American English

American	English	Notes
911	999	Telephone Number For Emergency Services. Actually 99 Is Usually Sufficient. The Extra 9 Is In Case You're On A Private Branch Exchange When The First 9 Gets You An Exchange Line. British Telephone Systems Will Also Recognise The European Standard Emergency Services Number 112. A Correspondent Has Told Me That 911 Also Works In The UK But I've Never Had The Courage (Or The Need) To Try It.
9-11	11th Of September Attacks	.
Airplane*	Aeroplane	.
Alligator Pear	Avocado	.
AM	Medium Wave	Radio Stations Broadcasting Using Amplitude Modulation On Frequencies In The Range 555-1600 KHz. In Europe (And The UK) The Actual Frequency Range Is 531 To 1611 KHz With 9KHz Channel Spacing. Stations Do Not Have Distinctive Callsigns. There Are (In The UK) A Number Of National Stations (Not All Operated By The BBC) That Can Be Heard Anywhere In The Country.
Antenna	Aerial	Electronics. A Correspondent Has Suggested That AE Uses "Aerial" For Rod Type Antennae Such As The "Rabbit Ears" Sometimes Used With TV Sets.
Apartment	Flat	A Flat Occupying More Than One Floor Is Called A "Maisonette" In BE. A Correspondent Suggests That CE Uses "Flat" To Refer To Accommodation With Some Shared Facilities & Another Suggests That AE Uses "Townhouse" To Refer To A Multi-Level Apartment.
Apartment House Or Building	Block Of Flats	See Entry For "Condominium".
Appetizer	Starter, Hors D'oeuvre	"Hors D'oeuvre" Is Rather Posh.
Area Code	Dialling Code	Telephone. The Obsolescent BE Phrase STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) Code May be Encountered.
Asphalt	Tarmac	The BE Term Is Proprietary. A Composite Of Bitumen (A Tary Substance) & Gravel Used For Surfacing/Paving Roads Etc. In American Usage "Tarmac" Is Used To Refer To Surface Of Airport Runways Etc. A Macadamised Road Is One With A Surface Of Carefully Graded Stones First Devised By John Macadam In The Early 19th Century. "Tarmacadam" Refers To The Same Form Of Road Construction With A Final Layer Of A Tarry Substance Designed Partially To Prevent Vehicles Throwing Up Dust & Small Stones & Partially To Prevent Rainwater Seeping Into The Road Structure. According To A Correspondent Oil Men Use "Asphalt" To Refer To Summat Found Down An Oil Well.
Attached Home Obs	Semi-Detached House	A Pair Of Dwellings Sharing A Single Common Wall.
Attorney	Lawyer	See Notes On "Lawyer".
Auto, Automobile Obs	Car	The Word "Auto" Is Still Sometimes Seen In Notices & Road Signs. The American Usages Would Sound Strange To British Ears.
Automated Teller Machine (ATM)	Cashpoint	A "Hole In The Wall" Machine From Which You Can Get Money.
Baby Carriage	Pram, Perambulator	The Word "Perambulator" Is Very Pompous. This Is A Substantial Crib Or Cot-Like Container Kept Well Clear Of The Ground On Large Wheels.
Backpack (Backbag)	Rucksack	Carrier For Camping Equipment Etc., Usually With A Metal Frame, Worn On The Back.
Back-Up Lights*	Reversing Lights	BE Sounds A Bit More Mature.
Baked Potato	Jacket Potato	A Potato Cooked Without Removing The Skin.
Baking Soda	Bicarbonate Of Soda	Sodium Bicarbonate (Na₂CO₃) Used In Cooking.
Ball-Point Pen	Biro	The BE Term Is Proprietary. Invented By The Hungarian Laszlo Jozsef Biro In The 1940's.
Band-Aid	Sticking Plaster	The AE Term Is Proprietary. The Words "Bandage" Referring To An Ad Hoc Wound Dressing Made Of Cloth, Gauze Etc., Are Common To AE & BE.
Bandshell	Bandstand	British Bandstands Do Not Have Sound Reflecting Shields Or Enclosures & Are Just Fenced, Roofed & Raised Enclosures In Public Parks.
Bangs	Fringe	Hair Style. In BE A "Fringe" Is Hair Hanging Straight Down beneath The Normal Hair Line & Usually Trimmed To A Straight Edge; "Bangs" Refers To A Fringe At The Side With Sharply Swept Forward Ends.
Bankroll US	Foot The Bill	.
Bar	Pub (Public House)	An Establishment Where Drinks Can be Purchased For Consumption On The Premises As Distinct From An Off-Licence BE Or Liquor Store AE. In BE A "Bar" Is Either A Room Within A Public House, Cafe, Club, Hotel Etc., Where Drink Is Sold Or The Actual Counter Over Which Drinks Are Sold. Public Houses Often Have Several Rooms With Differing Standards Of Furnishing & Comfort & Prices To Match. In Order Of Increasing Facilities These Are Quite Commonly Called The "Public Bar", "Saloon Bar" & "Lounge Bar" Although There Are Many Variations. Public Houses, Although Intended Primarily To Sell Drink, Often Sell Meals Nowadays. Many Public Houses Are "Tied", Which Means They Are Actually Owned By A Brewery, & The Landlord Really Is Just A Landlord. "Tied" Houses Give Preference To The Owner's Brands Although Recent Legislation & Consumer Pressure Has Made It Much More Likely That "Guest" Beers Will Be On Offer. You May Occasionally Come Across A "Beer House" Which Is A Public House Only Licensed To Sell Beer & Similar Drinks But Not Wines Or Spirits. See Notes On "Beer". The AE Terms "Tavern", "Roadhouse" & "Saloon" Referring To Various Types Of Drinking Establishment Have No Direct British Equivalent.
Barrette*	Hair Slide	.
Baseboard	Skirting Board	A Plank Fixed Along Bottom Of Wall. In BE A "Baseboard" Is A Board On Which Summat, Such As A Model Railway Layout, Is Built.
Bathrobe	Dressing Gown	.
Bathroom	Toilet	Especially In A Domestic Context. In BE A Bathroom Is A Room Containing A Bath In A Private House Or Hotel. See Discussion Under "Washroom".
Bathtub	Bath	.
Battle Stations US	Action Stations	.
Beater **Obs, Can*	Banger	Decrepit Car. AE Also Has "Clunker", "Jalopy" (Obs?) & "Junker".
Beer	Lager	The Drink Referred To As "Beer" In American Usage Would Not Be Recognised As Such By Many British Drinkers. In British Usage "Beer" Is A Mildly Alcoholic Beverage Served At A Temperature That Does Not Freeze Your Taste Buds. "Real Ale" Is Beer Prepared With The Minimum Of Chemicals In A Traditional Fashion, Usually In Small Local Breweries. In BE Lager Is Beer Brewed Using Low Temperature Fermentation, It Is Typically Lighter & Clearer Than Normal Beer & Often Served Chilled. The Word "Lager" Has Some Negative Connotations Being Associated With Drunken Youths Known As "Lager Louts". The Word "Ale" Is Slightly Archaic & Now Means The Same As "Beer". The Word "stout" Describes A Strong Dark Beer Brewed With Roasted Malt Or Barley & Particularly Popular In Ireland (Guinness Is The Best Known Brand). See Notes On "Bar".
Bell Pepper*	Red Pepper, Green Pepper	Yellow Ones Are Also Available. A Variety Of Capsicum. There Is Some Evidence Of US Regional Variations. CE Has "Red Sweet Pepper" & Is Generally As BE.
Beltway, Loop	Ring Road, Circular Road	A Road Circling A City. There Are Various Other Regional & Local North American Names. CE As BE.
Bill	Note	In The Sense Of A Piece Of Paper Currency. British Currency Notes Currently In General Circulation Are £5, £10, £20 & £50. The £5 & £10 Notes Are Called "Fivers" & "Tenners". The Different Notes Are Of Different Sizes, Colours & General Appearance Which Makes Things A Bit Easier For The Visually Handicapped Unlike The Paper Currency Of A Certain North American Country.
Billfold Obs	Wallet	The AE Term Is Becoming Obsolescent & Being Replaced By "Wallet"
Billion	Thousand Million	The Old British Usage In Which A Billion Was A Million² Is Now Largely Obsolete & Most British Speakers Would Assume The American Meaning. Careful Users Avoid The Words Altogether & Use Exponent Notation. The Usage Continued, Trillion = Tri+(m)illion = Million^³ = 10^{^18} Quadrillion = Quad+(m)illion = Million^⁴ = 10^²⁴ Centillion = Cent+(m)illion = Million^{^100} = 10^⁶⁰⁰ The American Naming Seems To Work On The Principle 10^{^3}
Binder Clip	Bulldog Clip	Spring Loaded Device For Holding Sheets Of Paper Together.
Biscuit	Scone	.
Blacktop	Tarmac	See Notes On "Asphalt". AE Usage May Be Primarily Rural To Distinguish From "Dirt Roads".
Blinders	Blinkers	.
Blinkers	Indicators	Part Of A Car. See Note On "Turn Signals". In BE Blinkers Are Used On Horses To Prevent Them Being Distracted By Things Going On On Either Side.
Blood Sausage	Black Pudding	.
Bobby Pin*	Hair Grip, Kirby Grip	"Kirby Grip" Is Proprietary.
Boneyard	Scrapyard, Junkyard	Place Where Old Machinery Etc, Gently Rots Away.
Bouillon Cube	Stock Cube	.
Boxcar	No Equivalent	A Covered Railway Wagon With A Door For Loading. British Railways Use Either Open Trucks, Wagons Built For Specific Loads Such As Oil Or, Most Commonly "Container Flats" Which Are Flat Trucks With No Side Panels Adapted To Carry The Ubiquitous Containers.
Braid	Plait	Hair Style. British Geographers Would Refer To "Braided Streams" & British Electronic Engineers Would Refer To "Braided Conductors".
Breakdown Lane	Hard Shoulder	Lane At Edge Of Multi-Lane Limited Access Road.
Brewpub*	No Equivalent	British Usage Would Simply Refer To A "Pub That Brewed Its Own Beer" Although The Word "microbrewery" May Sometimes Be Encountered In Both BE & AE.
