goose
pimples
|
gotten
|
got
|
grade
|
gradient
(slope)
|
grade
crossing
|
level
crossing
|
graham
crackers
|
digestive
biscuits
|
grease
pencil
|
chinagraph
pencil
|
ground
|
earth
|
ground
|
minced
|
GST
|
VAT
|
gumboot
|
wellington
|
gurney
|
no
equivalent
|
half note
|
minim
|
hardware
store
|
ironmonger
|
hat check
girl
|
cloakroom
attendant
|
headlamp
|
headlight
|
heavy
cream
|
double
cream
|
hex
|
cast a
spell on
|
Hidabed,
hideaway
|
bed-settee
|
high
school
|
no
equivalent
|
highway
|
main road
|
hoagie
|
roll
|
hobo
|
tramp
|
hog
|
pig
|
hood
|
bonnet
|
horny
|
randy
|
(house
numbering)
|
|
house-trailer
|
caravan
|
hutch
|
chest,
Welsh dresser
|
icebox
|
refrigerator
|
ice chest
|
cool box
|
incorporated
|
limited
|
industrial
park
|
industrial
estate
|
installment
plan
|
hire
purchase
|
instant
replay
|
action
replay
|
intersection
|
cross
roads
|
intermission
|
interval
|
interstate
|
main road,
major road, trunk road
|
intimate
apparel
|
underwear
|
Inuit
|
Eskimo
|
janitor
|
caretaker
|
jack
|
socket
|
jelly
|
No
equivalent
|
jelly roll
|
Swiss roll
|
Jell-o
|
jelly
|
john
|
toilet
|
jump rope
|
skipping
rope
|
jumper
|
short
dress
|
kerb side
|
near side
|
kerosene
|
paraffin
|
kindergarten
|
nursery
|
Kleenex
|
tissues
|
knickers/knickerbockers
|
plus fours
|
last name
|
surname
|
lawyer,
advocate, attorney
|
lawyer,
solicitor, barrister
|
lead
|
cable
|
legal
holiday
|
bank
holiday
|
lemonade
|
real
lemonade, squash, cordial
|
license
plate / license tag
|
number
plate
|
Lifesavers
|
Polo
|
lima bean
|
butter
bean
|
line
|
queue
|
line cord
|
mains lead
|
liquor
|
spirits
|
liquor
store
|
off
licence
|
lobby
|
foyer
|
locker
room
|
changing
room
|
long
distance
|
trunk call
|
loon
|
great
northern diver
|
loonie
|
no
equivalent
|
lorry
|
hand cart,
dolly
|
lost and
found
|
lost
property
|
lot
|
plot
|
love seat
|
settee
|
low fat
milk
|
semi
skimmed milk
|
luggage
rack
|
roof rack
|
lumber
|
timber
|
M & M
|
Smarties
|
mail
|
post
|
mail man
|
postman
|
mail slot
|
letter box
|
main
street
|
high
street
|
maize
|
sweet corn
|
mall
|
shopping
centre
|
Mason jar
|
Kilner jar
|
mass
transit
|
public
transport
|
Master
Card
|
Access
|
master of
ceremonies
|
compere
|
mean
|
bad
tempered
|
meat
grinder
|
mincer
|
median
(strip)
|
central
reservation
|
military
time
|
24 hour
clock
|
mimosa
|
Buck's
Fizz
|
mobile
home
|
caravan
|
mortician
|
undertaker
|
movies
|
films
|
movie
theater
|
cinema
|
moving
company
|
removal
company
|
moving van
|
pantechnicon,
removal van
|
muffler
|
silencer
|
mutual
fund
|
unit trust
|
napkin
|
serviette
|
nickel
|
no
equivalent
|
nightstick
|
truncheon
|
notions
|
haberdashery
|
number
sign
|
hash mark
|
oatmeal
|
porridge
|
offense
players
|
forwards
|
oh
|
nil
|
oil pan
|
sump
|
on-ramp,
off-ramp
|
sliproad
|
operating
room
|
operating
theatre
|
orchestra
seat
|
stalls
|
outhouse
|
privy
|
overalls
|
dungarees
|
outlet
|
socket
|
overpass
|
flyover
|
pacifier
|
dummy
|
paddle
|
bat
|
panhandler
*
|
beggar
|
pantihose/pantyhose
|
tights
|
pants
|
trousers
|
paraffin
|
wax
|
parka
|
anorak
|
parkade Can
|
multi-storey
car park
|
parking
garage/ramp
|
multi-storey
car park
|
parking
lot
|
car park
|
parking
stall
|
parking
bay
|
pass
|
overtake
|
pastor
|
minister,
vicar, rector
|
paved
shoulder
|
hard
shoulder
|
pavement
|
paved area
|
penitentiary
|
prison
|
penny
|
cent
|
period
|
full stop
|
personalty
|
personal
property
|
petroleum
|
crude oil
|
phonograph
|
record
player, gramophone
|
pitcher
|
jug
|
plastic
wrap
|
clingfilm
|
pocketbook
obs
|
wallet,
purse
|
polliwog
|
tadpole
|
pool
|
snooker
|
popsicle
|
lollipop
|
pork rinds
|
pork
scratchings
|
postal
code
|
post code
|
postal
outlet
|
sub post
office
|
potato
chips
|
crisps
|
pot
holders
|
oven
gloves
|
pound
sign, number sign
|
hash sign
|
powdered
sugar US
|
icing
sugar
|
pre-natal
|
ante-natal
|
preserves
|
jam,
marmalade
|
pressure
|
pressurise
|
private
school
|
public
school
|
proctor
|
invigilator
|
professor
|
lecturer
|
prong
|
pin
|
public
school
|
state
school
|
