Given the number of places around the world that English is spoken, differences are bound to emerge. Despite how much the USA and UK have in common, there are enough differences between their two versions of the English language that someone may not always understand exactly what someone from the other country is saying. Not only are there 160 distinct dialects of the English language, but there's also different spelling and even words, used to describe one or other thing. Fortunately, the US State Department has created a series of these useful graphics to help clear things up between the British English Vs. American English usage.
Did you know, that the difference between spelling words like American color and British colour, or humor and humour, comes from the Brits adopting, their now called British words, from Old French language? When it came to America later, the spelling was simplified. And so is with many other American English and British English differences, as the adaptation of grammar took its part.
The US and the UK's imperial histories and modern influence over the world have changed the English wording forever. Because it was exported to countries all over the world, it has been forced to accept different variations of the same language, the most known one to be the British Vs. American.
Even if you're a native speaker of UK or US English, there's a good chance you'll learn something new here. Check the brilliant graphs about British Vs. American English language differences below.
More info: americanenglish.state.gov (h/t: designyoutrust, demilked)
This post may include affiliate links.
British Vs American Words For Clothing
British Vs American Words For Food
We too have french fries (what you get in McDonalds) chips are different. We also use peckish and hungry they indicate a degree in our state of hunger.
British Vs American Spelling
British Vs American Words For Vegetables
British Vs American Words For Housing
Labeling of floors in elevators in both the US and UK is a permanent cause of confusion for continental ppl lol
British Vs American
British Vs American Words For Car Parts
In South Africa we call "indicators" Christmas lights because most people only use them once a bloody year.
Also in Britain although bonnet is an old fashioned word
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Wonder where voyeurism comes from? Rhetorically I reckon knowing we brave in Texas but not blatant exhibitionists😂
In norway we call it blinklys which directly translated means blinking light
No matter how long I live here in the USA (18 years so far) an indicator will ALWAYS be an indicator. And I have to forrce myself to say windshield. Even boot and bonnet slip out occasionally in moments of stress. Funny, but words pertaining to cars definitely seem among the hardest to re-learn.
In the U.S. indicator light refers to a light, usually on a small appliance like an iron or an electric kettle, that indicates the appliance is either on or has reached optimal heat.
In America most people call the turn signals blinkers. Many people call them turn signals, because to call them blinkers sounds like you are a redneck ( i.e., generally under-educated)
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I'm so conflicted because we say hood and trunk in the VI, but also bonnet. And it's DEFINITELY indicator. And as a Jamaican my mom still spells it tyre lol #caribbeanproblems
If you look at a US auto users manual, you'll find turn signals called "directional signals." Many people just all them signals, too.
Hahaha !!! I was reading a book and I think it was British cause it spelled tire "tyre" and I was what the heck and was confused !!!
Not any more ( I wrote in two different speech thing cause it won't let me write no more than that)
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Windscreen must come from the early days of automobiles. No car has a screen, but the glass is a shield - so as an American, this just makes better sense to me...
British English Vs American English
One of my sister in laws had a period of schooling in the states and had the class in fits of laughter when she asked for a rubber to rectify a mistake she had made not realising that a rubber was slang for a condom. Very red faced.
British English Vs American English
Autumn is widely used in the US. Basically holiday means a public holiday (what would be called a bank holiday in the UK) whereas vacation is your time off work. Actually that seems pretty reasonable.
British English Vs American English
Estate wagon sounds so much better. Would probably sell better too. You can't call a '78 Oldsmobile station wagon a 'sports wagon'...estate wagon would totally work tho
British Vs American Spelling
A parlour is a nice room in your house for special guests (bit old fashioned), you generally don't by ice cream there.
British Vs American
British Vs American Words For Sweets
sweets/candy in Australia = lollies, candy floss= fairy floss, ice lolly = icy pole,
British & American English
British & American English Spelling
British Vs American
British English Vs American English
The southern U.S. version of dish towel is "cup towel," even though you dry other dishes with it. And if we are betraying our roots, we say "dishrag" or "washrag" instead of dish cloth. I have to be really cautious to say the fancier one.
British Vs American Spelling
British Vs American
British Vs American Differences
Zebra crossing sounds like it would be way cooler than it actually is.
British Vs American Names
British English Vs American English
British Vs American
Diversion was a nightmare when I first moved to England! We were lost for 2 hours because the highway just closed and we had to exit! We had no clue what to do. Finally we saw a tiny sign that said diversion. We followed it and made it home!
British Vs American
In Britain we say sellotape (for sticky tape) whereas my American friend calls it scotch tape... :)
We say scotch tape as scotch is a tape brand here, just as we call bandages "band-aids", cotton swabs "q-tips" and jelatinis desserts "jello".
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I am Canadian and use many terms from both the British and American English. I went to university in the USA and never forget that they did not understand when I asked for an elastic. Now I always say rubber band. British and Canadians used to call a sofa a Chesterfield and had an expression "Chesterfield Rugby" which meant a make-out session, not always welcome by the female! A friend amused me by relating a story that happened in the southern USA. He asked for a serviette (napkin) and the waitress asked him what flavour he wanted!