Brit	Briton	"Britisher" Sounds Rather Germanic (Especially In Stereotypical WW2 Films). "Briton" Is Not Widely Used. We Are Englishmen, Scotsmen, Welshmen & Irishmen (And Women!) & Confusing Them Causes GREAT Offence. The Correct Name Of The Country Is The United Kingdom Of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Often Abbreviated To The UK. Great Britain Is A Large Island Off The North West Coast Of Europe, It Includes The Kingdoms Of England & Scotland & The Principality Of Wales. England & Scotland Share The Same Monarch But Wales Has A Prince Of Its Own. Northern Ireland Is Just A Province, Don't Confuse It With Ulster Which Includes The Counties Of Cavan, Monaghan & Donegal In The Irish Republic. The Isle Of Man & The Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey Etc) Are Not Legally Part Of The UK. The Word "Brit" Is Rapidly Coming Into Popular Usage. The Correct Adjectives For Things From Scotland Are "Scottish" For Most Things, "Scots" For The People & A Sort Of Pine Tree & "Scotch" For The Whisky.
Brown Bag Lunch	Packed Lunch	Lunch Obtained From Supermarket Or, More Usually, Made At Home & Taken To Work. In US Practice Supermarkets & Grocery Stores Give/sell Customers Brown Paper Bags To Take The Groceries Home In, In UK Practice Plastic Bags, With Handles, Are Used, A Practice Now Becoming Common In North America.
Bun	Bap, Roll	A Small Round Loaf, Often Used To Make Hamburgers. In BE Buns Are Often Sweet & Deliciously Sticky & There Are Many Varieties Such As The Hot Cross Buns Traditionally Served On Good Friday.
Bureau Obs	Chest Of Drawers +	A Piece Of Furniture Consisting Of A Number Of Wide Shallow Drawers One Above Another Mainly Used For Storing Clothes & Linen. A Correspondent Has Suggested That The US Usage Is Regional. In BE "bureau" Refers To A Piece Of Furniture Typically Found In Old-Fashioned Offices With Both Drawers & A Fold-down Writing Surface.
Burglarize	Burgle	.
Burlap	Hessian	Coarse Fabric Used For Sacking, Bags & , Sometimes, Wall Covering.
Bus	Coach	In British Usage For Journeys Between Towns & Cities Its A Coach, Always Single Decker. Within Towns & Cities It's A Bus, Often Double-decker.
Busy Signal	Engaged Tone	Telephone System.
Caboose *	Guard's Van	A Caboose Traditionally Includes Sleeping & Messing Facilities, A Guard's Van Does Not.
Cadaver	Corpse	A Dead Body. AE Seems To Increasingly Reserve The Word "cadaver" For Medical & Forensic Use.
Cafeteria	Canteen	Place, Especially In A Factory Or School, Where Meals Are Served. BE Also Uses "Canteen" For A Small Water Bottle Used By Soldiers & Campers & Also For A Collection Of Cutlery.
Candy	Sweet	The Word "Candy" Refers To A Particular Crystallised Sugar Confection In British Usage.
Canine Cookie	Dog Biscuit	.
Car	Carriage	A Railway Vehicle For Carrying Passengers Or Freight. On The Road Its A "car" In Both BE & AE.
Caravan Obs	Convoy	Group Of Vehicles Travelling Together. The American Usage "Caravan" Is Rare/archaic Except When The Vehicles Are Camels. In BE A "Caravan" Is A Mobile Home Or Trailer. A Correspondent Has Told Me That American Estate Agents (Realtors) Refer To Groups Of Viewers Of Properties As "Caravans".
Carnival	Circus	In British Usage A Carnival Is A Period Of Widespread Public Celebration Often Associated With Street Processions, This Also Applies In A Few American Cities Such As New Orleans. A Fair Is Travelling Entertainment With Sideshows & Rides Such As Dodgems, Ferris Wheels, Helter-Skelters Etc. A Circus Has Seating Round A Ring (Or Several Rings) Where Clowns & Animals Perform. The Tent Covering The Ring Of A Circus Is Called The "Big Top".
Carousel	Merry-go-round	Fairground Ride Consisting Of Wooden (Or Plastic) Horses On Poles Which Rise Up & Go Down As The Whole Rotates. I Have Seen Examples With Up To Five Rings Of Horses.
Cart	Trolley	Shopping. BE Does Not Use The Word "Cart" In This Context Reserving It For A Wheeled Trailer Pulled By A Vehicle Or Horse.
Casket	Coffin	The American Style Casket Looks Very Elaborate & In Rather Poor Taste To British Eyes. Coffins Are Invariably Very Plain Affairs.
Cattle Guard	Cattle Grid	.
Cellular Phone	Mobile Phone	Usually Just Called A Mobile In BE.
Check US	Cheque	Banking. Same Pronunciation, Different Spelling. CE As BE.
Checkers	Draughts	Board Game.
Checking Account	Current Account	Banking. The American Facility Is Technically Called A "Demand Deposit Account". It Is Called A "Chequing Account" In CE.
Chesterfield	Settee	See Entry For "Couch".
Chicory	Endive	.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)	Managing Director (MD)	Head Of Day To Day Operations Of A Commercial Organisation. The American Usage Is Creeping In In The UK.
Chifforobe *	Gentleman's Wardrobe	A Wardrobe With Hanging Space On One Side & Drawers On The Other.
Chips	Crisps	Thin Fried Slices Of Potato Usually Sold In Bags As Snacks Or "Nibbles". According To A Correspondent There Is Now US Legislation Requiring That The Word "Crisp" Be Use To Describe Those Made From Moulding Chopped Potato.
City	Town	In American Usage "City" Is Used For Any "Incorporated" Area, Which Seems To Mean That It Has Some Form Of Local Government, As Such The Population May Be Only A Few Hundred. There Are State-By-State Regional Variations In The Precise Meaning Of The American Term. In British Usage An Urban Area Is Only A City If It Has A Cathedral Or Has A Royal Warrant Saying It's A City. If It Isn't A City It's A Town (Or A Village). My Own City, Wolverhampton, Has A Population Of About 250,000, A Bishop, A University, A Main-line Railway Station, Trams & Over A Thousand Years Of History But It Didn't Become A City Until December 2000.
Closet	Fitted Wardrobe	Especially A Walk-In Wardrobe Or Small Storage Room That Is A Permanent Fixture Not A Piece Of Furniture.
Closing Out	Closing Down	Sale Of Goods When Shop Or Company Ceases Regular Trading. AE Also Uses This To Refer To Stock Clearance Of Particular Lines Of Merchandise.
Clothes Pin	Clothes Peg	Holds Washing On A Line.
Coach	Economy	Inexpensive Class Of Accommodation On A Train Or Aeroplane. In BE A "Coach" Is A Single Decker Bus Like Vehicle That Carries Booked Passengers Or Is Booked For A Party Of Passengers, Unlike A 'Bus' It Does Not Stop To Pick Up Custom At The Roadside.
Collect Call *	Reverse Charge Call	Telephone.
Comfort Station Obs	Public Convenience, Toilet	See Discussion Under "Washroom". I Have Also Seen "Comfort House" Applied To A Portable Toilet On A Building Site. This Would Probably Be Called A "Portaloo" In BE, Although This Is A Proprietary Term.
Comforter	Quilt, Eiderdown	Warm Covering On Top Of Bed That Is Made Up Traditionally Using Sheets & Blankets As Distinct From A Duvet.
Concert Master	Leading Or First Violin, Leader	Orchestra.
Condominium, Condo *	Block Of Flats	In BE A "Condominium" Refers To A Territory Governed Jointly By Two Nations. In Referring To A Block Of Flats BE Does Not Distinguish Between Rented Flats & Individually Owned Flats. "Condominium" Means That The Flats Are Individually Owned Rather Than Rented.
Conductor	Guard	A Railway Official. In London, Buses Have Both A Driver & A Conductor Whose Job Is To Sell Tickets.
Consignment *	Second Hand Goods	The American Term Refers To Goods Sold On Commission, A Concept Unknown In The UK.
Cookie	Biscuit (Sweet)	In British Usage "Cookie" Is Sometimes Used To Refer Specifically To A Biscuit With Chips Of Chocolate Included Known, I Believe, As A "Chocolate Chip Cookie" In AE.
Cooler	Cool Box	A Well Insulated Box Used For Food Etc., Both BE & AE Also Use "Cooler" As A Slang Word For A Detention Cell.
Cord	Lead, Flex	Flexible Electrical Cable Joining An Electrical Appliance Or Telephone To A Socket. For Power Connections British Practice Uses The Same Colours As Are Used In Europe, Brown For Live, Blue For Neutral & Green With Yellow Stripe For Earth. Older British Practice Still Used For Permanent Cables Is Red For Live, Black For Neutral & Green (Or Bare Copper) For Earth. American Practice Is Black For Live, White For Neutral & Green For Earth, Although It Is Not Normal For The Cord From The Outlet To The Appliance To Have Colour Coded Wires.
Corn	Sweet Corn, Maize, Corn-on-the-cob	In British Usage "Corn" Is Used Fairly Generically To Mean "Wheat" Or "Oats".
Corn Starch	Corn Flour	.
Cotton Batting Obs	Cotton Wool	.
Cotton Candy	Candy Floss	.
Cotton Swab	Cotton Bud	Q-Tip Is A Proprietary US Term.
Couch	Settee	An Upholstered Seat For Two Or More People. BE Has Several Variants With No Specific Words For Two Or Three Seated Versions. A "Chesterfield" Has Buttoned Leather Upholstery. "Sofa" Is A Fairly Common Alternative. A "Chaise Longue" Has An Arm At One End Only So You Can Lie Down On It. A "Love Seat" Has Two Seats Side By Side But Facing In Opposite Directions In A Sort Of "S" Shape, Suitable Only For The Most Chaste Amatory Activities. "Couch Potato" Means The Same In BE As AE.
County	.	American Usage Would, Typically, Be "Orange County". Apart From "County Durham" The Word Would Not Be Used In Referring To A British Administrative Division, The Suffix "-shire" Means That It's A County Anyway. The Use Of The Word "County" Is Normal In Referring To Irish Administrative Divisions. They're Called "parishes" In Louisiana, In British Usage A "parish" Is The Lowest Level Unit Of Government (Rural Areas Only) Or Ecclesiastical Organisation. Unlike The States Of The USA & The Provinces Of Canada There Are No Standard Postal Abbreviations For British Counties, & Their Names Are Frequently Omitted From Addresses, A Practice That Is Accepted By The Post Office If A Post Code Is Included.
Cow Pie	Cow Pat	Summat You Don't Want To Put Your Foot In.
Crackers	Biscuits	In British Usage "Cracker" Can Refer To A Particular Type Of Biscuit Used With Cheese Or The Usage "Crackers" Can Imply That Somebody Is Mentally Deranged. BE Speakers Would Be Unaware Of Any Racially Offensive Connotations.
Crane Fly	Daddy-long-legs	Insect With Long Legs (Tipula Maxima). [My Dictionary Suggests That AE Uses Daddy-long-legs To Refer To Summat Called A Harvestman (Order Opilones) That Lives In Leaf Litter & Is A Sort Of Spider With Very Long Legs.]