pullout,
pulloff
|
lay by
|
pump
|
court shoe
|
purse
|
handbag
|
quarter
|
no
equivalent
|
quarter
note
|
crotchet
|
Quonset
hut
|
Nissen hut
|
radio
|
wireless
|
Radio
Shack
|
Tandy
|
railroad
|
railway
|
rain check
|
no
equivalent
|
rappel
|
abseil
|
Realtor
|
estate
agent
|
Realty
|
estate
agency
|
recess
|
break
|
reforestation
|
reafforestation
|
rent
|
hire
|
restroom
|
toilet
|
résumé
|
curriculum
vitae (CV)
|
retirement
fund
|
superannuation
|
(American)
Revolutionary War
|
American
War of Independence
|
roast
|
joint
|
robe
|
dressing
gown
|
roll
|
tube
|
rooming
house
|
lodging
house
|
rotary
|
roundabout
|
round trip
|
return
|
row house
|
terrace
house
|
rubber
boots
|
wellingtons
|
rubbers
|
condoms
|
rubbing
alcohol
|
surgical
spirit
|
run
|
ladder
|
run for
office
|
stand for
election
|
runners
|
trainers
|
running
shoes
|
trainers
|
rutabaga
|
swede
|
sack lunch
|
packed
lunch
|
sales
clerk
|
shop
assistant
|
sales tax
|
VAT
|
sand box
|
sand pit
|
sanitary
napkin
|
sanitary
towel
|
savings
and loan trust
|
building
society
|
sawbuck
|
sawhorse
|
scale
|
weighbridge
|
scallion
|
spring
onion
|
schedule
|
timetable
|
scheme
|
plot
|
Scotch
Tape
|
Sellotape
|
second
floor
|
first
floor
|
sedan
|
saloon
|
seeing eye
dog
|
guide dog
|
semi-trailer
|
articulated
lorry
|
server
|
waiter or
waitress
|
senior
|
pensioner
|
shade
|
blind
|
sherbet
|
sorbet
|
shoestring
|
bootlace,
shoelace
|
shrimp
|
prawn
|
sidewalk
|
pavement
or footpath
|
silverware
|
cutlery
|
sixteenth
note
|
semi-quaver
|
ski mask
|
balaclava
|
skivvies
|
underpants
& vest
|
sled
|
sledge
|
slingshot
|
catapult
|
smoked
herring
|
kipper
|
snaps
|
press
studs
|
sneakers
|
trainers
|
snowpack
|
lying snow
|
snow peas
|
mangetout
|
soccer
|
football
|
social
security number
|
national
insurance number
|
soda
|
soft drink
|
soother
|
dummy
|
sophomore
|
no
equivalent
|
spool
|
reel
|
spur line
|
branch
line
|
squash
|
vegetable
marrow
|
standings
|
table,
league table
|
none
|
special
school
|
station
wagon
|
estate car
|
statutory
holiday
|
bank
holiday
|
stemware
|
wineglasses
|
stick
shift
|
gear lever
|
stocking
stuffer
|
stocking
filler
|
store
|
shop
|
stove
|
cooker,
oven
|
straight
|
neat
|
streetcar
|
tram
|
strip mall
|
parade of
shops
|
stroller
|
push
chair, baby buggy
|
stub
|
counterfoil
|
subway
|
underground
railway
|
suspenders
|
braces
|
sweeper
|
vaccuum
cleaner
|
switch
|
points
|
switchback
|
hairpin
bend
|
switchblade
knife
|
flick
knife
|
switcher
|
shunter
|
switchyard
|
marshalling
yard
|
telephone
pole
|
telegraph
pole
|
teleprompter
|
autocue
|
teller
|
cashier
|
texas gate
|
cattle
grid
|
thread
|
cotton
|
thumbtack
|
drawing
pin
|
tic-tac-toe
|
noughts
and crosses
|
tie
|
sleeper
|
tie
|
draw
|
toonie
|
no
equivalent
|
townhouse
|
terrace
house
|
tractor-trailer
|
articulated
lorry or "artic"
|
traffic
circle US
|
roundabout
|
trail
|
track,
footpath
|
trailer,
trailer home
|
caravan
|
train
station
|
railway
station
|
transit
|
public
transport
|
transmission
tower
|
electricity
pylon
|
trash
|
rubbish
|
trash can
|
dustbin
|
trolley
|
|
truck
|
lorry
|
truck stop
|
transport
café
|
trunk
|
boot
|
tub
|
bath
|
tube
|
valve
|
turn
signals
|
indicators
|
turtle
neck
|
polo neck
|
tuxedo
|
dinner
jacket
|
two-four
|
no
equivalent
|
two weeks
|
fortnight
|
under
basement
|
cellar
|
undershirt
|
vest
|
unemployment
compensation/insurance
|
dole,
unemployment pay/benefit
|
union suit
|
long
johns, combinations
|
utility
pole
|
telegraph
pole
|
vacation
|
holiday
|
valance
|
pelmet
|
vacationer
|
holidaymaker
|
vest
|
waistcoat
|
veterans'
day
|
remembrance
day
|
wall to
wall (carpet)
|
fitted
carpet
|
wallet
|
purse
|
wash cloth
|
(face)
flannel
|
washroom
|
toilet
|
water
heater
|
immersion
heater, geyser
|
weed
wacker, weed eater
|
strimmer
|
welfare
|
benefit
|
wheat
bread
|
brown
bread
|
whiskey
|
whisky
|
whole note
|
semi-breve
|
windshield
|
windscreen
|
wire
|
telegram
|
wrench
|
spanner
|
yard
|
garden
|
zee
|
zed
|
zip code
|
post code
|
zucchini
|
courgette
|
911
|
999
|
|