Lol thats so funny bro, the serviette part I mean lol
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In different parts of the US there are different words for the same thing. Example: sofa, couch, divan Example: porch, stoop
Brilliant! As an Australian I was stunned to learn how much of both varieties we've incorporated into our own 'English'. :)
That is obvious as the words all come from ENGLISH English, gosh some people are thick beside the Americans
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English, Firstly, secondly, thirdly. American, first of all, second of all third of all. WTF? Then, and this pee's me off, English, In the begining , from the start, from the onset , etc, Now we get FROM THE GET GO. Even the BBC, the guardians of the English language use this. AAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol it pees you off XD I think you meant tees you off:)
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dear people of the internet, i have done the math and there are 96 differences and not 100+ you have been tricked, lied to, and possibly bamboozled (sorry for being bad at spelling English words)
people of the internet, i have done the math and it turns out that there are 96 differences on this site and not 100+ you have been tricked, lied to, and possibly bamboozled (sorry for any words that are misspeled)
No, In British English it is post code, not postal code. And diversion is pronounced with zh not sh.
It is amazing how b****y, petty, and stupid people are. The list doesn't say words that only British can use or only Americans can use. It is general terms that are more common to locality. Oooh you used the term once or twice,or you overheard it while sitting in the loo? Aren't you just the be all end all authority on linguistics now?
That is not the problem, it is Americans and now Aussies claiming English is their language and the English copy from them, idiotic ideas
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This was fun. Thank you to most of the commenters from whom I learned a lot. To the few who were rude or lewd, grow up.
I know some of these because my dad is from Ireland and they use some of the same sayings there
Chips in England are really not french fries. They are more like american fries. French fries are french fries over there.
Actually French Fries are really BELGIAN FRIES. Like in Poland Belgijski Frytki.
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Much of it is just spelling differences, but the actual different use of words is interesting, to me at least, as an immigrant who has (mostly) made the transition from UK to US English.
Sedan vs. Saloon (car); Highway vs. Motorway; Railroad vs. Railway; Railway Station vs. Train Station; Take a P**s vs. Have a Slash; Tylenol vs. Paracetamol; Cilantro vs. Coriander Leaves; Having Someone Committed vs. Having them Sectioned... all baseball references are purely American. The Economist has some fun additions: http://www.economist.com/style-guide/americanisms
I was wondering about sedan. It is sedan for a four door and couple for a two door car in the U.S..
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I find it hilarious that Australia uses some British terms and some American terms and sometimes both! :D
It seems like people from the UK, especially England, forget how big the USA is. This country is massive and there are tons of sub-dialects within “American English”. Some of you think NYC and LA are the only major cities here.
?? A bloke is just a casual term for a man, it’s not derogatory.
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I find that living in Canada we use some from column A and some from column B. Having English parents I am quite often confused on which word is used in which country.
“Operating Room” in America, “Theatre” in British. Why “theatre?”
Because, originally, that's exactly what they were. Performing operations and dissecting cadavers was a spectator sport back in the early days!
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The 'z' form of words like 'realization' is just as correct in UK English as the now more commonly used 's' form; indeed apparently the 'z' form was far commoner up to about 1950 when the 's' form gradually began to displace it. The authoritative Oxford English Dictionary indicates the 'z' form as the preferred version.
Load More Replies... That "u" is pissing my nerves. (No offence, dear u. U are a gorgeUs and beaUtiful letter, and we can't imagine oUr lives withoUt U)👍😗❤
We also use program in the UK, when it's a computer program. Otherwise programme Our adoption of French has led to our use of Autumn, when the Fall was originally the word used in South West England (and then taken to New England first). I'd prefer us to use Fall, it's so much more romantic/graphic!
Not to mention the root vegetable sweed...or as the Americans call it... rutabaga!
I don't understand why several of these posters are so redundant, when they're all designed by the same group.
the Brits also pronounce oregano with different emphasis than we do.
Also advertisement. Interestingly, the British place the accent on the second syllable for weekend and princess (two that come readily to mind - I like it, though! As an American, I says these two words like the British, and it makes my family laugh)
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Also those in India and other places the British had mass influence on and invaded.
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There is NO wrong or right! NO mistakes. Just different countries.. different culture.
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How can the Americans call petrol GAS, gas is a vapour petrol is a liquid ?.
Gas is short for gasoline. http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.ru/2012/04/origin-of-word-gasoline.html
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Then what language have I been speaking here in the States? o-o
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In Britain we say sellotape (for sticky tape) whereas my American friend calls it scotch tape... :)
We say scotch tape as scotch is a tape brand here, just as we call bandages "band-aids", cotton swabs "q-tips" and jelatinis desserts "jello".