Crawl Space	Under Floor Void	.
Crazy Bone *Obs	Funny Bone	.
Cream Of Wheat	Semolina	.
Creek	Stream, Brook	In British Usage A "Creek" Is A Small Inlet Of The Sea. I Am Told The American Word Can Also Be Spelt "Crick", Reflecting Common Pronunciation, Although This Would Be Considered Uneducated.
Crosswalk	Pedestrian Crossing	Specially Marked Part Of Roadway Used By Pedestrians Crossing The Road. The British Usage "Zebra Crossing" Is Obsolescent. Many Such Crossings Are Controlled By Traffic Lights, Some Are Still Uncontrolled But Indicated By Large Orange Globes On Striped Posts Known, After The Presiding Minister Who First Installed Them, As Belisha Beacons.
Cuffs	Turn-ups	At Bottom Of Trouser Legs. British Shirts (With Long Sleeves) Have Cuffs.
Cupcake	Fairy Cake	Small Individual Cake.
Custom Made	Bespoke, Made To Measure	This Refers To Clothing, Otherwise "Custom Made" Is Normal British Usage. BE Also Has "bespoke Software" (For Computers).
Davenport	Bed-settee	The AE Term Is Probably Proprietary. In BE A Davenport Is A Type Of Desk.
Daylight Saving(s) Time	(British) Summer Time	In AE "Summer Time" Refers To Any Period Of Time During The Summer.
Dead End	Cul-de-sac	BE Also Has "no Through Road", Meaning A Road That Just Stops. "cul-de-sac" Is Largely Confined To Suburban Roads & Usually Implies A Turning Circle At The End, Often With Houses Built Round It. People Live In Cul-de-sacs Not On Them. "no Outlet" Is Also Sometimes Seen In North America.
Deck	Pack	Of Playing Cards
Deck	No Equivalent	A Part Of A House Consisting Of Wooden Boards On The Outside Of The Building At Ground Or First Floor Level (Or Higher) Allowing People To Walk Around. British Houses Simply Do Not Have Such Things, The Nearest Equivalents Are "Patio" Meaning An Unroofed Area Adjacent To A Building Paved With Slabs, "Verandah" A Covered & Glassed Walkway Along The Side Of A Building & "Conservatory" A Room-like Extension Entirely Walled & Roofed In Glass. Wooden Decking For Use In Gardens Was Introduced To The British Market In 1998 & Is Being Heavily Promoted As "Decking".
Deductible	Excess	Of Insurance Payouts.
Deep Freeze	Freezer	Domestic Appliance For Storing Frozen Food.
Delivery Tanker	Tanker	A Vehicle That Transports & Delivers Liquids Such As Milk & Petroleum Products.
Delivery Truck	Van	.
Denatured Alcohol	Methylated Spirits, Meths	Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) That Has Been Made Unfit For Drinking By The Addition Of Methanol (CH₃OH), Pyridine & Purple Colouring. See Also "Rubbing Alcohol".
Desk Clerk	Receptionist	In Hotel. Both BE & AE Use "Receptionist" To Mean The Person In A Commercial Office Who Greets Visitors.
Dessert	Pudding	Course After Main Course Of A Meal Other Than Breakfast. "Pudding" Usually Implies That It Has Been Cooked, Otherwise "Dessert" Is Often Used. Calling The Course "Afters" Is Thought Rather Common By Most British People. It Is Also Sometimes Called A "Sweet" In BE. A Correspondent Has Suggested That AE Uses "Pudding" With The Same Meaning As The BE "Jelly", See Entry For "Jell-O". CE As BE.
Detour	Diversion	.
Diaper *	Nappy	.
Differ... Than	Differ... From	The American Usage "Different Than" Grates Terribly In British Ears, In BE It's "Different From" & "Differing From".
Dime	No Equivalent	10 Cent Coin. For Notes On British Money See The Entries For "Nickel" & "Loonie".
Diner	Café	Strictly There Is No British Equivalent Of The Traditional 12' Wide American Diner. In British Usage The Spelling "Caff" (And Pronunciation) Is Used To Indicate A Rather Lowly Establishment.
Dirt Road	Unpaved Road	BE Would More Usually Call This A "Track".
Discount	Concession	Reduced Admission Prices To Cinemas, Theatres Etc., For Students, Pensioners Etc. Advertisements Often Quote A Regular Admission Price & A Price For "Concessions". Other Uses Of "Discount" Are The Same In AE As BE.
District Attorney	Public Prosecutor	The "Procurator Fiscal" In Scotland. Many State Variations In The US.
Divided Highway	Dual Carriageway	.
Docent *	Curator, Guide	In A Museum, Historic House Or Art Gallery. A Correspondent Has Suggested That "Docent" Implies A Volunteer.
Doctor's Office	Surgery	Contrary To The Usage Actual Surgery Is Only Done By Surgeons In Hospitals. British Senior Surgical Staff Are Often Referred To As "Mr." Rather Than "Dr." No Matter How Highly Qualified. This Probably Dates Back To The Time When Doctors Were Qualified But Surgeons Were Little More Than Barbers Unworthy Of The Honorific Title. British Dentists & Veterinarians Never Use The Title "Dr.".
Double Whole Note	Breve	Music.
Downtown	Town Centre	The Word "Center" Is, Apparently, Common Usage In New England. Geographers Sometimes Refer To The Central Business District Or CBD, But This Isn't A General BE Usage.
(The) Draft	Conscription	Enforced Membership Of Military Forces. It Was Also Called "National Service" In The UK But Was Abolished In The 1950's.
Drapes *	Curtains	.
Dresser	Chest Of Drawers, Dressing Table	A Dressing Table Is Table, Usually With 2/3 Small Drawers & A Large Adjustable Mirror Used By Ladies For Doing Their Make-up.
Driver's License US, Driver's Permit Can	Driving Licence	.
Drug Store	Pharmacy, Chemists	Pharmacy Refers Specifically To A Place Where Medicines Can Be Obtained Both On & Off Prescription. A Chemist's Shop As Well As Incorporating A Pharmacy Will Also Sell A Variety Of Personal Products Such As Soap, Tooth Brushes, Toothpaste, Combs Etc.
Druggist Obs	Chemist, Pharmacist	The Word "Chemist" Is More Common In BE.
Dry Goods Store	Drapery, Haberdashery	A Shop Selling, Cloth, Thread & Related Items.
Dumpster *	Skip	Waste Storage & Transportation. AE Term Is Proprietary.
Duplex (House) *	Semi-detached House	A Pair Of Dwelling Houses Sharing A Common Wall. The Single-storied Version, Which Is Very Unusual, Is Called A "Semi-detached Bungalow" In BE. An Apartment With Two Floors Would Be Called A "Maisonette" In BE. CE As BE. According To A Correspondent CE Uses "Duplex" & "Triplex" To Mean A Building Containing Two Or Three Self-contained Flats. A Correspondent Has Also Mentioned "Shared-wall Dwelling" As AE Bureaucrat-speak.
Editorial	Leader	Article In Newspaper Or Magazine Expressing The Opinions Of The Editor. The American Usage Is Not Uncommon In BE.
Eggplant *	Aubergine	.
Eighth Note	Quaver	Music.
Electrician's Tape	Insulating Tape	Sometimes Called "Electrical Tape" Or Even "Sticky Tape".
Elevator	Lift	If It's For Goods Only BE Has The Word "Hoist". A "Grain Elevator" Is Called A "Silo" In BE.
Engineer	Engine Driver	Person Controlling A Locomotive. Otherwise BE Uses "Engineer" In The Same Way As AE.
England	UK	The American Habit Of Saying "England" When The UK Is Meant Is Mildly Annoying To People Who Live In England & EXTREMELY Annoying To People Who Live In Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland. A Correspondent Has Suggested That This American Habit Is Becoming Less Common. See Notes On "Brit".
Entree	Main Course	In British Usage "Entree" Means First Course Sometimes Known As Starter Or"Hors D'oeuvre".
Eraser	Rubber	Used To Remove Marks Made By Pencils, British Pronunciation Is EraZer, American Is EraSer.
Excise Laws	Licensing Laws	.
Exit	Junction	Usually Numbered Location Where You Enter BE Or Leave A Limited Access Highway. In North America Exit Numbering Normally Reflects The Distance In Miles (US) Or Kilometres (Canada) From The Start Of The Highway Except On The East Coast. In The UK Junctions Are Numbered Successively With New Junctions Built Since The Road Was First Laid Out Having Numbers Such As 7a & 11b.
Expressway	Main Road	See Notes On "Interstate".
Exxon	Esso	Petrol Company. Now ExxonMobil.
Eyeglasses	Spectacles, Specs	Usually Just Plain "Glasses" In Both AE & BE. Now Where Did I Put Them ?
Fair	Show	There Is No Direct British Equivalent Of A State Or County Fair. The Nearest Are Agricultural Shows Held In Rural Districts. In BE A Fair Is A Travelling Collection Of Rides & Amusements That Is Set Up For A Few Days In A Convenient Location.
Fall	Autumn	Both Words Are Used In CE.
Fanny Pack	Bum Bag	Small Bag Worn Around The Waist & Resting On The Bottom. In BE "Bum" Is A Slightly Vulgar Word For "Bottom" & "Fanny" Is A Distinctly Vulgar Word For The Female Genitalia.
Faucet *	Tap	Strangely In AE Tap Water Comes Out Of The Faucet Unless You're In Pennsylvania Where, Apparently, Its The Register.
Fava Bean	Broad Bean	Vegetable (Vicia Faba).
Feminine Napkin	Sanitary Towel	The Word "Tampon" Has The Same Meaning In Both British & American Usage. "Maxi Pad" Is An American Proprietary Term.
Fender	Wing	Part Of Car.
Mudguard	Part Of Bicycle.	.
Field	Pitch	A Sports Ground.
Fire Hall Can	Fire Station	.
Firehouse	Fire Station	.
Fire Starter	Fire Lighter	Small Packet Of Readily Combustible Material.
Fire Truck *	Fire Engine	Professional Fire Fighters Deprecate The Usage "Fire Engine" & Refer To "Fire Appliances" BE Or "Fire Apparatus" AE. The Phrase "Fire Engine" Is Also Used In America.
First Floor	Ground Floor	In British Usage The Floors Of A Building Are Numbered Starting At Zero Rather Than One. So An American Reference To The "Second Floor" Would Correspond To A British Reference To The "First Floor".
First Nations *Can	Native Americans, Indians	The Native (Pre-Columbian) Population Of America.
Flagstaff Obs	Flag Pole	"Flagpole" As A Single Word Is Common American Usage.
Flashlight	Torch	With A Bulb & Batteries.
Flatware	Cutlery	.
Float Home Obs	House Boat	.
Float Plane Can	Sea Plane	An Aeroplane Adapted To Land On & Take Off From Water. The British Usage "Flying Boat" Is Obsolete. There Are Differences In Nomenclature Depending On Whether The Main Fuselage Is Intended To Touch The Water (A Flying Boat Or Sea Plane) Or Whether The Only Part Intended To Touch The Water Are Floats In More Or Less The Position Where A Normal Aircraft Would Have Wheels (A Float Plane).
Floor Lamp	Standard Lamp	Domestic Lighting Appliance Consisting Of A Tall Pole With A Lamp On Top.
Football	American Football	See "Soccer".
Four Way (Stop)	Cross Roads	A Place Where Two Roads Intersect. In America In The Absence Of Traffic Lights, Priority Is Given To Vehicles In Order Of Arrival & , If Two Arrive At Once, To The Vehicle On The Right. In The UK One Or Other Of The Roads Will Have Priority, Priority Is Indicated By Road Markings.
Freeway	Motorway	Limited Access High Speed Trunk Road. American Usages "Freeway", "Highway", "Beltway", "Causeway", "Express Way", "Parkway" All Have Similar Meanings That Are Not Differentiated In British Usage. "Freeway" Often Implies That It Isn't A Toll Road Or Turnpike. Apart From A Few Bridges, Toll Roads Are Currently Unknown In The UK, Although The Government Has Suggested That The Situation Might Change. See "Interstate" Entry For Details On British Road Numbering.
French Fries	Chips	The Variants "Home Fries", "Steak Fries" & "Shoestring Fries" Don't Map Into BE, They're Thick-cut Chips, Thin-cut Chips & Whatever You Get In MacDonald's.
Freshman	No Equivalent	In BE "Freshman" Or "Fresher" Is Sometimes Used To Refer To A First Year Undergraduate At A University. See Notes On "High School".
Funeral Director	Undertaker	.
Furnace *	Boiler	Domestic Use Only.
Galoshes	Wellington Boots, Wellies	Tall Rubberised Boots.
Garbage, Trash	Rubbish, Refuse	.
Garbage Can	Dustbin	.
Garbage Collector	Dustman	.
Garter Belt	Suspender	Used To Support Ladies' Stockings. In British Usage A "Garter" Is A Band, Usually Elastic, That Goes Around The Leg To Support A Sock Or Stocking. There Are No Gender Specific Connotations.
Gas	Petrol	Fuel For Motor Vehicles. British Usage Reserves "Gas" To Mean An Inflammable Gas Such As Methane Or Carbon Monoxide Piped To Domestic & Industrial Premises As A Fuel. The Word Gasoline Would Not Be Widely Understood In Britain. "Petroleum" Is Sometimes Seen In Legal & Official Notices. British Aeroplanes Are Fuelled With "Avgas" However, Unless They're Jets, Of Course.
Gear Shift, Gear Stick	Gear Lever	Part Of Car.
Generator	Dynamo	It Converts Mechanical Energy To Electrical Energy. The American Usage Would Be Familiar To British Ears. I Was Once Told That A Dynamo Only Generates DC Whereas The Machine That Generates AC Is Called An Alternator.
Girl Scouts US	Girl Guides	.
Goaltender	Goalkeeper	"Goalie" Is Common In Both AE & BE.
Goatsucker	Nightjar	Bird
Golden Raisin US	Sultana	A Dried Grape.
Goose Bumps	Goose Pimples	.
Goose Egg	Duck	Score Of Zero In A Game. The BE Usage Is Confined To Cricket.
Gooten	Got	"Gooten" Is Sometimes Used In BE To Suggest An American Rustic.
Grade	Gradient (Slope)	The American Usage Of The Word To Refer To A Stage In A Child's Progress Through School Is Unknown In The UK. AE Has "Sixth Grade" & "Sixth Graders" Whereas CE Has "Grade Six" & "Grade Sixes". See Entry For "High School".
Grade Crossing *	Level Crossing	.
Graham Crackers	Digestive Biscuits	Biscuits Made From Whole Wheat Flour. Also Available Part Coated With Chocolate Or As A Pair Sandwiching A Cream Filling.
Grease Pencil	Chinagraph Pencil	.
Ground	Earth	Electrical Wiring.
Ground	Minced	Meat, But Mincemeat Is Summat Completely Different Composed Mainly Of Fruit & Used For Making Delicious Small Pies At Christmas Time.
GST Can Goods & Services Tax	VAT Value Added Tax	A Tax Levied "At The Point Of Consumption". In The UK Shop Prices Are Almost Always Quoted Inclusive Of VAT (Currently 17.5%) So What You See Is What You Pay. In Canada Shop Prices Are Quoted Exclusive Of This Tax So You're In For A Surprise When You Get To Pay, You Can Always Blame "The Government". Canadian GST Is Currently 7% But The Provinces Levy Their Own Provincial Sales Tax (PST), Typically At About The Same Level As The Government Tax.
Gumboot *Obs	Wellington	Boot, Usually Rubber Or Rubberised, Reaching Well Up The Calf Worn In Agricultural Contexts.
Gurney *	No Equivalent	It's Not That Wheeled Stretchers Are Unknown In British Hospitals, It's Just That There Is No Common Name For Them.
Half Note	Minim	Music.
Hardware Store	Ironmonger	.
Hat Check Girl	Cloakroom Attendant	.
Headlamp	Headlight	Car.
Heavy Cream	Double Cream	.
Hex	Cast A Spell On	.
Hidabed, Hideaway	Bed-Settee	A Couch Or Sofa That Can Be Converted To A Bed. Hidabed Is Proprietary.
High School	Secondary School	The British System Of Education For Those Under 18 Is Quite Different From The US System. From 5 To 11 Children Attend A Primary School, Often Starting In A Class Called "Reception". From 11 To 16 They Will Attend A Secondary School, They May Transfer To Sixth Form Colleges Or Other Forms Of College At The Age Of 16. The Stages Are Referred To As Years Starting At 1 (At Age 5) Up To 6 In Primary School: Then From 1-5 In Secondary School- These Are Being Renamed 7-11 Now. After The 5th (11th) Year Children May Join The 6th Form College Until 18 Years Old Then Go To Work Or University. AE References To "Freshmen", "Sophomores", "K12" Etc., Would Not Be Understood In The UK. In Scotland "High School" Means Any Secondary School.
Highway	Main Road	In British Usage The Word "Highway" Is Confined To Formal & Legal Contexts. See Entry For "Interstate".
Hoagie *	Roll	There Is Really No Direct BE Equivalent. The Alternative AE Usage "Submarine" Or "Sub" Is Not Uncommon In British Usage. "Grinder", "Hero" & "Poor Booy" Are Apparently Regional US Variants.
Hobo *	Tramp	Some AE Speakers Use "Hobo" To Mean A Casual Or Itinerant Worker As Distinct From A "Bum" Or "Tramp" Who Lives By Begging & Handouts. There Is No Word In BE To Convey This Precise Distinction.
Hog	Pig	In British Usage A "Hog" Is A Person That Claims Exclusive Use Of Summat, I.e. Hogs It. Farmers Use "Hog" To Mean A Male Pig & "Sow" To Mean A Female Pig, The Use Of "Hog" To Mean A Pig Of Either Gender Is Probably Obsolescent.
Hood	Bonnet	Car
Horny	Randy	Slang. Eager To Engage In Sexual Congress. Americans Called Randolph Should Not Introduce Themselves In British Circles By Saying "Hi, I'm Randy", Unless, Of Course, ......
(House Numbering)	.	British Houses Are Usually Numbered Serially Starting From One End Of A Road Or Street With Even Numbers On One Side & Odd Numbers On The Other Side, However It Is Not Uncommon To Find Them Numbered Sequentially Up One Side Of The Road & Down The Other. Subsequent Subdivision Of Plots Results In Houses With Numbers Such As 60A, 60B, 60C Etc., Fractional House Numbers Are More Or Less Unknown In British Usage. North American Numbering Seems To Be A Sort Of Co-ordinate System Related, Probably, To Land Subdivisions Giving Rise To Frequent Gaps. Driving Along A Country Road & Passing House Number 82357, Half A Mile Of Open Countryside & Then House Number 85163 Is Very Puzzling To The British Visitor Who Will Wonder Where 82359, 82361, 82363 Etc., Are. According To A Correspondent The Post Office Or Local Government Allocates Such Numbers On A Basis Of One Number For Every 25 Feet Of Frontage. There Are, As In Many Things American, Regional Variations.
House-trailer *	Caravan	See Entry For "Trailer".
Hutch	Chest, Welsh Dresser	A Piece Of Furniture With Open Shelves, A Flat Surface & A Single Row Of Drawers, Usually Used For Storage & Display Of Plates Etc. In BE A "Hutch" Is A Small, Usually Outdoor, Structure Where Rabbits, Ferrets Or Similar Animals Live.
Icebox Obs	Refrigerator	In BE "Icebox" Refers To The Part Of The Refrigerator Kept Below Freezing Point & A "Cool Box" Is A Well Insulated Box For Carrying Food & Drink. The American Practice Of Garages & Supermarkets Selling Ice To Replenish A Cool Box Is Unknown In Britain.
Ice Chest Obs	Cool Box	.
Incorporated	Limited	British Firms Often Have Titles Ending In "Ltd" Meaning Limited Liability Or "Plc" Meaning Public Limited Company. "Public" Implies That The Company's Shares Are Publicly Traded. There Are Also Private Companies.
Industrial Park	Industrial Estate	An Unlovely Area Of Factories & Other Commercial Premises. BE Also Has "Trading Estate".
Installment Plan	Hire Purchase	A Scheme For Paying For Summat By A Series Of Payments After You've Obtained The Item.
Instant Replay	Action Replay	Use Of Video Recordings To Replay Highlights Immediately After The Event Particularly During TV Coverage Of Sporting Events.
Intersection	Cross Roads	A Place Where Four Roads Meet Or Two Roads Cross Depending On Your Point Of View. See Also Notes On "Four-way".
Intermission	Interval	Break In Performance In Theatre, Cinema Or On TV. "Intermission" Sounds Rather Old-fashioned To British Ears.