Load More Replies... I am Canadian and use many terms from both the British and American English. I went to university in the USA and never forget that they did not understand when I asked for an elastic. Now I always say rubber band. British and Canadians used to call a sofa a Chesterfield and had an expression "Chesterfield Rugby" which meant a make-out session, not always welcome by the female! A friend amused me by relating a story that happened in the southern USA. He asked for a serviette (napkin) and the waitress asked him what flavour he wanted!
Lol thats so funny bro, the serviette part I mean lol
Load More Replies... In different parts of the US there are different words for the same thing. Example: sofa, couch, divan Example: porch, stoop
Brilliant! As an Australian I was stunned to learn how much of both varieties we've incorporated into our own 'English'. :)
That is obvious as the words all come from ENGLISH English, gosh some people are thick beside the Americans
Load More Replies... English, Firstly, secondly, thirdly. American, first of all, second of all third of all. WTF? Then, and this pee's me off, English, In the begining , from the start, from the onset , etc, Now we get FROM THE GET GO. Even the BBC, the guardians of the English language use this. AAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol it pees you off XD I think you meant tees you off:)
Load More Replies... dear people of the internet, i have done the math and there are 96 differences and not 100+ you have been tricked, lied to, and possibly bamboozled (sorry for being bad at spelling English words)
people of the internet, i have done the math and it turns out that there are 96 differences on this site and not 100+ you have been tricked, lied to, and possibly bamboozled (sorry for any words that are misspeled)
No, In British English it is post code, not postal code. And diversion is pronounced with zh not sh.
It is amazing how b****y, petty, and stupid people are. The list doesn't say words that only British can use or only Americans can use. It is general terms that are more common to locality. Oooh you used the term once or twice,or you overheard it while sitting in the loo? Aren't you just the be all end all authority on linguistics now?
That is not the problem, it is Americans and now Aussies claiming English is their language and the English copy from them, idiotic ideas
Load More Replies... This was fun. Thank you to most of the commenters from whom I learned a lot. To the few who were rude or lewd, grow up.
I know some of these because my dad is from Ireland and they use some of the same sayings there
Chips in England are really not french fries. They are more like american fries. French fries are french fries over there.
Actually French Fries are really BELGIAN FRIES. Like in Poland Belgijski Frytki.
Load More Replies... Much of it is just spelling differences, but the actual different use of words is interesting, to me at least, as an immigrant who has (mostly) made the transition from UK to US English.
Sedan vs. Saloon (car); Highway vs. Motorway; Railroad vs. Railway; Railway Station vs. Train Station; Take a P**s vs. Have a Slash; Tylenol vs. Paracetamol; Cilantro vs. Coriander Leaves; Having Someone Committed vs. Having them Sectioned... all baseball references are purely American. The Economist has some fun additions: http://www.economist.com/style-guide/americanisms
I was wondering about sedan. It is sedan for a four door and couple for a two door car in the U.S..
Load More Replies... I find it hilarious that Australia uses some British terms and some American terms and sometimes both! :D
It seems like people from the UK, especially England, forget how big the USA is. This country is massive and there are tons of sub-dialects within “American English”. Some of you think NYC and LA are the only major cities here.
?? A bloke is just a casual term for a man, it’s not derogatory.
Load More Replies... I find that living in Canada we use some from column A and some from column B. Having English parents I am quite often confused on which word is used in which country.
“Operating Room” in America, “Theatre” in British. Why “theatre?”
Because, originally, that's exactly what they were. Performing operations and dissecting cadavers was a spectator sport back in the early days!
Load More Replies... The 'z' form of words like 'realization' is just as correct in UK English as the now more commonly used 's' form; indeed apparently the 'z' form was far commoner up to about 1950 when the 's' form gradually began to displace it. The authoritative Oxford English Dictionary indicates the 'z' form as the preferred version.
Load More Replies... That "u" is pissing my nerves. (No offence, dear u. U are a gorgeUs and beaUtiful letter, and we can't imagine oUr lives withoUt U)👍😗❤
We also use program in the UK, when it's a computer program. Otherwise programme Our adoption of French has led to our use of Autumn, when the Fall was originally the word used in South West England (and then taken to New England first). I'd prefer us to use Fall, it's so much more romantic/graphic!
Not to mention the root vegetable sweed...or as the Americans call it... rutabaga!
I don't understand why several of these posters are so redundant, when they're all designed by the same group.
the Brits also pronounce oregano with different emphasis than we do.
Also advertisement. Interestingly, the British place the accent on the second syllable for weekend and princess (two that come readily to mind - I like it, though! As an American, I says these two words like the British, and it makes my family laugh)
Load More Replies... Also those in India and other places the British had mass influence on and invaded.
Load More Replies... There is NO wrong or right! NO mistakes. Just different countries.. different culture.
Load More Replies... How can the Americans call petrol GAS, gas is a vapour petrol is a liquid ?.
Gas is short for gasoline. http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.ru/2012/04/origin-of-word-gasoline.html
Load More Replies... Then what language have I been speaking here in the States? o-o
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