Interstate *US	Main Road, Major Road, Trunk Road	A Major Highway Joining Different Parts Of The Country. The Usage "Trunk Road" Is Largely Confined To Road Planners & Road System Administrators But Most Closely Captures The Meaning Of "Interstate". The Specific Usage Of "Interstate" To Mean Roads Funded Under A Particular Legislative Act Would Be Unknown To BE Speakers. Interstate Highways Are Arranged In A More Or Less Regular Geographic Fashion With Even Numbers For Those Running East-West & Odd Numbers For Those Running North-South. Roads In Great Britain Have Numbers Whose Initial Digits Are Based On A Radial Zone System Based On London & Edinburgh A1 - London To Edinburgh A2 - London To Dover A3 - London To Portsmouth A4 - London To Bristol A5 - London To Holyhead A6 - London To Carlisle A7 - Edinburgh To Carlisle A8 - Edinburgh To Greenock A9 - Edinburgh To John O'Groats Roads, For Example, Between The A1 & A2 All Have Numbers Starting With 1. An Initial A Means A Major Road, An Initial M Means A Motorway, An Initial B A Minor Road. A T After The Number Means A Trunk Road. An A Road Number Will Sometimes Have The Suffix M, Indicating That It Has Been Built To Motorway Standards. [E.g. A40(T), A1(M)] There Is Also An Extensive Network Of Unclassified Roads Sometimes Called Class C Roads. Road Numbering Is Unique, The More The Digits, The Less Important The Road. Broadly Speaking An "A" Road (Not Trunk) Is Equivalent To A "Federal" Road, A "B" Road To A State Road & The Others Are Equivalent To "County" Roads. See Also Entry For "Freeway". E Numbers Are European Designations, Although Many Of These Have Been Designated For The UK, They Are More Or Less Unknown In The UK.
Intimate Apparel	Underwear	.
Inuit	Eskimo	Most British People Are Unaware Of The Preferred Usage & Are Equally Unaware Of Any Negative Connotations Associated With The Word "Eskimo". There Are Very Few Inuit In The British Isles. A Slovak Colleague Of Mine Told Me That In A Recent Census In The Czech Republic Over 10,000 People Described Themselves As Inuit So Forcing The Government To Make Special Provisions. CE Prefers "Inuit".
Janitor *	Caretaker	BE Has No Distinction Between A "Live-in" Caretaker & One Who Comes In On A Daily Basis.
Jack	Socket	Connector For Telephone. In BE "Jack Plugs" & "Jack Sockets" Are Particular Types Of Multi-pole Electrical Connectors. See Entry For "Outlet".
Jelly	Jam	Spread For Toast Or Bread Not Incorporating Preserved Fruit Only Fruit Juice. See Discussion Under "Preserves".
Jelly Roll	Swiss Roll	A Sort Of Cake Made By Spreading Jam On A Square Cake Base & Then Rolling It Up Into A Cylinder.
Jell-O	Jelly	A Wobbly Edible Gelatine Based Substance Often Flavoured With Fruit & Used As A Dessert. In British Usage It Is Often Served With Ice Cream & Is A Children's Favourite.
John	Toilet	See Discussion Under "Washroom".
Jump Rope US	Skipping Rope	.
Jumper	Short Dress	In British Usage "Jumper" Means A Sweater.
Kerb Side	Near Side, Passenger Side	Side Of A Vehicle Nearest The Kerb. In The UK This Would Be The Left Hand (Port) Side. It Would Still Be Called The Near Side If You Were Standing In The Middle Of The Road When You Would Be Nearest The Off Side Of The Vehicle. Sometimes Written "Nearside" & "Offside".
Kerosene	Paraffin	A Flammable Liquid. "Paraffin" In AE Refers To A Solid Waxy Substance Known As "Paraffin Wax" Or Just Plain "Wax" In BE & Used For Making Candles Etc.
Kindergarten	Nursery	See Discussion Under "High School".
Kleenex	Tissues	American Term Is Proprietary.
Knickers, Knickerbockers	Plus Fours	Rather Old-Fashioned Loose Fitting Trousers Especially Worn By Golfers. In BE "Knickers" Refers To An Undergarment Covering The Body From The Waist To The Top Of The Thighs, It Can Also Be Used As A Slang Word Implying Contempt Or Annoyance. In BE A "Knickerbocker Glory" Is A Rather Splendid Ice Cream, Fruit & Cream Dessert Served In A Tall Glass.
Last Name	Surname	.
Lawyer, Advocate, Attorney	Lawyer, Solicitor, Barrister	In BE "Lawyer" Is A General Purpose Term, Broadly Synonymous With "Solicitor" For A Legal Practitioner. A "Barrister" Is A More Highly Qualified (And Paid!) Practitioner Who Specialises In Pleading (Advocacy) In Higher Courts. Until Very Recently Only Barristers Were Allowed To Practice In Higher Courts But This Is Slowly Changing. In England & Wales, Justice Is Administered Via A Hierarchy Of Magistrates' Courts, County Courts, Crown Courts & High Courts With An Ultimate Appeal To The House Of Lords. In Criminal Cases Proceedings Are Initiated & Led By The Public Or Crown Prosecutor (Known As The Procurator Fiscal In Scotland). The Legal System In Scotland Is Different From That In The Rest Of The UK. CE As BE.
Lead	Cable	Permanent Electrical Wiring. See Entry For "Cord". "Cable" Meaning TV Distributed By Cable Is Common To Both AE & BE.
Legal Holiday	Bank Holiday	Current Bank Holidays In England Are (For 2002) Jan 1st (New Year's Day), March 29th (Good Friday), April 1st (Easter Monday), May 6th (May Day), Jun 3rd Spring Bank Holiday, Don't Confuse With Whitsun Which Is A Religious Festival), Aug 26th (Summer Bank Holiday), Dec 25th (Christmas) & Dec 26th (Boxing Day). [In 2002 June 4th Is Also A Bank Holiday To Celebrate The 50th Anniversary Of The Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth 2nd.] The May Day Holiday Is Always The First Monday In May, Not 1st May
Lemonade	Real Lemonade, Squash, Cordial	In British Usage "Lemonade" Often Refers To A Sort Of Carbonated Sugar Water.
License Plate Or License Tag	Number Plate	It Indicates The Identity Of A Vehicle. British Number Plates Are Permanent For The Life Of The Vehicle. There Is A Single Nationwide System Of Numbering. The Payment Of Annual Road Tax Is Indicated By A Small Paper Disc Fixed To The Windscreen.
Lifesavers *	Polo	Both Terms Are Proprietary & Refer To A Hard Round White Mint, Sometimes Fruit Flavoured, With A Hole In The Middle.
Lima Bean	Butter Bean	.
Line *	Queue	Group Of People Waiting In An Orderly Fashion. AE "Waiting In Line" Is Equivalent To BE "Queueing".
Line Cord *	Mains Lead	Flexible Cable Joining Electrical Appliance To Supply.
Liquor	Spirits	Alcoholic Drink Whose Preparation Involves Distillation. Includes Whisky, Brandy, Gin, Vodka.
Liquor Store	Off Licence	A Shop Selling Alcoholic Drinks For Consumption Off The Premises. There Are Regional Variations In Both AE & CE. Many British Supermarkets & Grocery Shops Also Sell Alcoholic Beverages. In Some North American Regions (E.g. British Columbia) The Sale Of Alcohol In This Fashion Is A Monopoly. See Notes On "Bar".
Lobby	Foyer	First Main Room You Encounter On Entering A Hotel, Theatre Or Cinema. Both Terms May Be Encountered In All Versions Of English. In BE A "Lobby" Is A Group Of People Attempting To Influence An Organisation Or Decision Making Process, Especially Parliament.
Locker Room	Changing Room	.
Long Distance	Trunk Call Obs	Telephone. There Is No General Word For This In BE.
Longshoreman	Docker	.
Loon	Great Northern Diver	Bird Pictured On Canadian One Dollar Coin.
Loonie Can	No Equivalent	This Refers To A One Dollar Coin. In BE & AE "Loony" Is A Colloquialism For Lunatic. Fortunately I'd Read The Air Canada In-flight Magazine When The Airport Bus Driver Asked Me "Have You Got A Looney ?" The British Pound Coin Is Simply Called A "Pound Coin". Pound Notes Were Last Issued In England In About 1985. Scottish Banks Issue Their Own Notes Which Are Different From Those Issued By The Bank Of England & Their One Pound Notes May Sometimes Be Encountered. They Are Generally Accepted In England. Referring To A Pound As A "Quid" Or "Bob" Is Becoming Uncommon In BE. The Plural Of "Quid" Is "Quid". See Entry For "Bill" For Details On British Paper Currency.
Lorry	Hand Cart, Dolly	.
Lost & Found	Lost Property	.
Lot	Plot	Parcel Of Land That Can Be Bought & Sold & Is, Usually, Partly Occupied By A Building.
Love Seat	Settee	See Entry For "Couch".
Low Fat Milk	Semi Skimmed Milk	In The UK There Is No Defined Meaning For Phrases Such As "Fat Free" & "Low Fat" Although Consumer Groups Are Campaigning For Such Standards.
Luggage Rack	Roof Rack	On The Roof Of A Car. In BE Luggage Racks Are Found In Trains & Aeroplanes But Not Cars.
Lumber	Timber	AE Distinguishes Standing Timber (I.e. Trees That Haven't Been Chopped Down) From Lumber (Which Is What They Become After They've Been Chopped Down & The Logs Cut To Shape & Size). BE Uses "Timber" In Both Contexts. In BE "Lumber" Refers To Unwanted Items Hence "Lumber Room" & "To Lumber Somebody" I.e. Give Them An Unwanted Task & Also Means To Proceed Slowly & Clumsily.
Lunch Pail	Lunch Box	.
M & M	Smarties	Both Terms Are Proprietary & Refer To Small Sweets With Hard Coloured Sugary Coatings. Both Words Are Also Sometimes Used To Mean Any Small Item. Smarties Have Hard Chocolate Centres Are Shaped Vaguely Like Flying Saucers. A Correspondent Tells Me There Is A US Sweet Called Smarties That Do Not Have Chocolate Centres.
Mail	Post	What You Do To A Letter Or Parcel To Send It On Its Way. Whilst On Its Way Its "In The Mail" AE Or "In The Post" BE.
Mail Man	Postman	"Mail Lady" Sounds Improbable To British Ears. In Britain She's Called A Post Woman. "Mail Carrier" Is An Alternative American Usage & Has The Official Approval Of The US Postal Service.
Mail Slot	Letter Box	Aperture For Delivery Of Postal Items To Premises. Note That In BE, "Letter Box" Also Refers To A Box In Public Place Where Letters Etc., Are Deposited For Onwards Transmission By The Postal Service, Also Known As A Pillar Or Post Box.
Main Street	High Street	A Common Name For The Most Important Road In A Town Or City. Often Used To Refer Generally To The Shops & Retail Outlets Of A Town Or City.
Maize	Sweet Corn	"Maize" Is Apparently Uncommon In AE. Also Known As "Corn On The Cob". The Use Of "Maize" To Mean A Shade Of Yellow Is Not Known In BE.
Mall	Shopping Centre	The Older British Usage "Shopping Arcade" Means A Group Of Shops Fronting On To A Covered Pedestrian Way. "Shopping Centre" Usually Implies Covered Access In British Usage Whereas American Usage Uses "Mall" To Imply Covered Access & "Center" To Imply Non-Covered Access. A "Parade Of Shops" In British Usage Refers To A Row Of Shops Fronting On To A Road, This Usage Is Usually Confined To Southern England. "Mall" Can Also Mean A Large Public Park Like Area Such As Independence Mall In Philadelphia.
Mason Jar	Kilner Jar	Both Terms Are Proprietary.
Mass Transit	Public Transport	.
Master Card	Access	Credit Card Company. The British Arm Has Been Called "Master Card" Since 1998 But Many British People Still Refer To "Access".
Master Of Ceremonies	Compere	The Person Who Introduces The Performers In A TV Or Stage Variety Show. However BE Uses "Master Of Ceremonies" For The Person "Orchestrating" A Wedding Reception Or Similar Social Occasion.
Mean	Bad Tempered	In BE "Mean" Means Stingy, Unwilling To Spend Money, Miserly. In AE "Mean" Can Also Mean "Good"
Meat Grinder	Mincer	.
Median (Strip)	Central Reservation	Dividing Strip Down The Middle Of A Dual Carriageway. Also Called "Median Strip" In AE.
Military Time	24 Hour Clock	Times Expressed Using Numbers In The Range 0-23 For The Hours.
Mimosa *	Buck's Fizz	A Drink Made By Mixing Champagne & Orange Juice.
Mobile Home	Caravan	See Notes On "Trailer".
Mortician *	Undertaker	There Are Regional Variations In American Usage. A Correspondent Tells Me That "Mortician" Is Still Used For A Hospital Employee Working In The Morgue.
Movies	Films	The Productions Themselves. In BE You Go To The Cinema.
Movie Theater	Cinema	"Cinema" Is Also Used In Both BE & AE To Refer To The Art & Culture Of Films.
Moving Company	Removal Company	A Company That Will Move Your Personal Effects Etc.
Moving Van	Pantechnicon, Removal Van	Lorry Adapted For Moving Personal Effects When Moving House. Sometimes Called A "Panel Truck" In AE.
Muffler	Silencer	Part Of Vehicle Exhaust System. In British Usage A Muffler Is A Sort Of Scarf. In AE A Silencer Is Summat You Put On A Gun.
Mutual Fund	Unit Trust	A Scheme Whereby The Investor Buys Shares Or Units In A Fund Which, In Turns, Buys Shares In Many Companies Thereby Spreading Risk. Dividends Received By The Fund Are Aggregated & Paid To The Fund's Investors In Proportion To The Number Of Units They Have Purchased.
Napkin	Serviette	.
Nickel	No Equivalent	5 Cent Coin. The Traditional Names For British Coins Such As Tanner (6d), Bob (1s), Florin (2s) & Half-A-Crown (2s/6d) All Disappeared When £sd Was Scrapped In 1972. Surprisingly New Names For The New Coins Have Not Emerged Apart From The 1p Coin Being Called A "Penny". The Habit Of Referring To 5p As "Five Pee" That Was Common Immediately After Decimalisation Is Now Dying Out & Most People Would Simply Say "Five Pence". The Current Coin Set Is 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 & £2. The 1p & 2p Are Copper Plated Steel, Sometimes Called "Coppers", The 5p & 10p Are "Silvery", The 10p Being Bigger Than The 5p (Unlike The Nickel & Dime). The 20p & 50p Are Curious Seven-sided "Silvery" Affairs With Curved Edges, These Having The Interesting Geometrical Property Of Constant width (Similar To The Eleven-sided Loonie). The £1 Coin Is Small Thick & Rather Yellowy, Nobody Calls It A Sovereign. The Recently Introduced (1999) £2 Coin Is Similar To The Canadian $2 Coin Having A Silver Bit & A Golden Bit. I Was At A Meeting At The European Commission Recently & We Were All Comparing Our Shiny New Small Change ('Euro' Coins Have National Symbols On The Reverse) & Commenting That I'd Got A Luxembourg 'Euro' When A German Colleague Asked If I Had Any British Euros.
Nightstick	Truncheon	Blunt Cosh-Like Weapon Carried By Policemen.
Normalcy	Normality	.
Notions	Haberdashery	Accessories Such As Buttons & Zips Used In The Manufacture Of Garments. In BE "Haberdashery" Also Refers To A Shop Selling Such Things.
Number Sign	Hash Mark	See Notes On "Pound Sign".
Oatmeal	Porridge	.
Offense Players	Forwards	Players Who Lead Attack In Certain Team Sports Such As Football. Spelt Offence In BE & Can.
Oh	Nil	Used In Reporting The Scores Of Sports Fixtures. Where AE Would Say "Two-oh" Or "Two To Nothing", BE Would Say "Two-nil" For A Score Of 2-0.
Oil Pan	(Oil) Sump	Part Of Engine Of Motor Vehicle.
On-ramp, Off-ramp	Sliproad	How You Join Or Leave A Limited Access Highway. Sometimes Called "Exit Ramp" In AE.
Operating Room	Operating Theatre	.
Orchestra Seat	Stalls	Seat In A Theatre On The Same Level As The Stage & Orchestra
Outhouse	Privy	In British Usage An Outhouse Is Just That. A Small, Usually Brick, Building Used For Storage Or Similar Purposes With No Through Access From The Main Building.
Overalls	Dungarees	In British Usage An "Overall" Is A One-piece Sleeved Garment Used To Cover One's Normal Clothes When Working In A Dirty Place Or Job. In British Usage "Dungarees" Often Refer To Such A Garment Worn By Children Or Women, Especially When Pregnant, It Consists Of Trousers Integral With A Bib-like Top.
Outlet	Socket	Connector For Telephone Or Electrical Power. British Telephone Sockets Are Similar To American Ones Except That The Little Latching Thingy Is On The Side Rather Than The Top. Technically The American Connector Is An RJ11, The British Plug Is A BT/431A Or A BT/631A Depending On Whether There Are 4 Or 6 Wires, The Socket Is A BT/601A Although There Are Variants. RJ45's Are Used In Both The UK & North America For Data Connections. British Power Sockets Have Three Thick Flat Pins In A Sort Of T-Shaped Arrangement, Plugs Are Large Their Only Saving Grace Is A Fuse, The User Has To Find A Screwdriver To Connect A Plug To A Cable. American Power Sockets Use Thin Flat Blades, Sometimes With A Round Earth Pin, Plugs Are Almost Always Moulded On To The Cable. In Very Old British Buildings An Extraordinary Variety Of Round Pin Sockets May Sometimes Be Encountered. British Domestic Electric Power Is Nominally 230V At 50Hz, Whereas American Is Nominally 117V At 60Hz British Light Bulbs Use A Two Pin Bayonet Fitting Of Similar Size To The Large Screw Fitting Used On American Light Bulbs. Light Fittings Have Two Spring Loaded Pins That Hold The Bulb In Place. Less Likely To Come Undone Than A Screw Fitting. Screw Fitting Light Bulbs Are Quite Widely Obtainable For Use In Imported Fittings.
Overpass	Flyover	Elevated Road System.
Pacifier	Dummy	Artificial Nipple Used To Stop Small Children Crying.
Paddle	Bat	For "Ping-pong" & Similar Games.
Panhandler *	Beggar	.
Pantihose Or Pantyhose	Tights	An American Correspondent Tells Me That "Pantihose" Are Translucent Whereas "Tights" Are Opaque. This Distinction Is Not Known In BE.
Pants	Trousers	The Word "Pants" Refers To An Undergarment In BE.
Paraffin	Wax	See Entry For "Kerosene".
Parka	Anorak	In British Usage The Word "Anorak" Is Also Used Pejoratively To Refer To Somebody With A Seemingly Obsessive Hobby Interest In Summat Mechanical Or Boring.
Parkade Can	Multi-storey Car Park	.
Parking Garage/ramp	Multi-storey Car Park	.
Parking Lot	Car Park	.
Parking Stall	Parking Bay	.
Pass	Overtake	When A Faster Vehicle Passes A Slower One Travelling In The Same Direction, Especially When The Manouevre Involves Crossing Into A Lane Normally Used By Vehicles Travelling In The Other Direction.
Pastor	Minister, Vicar, Rector	There Are Subtle Differences But You Have To Understand The Ancient & Complex Administrative Hierarchy Of The Church Of England To Understand Them. There Are Also Curates, Rural Deans (Even In Urban Areas), Archdeacons, Wardens, Vergers, Readers & Sextons.
Paved Shoulder	Hard Shoulder	At Side Of Road. See Entry For "Pull Out".
Pavement	Paved Area	Many British People Think, Incorrectly, That The American Usage "Pavement" Refers To The Surface Of A Road. In Fact, It Refers To Any Area That Is Paved & Sealed Against Water By Asphalt Or Concrete. Such Areas Can Be For Foot Traffic As Well As Vehicular Traffic.
Penitentiary	Prison	"Prison" Is Also Common American Usage Except In The Proper Names Of Such Institutions Where "Penitentiary" Or "Correctional Institute" Is Used.
Penny	Cent	Referring To A 1 Cent Coin As A "Penny" Confuses British Visitors.
Period	Full Stop	Punctuation At End Of Sentence, Otherwise Its Just A Dot Or Decimal Point.
Personalty	Personal Property	Presumably By Analogy With "Realty".
Petroleum	Crude Oil	As It Comes Out Of The Ground. See Entry For "Gasoline".
Phonograph Obs	Record Player, Gramophone	"Gramophone" Is Distinctly Archaic. Of Course Gramophone Records (AKA"Vinyl") Are Themselves Pretty Much Obsolete Now, Although Keen Audio Types May Still Have A "Turntable" To Play Them On.
Pitcher	Jug	Nowt To Do With Baseball(!).
Plastic Wrap	Clingfilm	Thin Transparent Film Used For Wrapping Food. "Saran Wrap" Is A US Proprietary Term.
Pocketbook Obs	Wallet, Purse	The AE Word "Pocketbook" Is Reported As Being Synonymous With "Handbag"
Polliwog * Obs	Tadpole	Baby Frog.
Pool	Snooker	Really Very Different Games, The Only Similarities Are The Use Of Long Narrow Wooden Cues To Push Balls Around On A Cloth Covered Table Usually In A Smoky Club.
Popsicle	Lollipop	Frozen Confectionary Made Of Ice Cream Or Fruit Juice. The British Version Usually Has A Spatula Like Wooden Stick Printed With Execrable Jokes. The Old Fashioned Version Consisting Of Flavoured Crystallised Sugar May Also Be Encountered. "Popsicle" Is Proprietary.
Pork Rinds	Pork Scratchings	.
Postal Code Can	Post Code	See Entry For "Zip Code".
Postal Outlet Can	Sub Post Office	A Shop That Includes A Counter Providing Postal Services As Well As Its Normal Trade (It May Be A Pharmacy, A Grocery Or, Especially In Rural Areas, A General Store). Post Offices (Sometimes Called General Post Offices Or Crown Offices) Are Owned By The Post Office (Or Post Office Counters Ltd.,) & Handle Only Postal Services, Although They're Increasingly Branching Into The Sale Of Stationery, Greetings Cards Etc.
Potato Chips	Crisps	See Also Entry For "French Fries".
Pot Holders	Oven Gloves	Padded Mittens For Holding Hot Dishes. Oven Mitts In CE.
Pound Sign, Number Sign	Hash Sign	This Refers To The Symbol #. To British People A Pound Sign Is, Of Course, The Currency Symbol £. Confusion Is heightened By The Fact That The # Symbol Appears In The Same Place On American Keyboards As The £ Symbol On British Keyboards (Above The 3). You're Probably Wondering Where The # Symbol Appears On British Keyboards, That's Another Story.
Powdered Sugar US	Icing Sugar	.
Pre-natal	Ante-Natal	For Mothers To Be.
Preserves	Jam, Marmalade	Fruit, Usually Chopped In, Mixed With Sugar & Boiled Then Cooled & Bottled. Used As A Spread On Toast, Bread Etc, & As A Cake Filling. In AE It Is Suggested That "Jam" Implies Pulped Fruit Whereas "Preserves" Implies Recognisable Chunks Of Fruit, In BE Both Would Be Called "Jam". In BE "Preserves" Refers To Fruit Preserved Whole, Usually In A Sugar Solution Or Syrup, Without Being First Chopped Up. "Marmalade" Is The Same Thing Made Using Citrus Fruits Such As Oranges & Is Widely Used On Toast At Breakfast.
Pressure	Pressurise	To Try & Force Somebody To Do Summat.
Private School	Public School	You Have To Pay To Go There. In BE "Private School" Means Pretty Much The Same Thing As "Public School".
Proctor	Invigilator	College Or University Official Charged With Supervising The Conduct Of An Examination.
Professor	Lecturer	Teacher In University Or College. In BE The Title "Professor" Is Awarded To Lecturers Who Have A Particularly Distinguished Record In Administration Or Research (Usually The Administration Of Research).
Prong	Pin	Business Part Of Electrical Connector, Especially The Large Flat Blades On North American Mains Connectors.
Public School	State School	You Don't Have To Pay To Go There. The Local Authorities, Pay.Ultimately You Pay Via Taxes.
Pullout, Pulloff	Lay By	Place Where You Can Park Temporarily At The Side Of A Road. This Is Not To Be Confused With The "Shoulder" Or "Hard Shoulder" That Runs Continuously At The Side Of Major Roads & Motorways.
Pump	Court Shoe	A Low-Cut Slip-On Woman's Shoe. In British Usage "Pump" Is A Regional Name For What Is Now Called A "Trainer" Or "Running Shoe". In Scotland "Pump", Means To Pass Wind.
Purse	Handbag	In BE A Purse Is Used By Women To Carry Currency Notes, Credit Cards Etc., Whereas A Handbag Is Used By Women To Carry A Vast Assortment Of Oddments Including Their Purses.
Quarter	No Equivalent	25c Coin.
Quarter Note	Crotchet	Music.
Quonset Hut *	Nissen Hut	Building Shaped As A Half-cylinder With Walls & Roof Formed From Corrugated Iron.
Radio	Wireless	"Radio" Is Now Normal In BE, "Wireless" Sounds Pleasantly Archaic Except When Applied To Non-Wired Local Area Networks.
Radio Shack	Tandy	The Same Catalogue Of Electronic Goods. Tandy Has Recently Been Taken Over & The Name Is Likely To Disappear From British High Streets.
Railroad	Railway	.
Rain Check	No Equivalent	There Is No BE Equivalent Of The "Strict" Meaning Of A Ticket For Re-Admission At A Later Date Or A Chit Issued By A Shop To Entitle You To Purchase A Reduced Price Item That Is Temporarily Out Of Stock.
Rappel	Abseil	.
Realtor *	Estate Agent	"Realtor" Implies Membership Of A Professional Body, The National Association Of Realtors Or Its Local Branches
Realty *	Estate Agency	.
Recess	Break	Gap In Proceedings, Usually For Refreshment When BE Might Specifically Refer To A "Lunch Break" Or A "Dinner Break", However British Courts Recess Or Adjourn.
Reforestation	Reafforestation	.
Rent	Hire	Of Cars.
Restroom	Toilet	See Discussion Under "Washroom".
Résumé	Curriculum Vitae (CV)	Document Prepared To Impress Prospective Employers. "Curriculum Vitae" Is Sometimes Used By American Academics. In British Usage A Résumé Is Used To Mean A Summary Or Summing Up In Any Context.
Retirement Fund	Superannuation	Certain Type Of Contributory Pension Scheme, Usually Involving Regular Deductions From A Monthly Salary.
American Revolutionary War	American War Of Independence	Spot Of Unpleasantness In The Late 18th Century.
Roast	Joint	Meat. In American Usage "Joint" Refers To A Preparation Incorporating Illegal Drugs (Or "Certain Substances" As The British Police Call Them), This & Other Usages Of "Joint" Are Not Uncommon In BE.
Robe	Dressing Gown	See "Bath Robe". The Use Of The Word "Robe" For A Particularly Rich & Special Garment Is Common To British & American English.
Roll	Tube	Cardboard Cylinder, Especially For Certain Sweets.
Rooming House	Lodging House	Also "Roomer" & "Lodger".
Rotary	Roundabout	Road System. Also Known As A "Traffic Circle" In AE. "Rotary" Is, Apparently, Common Usage In Parts Of New England But Unknown In Other Parts Of North America. Sometimes Called A "Traffic Island" In BE. In The UK You'll Also Find Mini-roundabouts Which Are White Painted Humps At Road Junctions, Car Drivers Treat Them As Roundabouts But Drivers Of Large & Awkward Vehicles Can Drive Straight Over Them With Due Caution. Near Swindon There Is A Wonderful Road System Called The "Magic Roundabout" Which Consists Of A Large Roundabout With Small Satellite Roundabouts Where Each Side Road Joins It. In Some Parts Of The UK There Is A Modern Practice Of Placing Large & Bizarre Items Of Scuplture In The Centre Of Roundabouts.
Round Trip US	Return	Ticket To Get You There & Back.
Row House *	Terrace House	See Entry For "Townhouse".
Rubber Boots	Wellingtons	"Welly/Wellies" Are Common Informal BE. Very Long Boots Reaching Above The Knee & Worn By Fishermen/anglers Are Called "Waders" In Both British & American Usage.
Rubbers Obs	Condoms	Contraceptives. "Rubbers" Is Colloquial/archaic. "Durex" Is A BE Brand Name. "Rubbers" Is, Apparently, Used For Rubber Boots In New England.
Rubbing Alcohol *	Surgical Spirit	Used For Sterilizing.
Rude Goldberg	Heath Robinson	Early 20th Century Humourists & Cartoonists Specialising In Drawings Of Implausible & Eccentric Machines Tied Together With String & Sticky Tape.
Run	Ladder	Defect In Ladies' Tights (Pantihose) Or Stockings.
Run For Office	Stand For Election	.
Runners Can	Trainers	.
Running Shoes	Trainers	There Are Interesting Regional Variations In Both British & American Usage. "Pumps", "Plimsolls" & "Daps" Are All British Regional Variations. American Regional Variations Include "Sneakers" (New England & Mid-Atlantic States) & "Tennis Shoes".
Rutabaga *	Swede	.
Sack Lunch	Packed Lunch	.
Sales Clerk	Shop Assistant	.
Sales Tax	VAT	See Entry For "GST".
Sand Box *	Sand Pit	Where Children Play. In BE A "Sand Pit" Is Also A Place Where Sand Is Extracted For Commercial & Industrial Use, Children Don't Play In Such Sand Pits.
Sanitary Napkin	Sanitary Towel	"Tampons" Are The Same In British & American Usage. Pantyshield May Be A Proprietary AE Term.
Saran Wrap Can	Clingfilm	The CE Term Is Proprietary.
Savings & Loan Trust	Building Society	Organisation Originally Devoted To Making Loans To Help Members Purchase Their Own Homes. Until Fairly Recently British Building Societies Were Owned By Their Members, I.e. Were "Mutual", Many Have Now Converted To Banks & Are Owned By Their Shareholders. In The Process Of Conversion Substantial Numbers Of Shares Were Issued Free To Members Who Then Sold Them. The Resulting Money Is Called A "Windfall" In The British Press & Has Also Resulted In The Appearance Of "Carpetbaggers" Who Join A Still Unconverted Society In Anticipation Of Easy Profits. Technically Building Societies That Have Converted To Banks Are No Longer Building Societies But This Subtlety Would Probably Be Lost On Most British People.
Sawbuck *	Sawhorse	The Usage Of "Sawbuck" For A $10 Bill Has No British Equivalent. "Workhorse" & "Trestle" Have Very Similar Meanings.
Scale	Weighbridge	Facility For Weighing Commercial Vehicles.
Scallion	Spring Onion	.
Schedule	Timetable	In BE "Schedule" Is Used To Refer To Forward Planning Of, Usually Personal, Activities With A Very Similar Meaning To The Word "Plan".
Scheme	Plot	Both Terms Have Overtones Of Deviousness. "Scheme" Lacks Such Overtones In BE.
Scotch Tape	Sellotape	Both Terms Are Proprietary. "Sticky Tape" Is Also Sometimes Used. This Refers To Thin Transparent Tape Used For Parcels, Mending Torn Paper & Fixing Notices In Such A Way That The Paint Comes Off The Wall.
Seaboard	Coastline	.
Second Floor	First Floor	In British Buildings The Ground Floor Is, Effectively, Floor Zero.
Sedan	Saloon	Type Of Car.
Seeing Eye Dog *US	Guide Dog	An Animal Specially Trained To Help Blind People. CE Is As BE. AE Term Is Proprietary.
Semi-trailer *	Articulated Lorry	.
Server	Waiter Or Waitress	The Word "Server" Has Overtones Of Gender Non-specific Political Correctness.
Senior	Pensioner	"Senior Citizen" Is Common In Both AE & BE.
Shade	Blind	Specifically "Shade" In American Usage Refers To A Continuous Piece Of Fabric That Can Be Rolled Or Unrolled, Known As A "Roller Blind" In British Usage. The Arrangement Of Adjustable Horizontal Slats Is Known As A "Venetian Blind" In British Usage.
Sherbet	Sorbet	Water Ice Made From Fruit Juice Etc. In British Usage "Sherbet" Is A Fruit-flavoured Effervescent Powder, Often Eaten With Liquorice By Children.
Shoestring Obs	Bootlace, Shoelace +	Used For Tying Up Shoes & Boots. Both BE & AE Have "Doing Summat On A Shoestring" To Mean With The Least Expenditure Of Resources.
Shrimp	Prawn	In British Restaurants "Shrimps" Are Larger (& More Expensive) Than "Prawns" Which Is Contrary To Normal Zoological Practice. AE Restaurant Usage Is Equally Confusing With Regional Variations.
Sidewalk	Pavement Or Footpath	.
Silverware	Cutlery	Knives, Forks & Spoons. Modern AE/CE Reserves "Silverware" For The Best Cutlery.
Sixteenth Note	Semi-quaver	Music
Ski Mask	Balaclava	Head Covering Popular With Terrorists & Bank Robbers.
Skivvies Obs	Underpants & Vest	"Skivvy/skivvies" In BE Refers To A Menial Domestic Worker.
Sled	Sledge	A Sledge Hammer Is The Same In Both BE & AE.
Slingshot	Catapult	.
Slowpoke	Slowcoach	.
Smoked Herring	Kipper	Very Nice Too Apart From All Those Little Bones.
Snaps	Press Studs	Metal Or Plastic Fixings That Snap Together.
Sneakers	Trainers	See Discussion On "Running Shoes".
Snowpack	Lying Snow	.
Snow Peas *	Mangetout	.
Soccer	Football	Do Not Confuse With American Football.
Social Security Number US	National Insurance Number	Unique Personal Identification Used By State Benefits & Taxation Schemes. British National Insurance Numbers Consist Of Two Letters, Six Digits & A Further Letter (No Spaces). Known As "Social Insurance Number" In Canada.
Soda	Soft Drink	Sometimes Called "Pop" Or A "Fizzy Drink" In BE. Correspondents Have Suggested That Americans Use "Soda", "Soda Water", "Soda Pop", "Soft Drink", "Coke", "Cola" & "Pop" Fairly Interchangeably With Distinct Regional Preferences, E.g. "Pop" In The Mid-west, "Coke" In The South & "Soda" In The North-east. There Is No BE Equivalent Of The Delicious Sounding Dessert/treat Called "Soda" & Made From Ice Cream & Fruit Juice.
Soother *Obs	Dummy	Artificial Nipple Used To Stop Small Children Crying, Usually Called A "Pacifier" In AE.
Sophomore	No Equivalent	.
Spool	Reel	Sewing Thread Etc.
Spur Line	Branch Line	Characterful & Uneconomic Part Of Railway System.
Squash *	Vegetable Marrow	Slightly Different But Related Vegetables. In British Usage "Squash" Often Means "Fruit Juice". The Game "Squash" Is The Same In Both British & American Usage.
Standings	Table, League Table	Lists Showing Relative Performance Of Sports Teams.
State School ?	Special School	School For Those With Learning Difficulties.
Station Wagon	Estate Car	.
Statutory Holiday Can	Bank Holiday	.
Stemware *	Wineglasses	.
Stick Shift	Gear Lever	"Stick Shift/Stick" Can Also Refer To A Car With Manual Transmission.
Stocking Stuffer	Stocking Filler	Small Christmas Gift
Store	Shop	In British Usage A Store Is A Place Where Things Are Stored Such As A Warehouse, However The American Usage Is Not Uncommon In Britain Although Confined To Larger Establishments.
Stove	Cooker, Oven	Used For Cooking Not Heating. In British Usage A Domestic "Cooker" Comprises Both A Heated "Hob" Comprising Burners Or Hotplates On The Top Of The Cooker ("Cooktop" In AE) & A Heated "Oven" Which Forms The Main Part Of The Cooker.
Straight	Neat	Drinks, Undiluted With Mixers Such As Water & Tonic.
Streetcar	Tram	Americans Seem To Use The Words "Streetcar", "Tramway" & "Trolley" Almost Interchangeably To Mean Any Form Of Public Surface Transport Not Powered By An Internal Combustion Engine. In British Usage There Are A Number Of Quite Distinct Usages. Cable Car A Vehicle Without An Engine Or Motor That Is Moved By A Hauling Cable. Apart From The Unique System In San Francisco, These Are Suspended From A Stationary Overhead Cable. They Are Sometimes Called "Gondolas" Or "Air Trams" In AE/CE. "Chair Lifts" & Similar Arrangements Used By Winter Sports Enthusiasts Are Not Referred To As "Cable Cars" In BE. Tram This Is A Vehicle That Uses Steel Wheels Running On Steel Rails Let Into The Surface Of A Normal Road. It Is Usually Powered By Electricity Taken From Overhead Conductors. They Were Once Driven By Steam Engines Or Pulled By Horses. Modern Systems Are Sometimes Referred To As "Light Railways" Or "Metros" Especially When A Substantial Portion Of The Route Is On A Private Track Rather Than Public Roads. Trolley Bus This Is A Bus-Like Vehicle With Normal Rubber Tyres But Powered By Electricity Taken From Overhead Conductors. These Quiet, Clean Vehicles Are, Alas, Obsolete In The UK, However Extensive Systems Still Operate In Vancouver & Several Other North American Cities.
Strip Mall	Parade Of Shops	See Entry For "Mall"
Stroller	Push Chair, Baby Buggy	A Device With Four (Small) Wheels For The Conveyance Of Small Children In A Sitting Position. The Version With Three Large Wheels Is Now Being Seen Occasionally In The UK.
Stub	Counterfoil	In British Usage A "Stub" Is A Shortened End Of Summat, Often Implying That The Rest Of The Object Has Been Broken Off, The Usage "Stub One's Foot" Means To Bring The Foot Into Sudden, Often Accidental, Contact With Some Obstacle. "Counterfoil" Is Becoming Uncommon In BE But My Cheque Book Still Has Counterfoils.
Subway	Underground Railway	In British Usage A "Subway" Is A Means By Which Pedestrians Can Cross From One Side Of A Road To Another By Means Of Tunnel Or Underground Passageway. The American Usage Of "Underground Railway" To Refer To The Smuggling Of Escaped Slaves From The South By Harriet Tubman Would Be Unknown To The Vast Majority Of British People.
Suspenders	Braces	In British Usage "Suspenders" Are Used To Keep Ladies' Stockings In The Right Place. Braces Are Elastic Straps Passing Over The Shoulder & Used To Keep Gentlemen's Trousers From Falling Down Although The Use Of A Belt Or Elasticated Waist-band Is Now Much More Common. Both AE & BE Also Use "Brace" To Refer To A Device For Supporting Summat Or Holding Components At A Precise Distance In Both Dentistry & General Engineering.
Sweeper *Obs	Vacuum Cleaner	Also Often Called A "Hoover" In BE, Although The Word Is Proprietary.
Switch	Points	Part Of Railway. BE Uses "Switch" In The Same Way As AE In Other Contexts.
Switchback	Hairpin Bend	Sudden Reversal In Direction Of Road. In BE A "Switchback" Refers To A Road That Goes Up & Down A Lot, Also Known As A "Roller-coaster".
Switchblade Knife	Flick Knife	.
Switcher	Shunter	Small Railway Locomotive.
Switchyard	Marshalling Yard	Place Where Goods Trains Are Assembled From Individual Trucks.
Telephone Pole	Telegraph Pole	Although The Provision Of A Public Telegram Service By The Then Post Office Is A Distant Memory, The Poles That Support The Overhead Wires Are Still Quite Frequently Called "Telegraph Poles". See Notes On "Utility Pole".
Teleprompter	Autocue	Device That Saves Politicians & Actors The Chore Of Memorising Their Lines. US Term Is Proprietary & Should Be "TelePrompTer".
Teller	Cashier	Banks, Shops. CE Uses "Bank Teller" Otherwise CE Is As BE.
Texas Gate *Can	Cattle Grid	System Of Bars Let Into Surface Of Road To Prevent Passage Of Animals Whilst Allowing Free Passage Of Vehicles.
Thread	Cotton	Used For Sewing. In British Usage "Thread" Is Sometimes Used In This Context To Identify Summat Stronger Than The Normal Product.
Thumbtack	Drawing Pin	.
Tic-tac-toe	Noughts & Crosses	.
Tie	Sleeper	Piece Of Timber Or Concrete Supporting The Rails Of A Railway.
Tie	Draw	Sport
Toonie Can	No Equivalent	Two Dollar Coin. Variant Spellings Including "Twoonie", "Twonie" & "Twoony" Are Now, Apparently, Rare. For Notes On British Money See The Entries For "Nickel" & "Loonie".
Townhouse *	Terrace House	A House, Usually Of More Than One Storey & With Other Houses Sharing Common Walls On Both Sides. It Will Have Its Own Door Onto The Street. In British Usage "Terrace Housing" Sometimes Implies Low Quality Housing Reflecting The Large Number Of Small Dwellings Of This Type Put Up To House The Workers Of The Newly Industrialised Towns Of The 19th Century.
Tractor-trailer	Articulated Lorry Or "Artic"	.
Traffic Circle US	Roundabout	Road System.
Trail	Track, Footpath	Especially Away From Roads.
Trailer, Trailer Home	Caravan	Mobile Living Accommodation Towed Behind A Vehicle. Caravans, Sometimes Called Just Plain Vans By Their Users, Are Subdivided Into Touring Caravans Which Are Towed By People Travelling From Place To Place & Static Caravans Which Stay More Or Less Permanently On A Site But Can Be Moved On The Back Of A Lorry. AE "Trailer Park" Is Equivalent To BE "Caravan Park".
Train Station	Railway Station	The Logical American Usage Is Replacing The Illogical British Usage.
Transit	Public Transport	.
Transmission Tower	Electricity Pylon	Metal Lattice Tower Supporting High Voltage Electric Power Cables.
Trash	Rubbish	.
Trash Can	Dustbin	.
Trolley		See Discussion Under "Streetcar".
Truck	Lorry	In BE "Fallen Off The Back Of A Lorry" Means Acquired In Dubious Circumstances.
Truck Stop	Transport Café	.
Trunk	Boot	Of Car
Tub	Bath	See "Bathtub".
Tube	Valve	Electronics.
Turn Signals *	Indicators	Part Of Car. Very Old British Cars Used "Trafficators", Which Were Small Illuminated Mechanical Arms That Emerged From The Top Of The Door Pillar.
Turtle Neck	Polo Neck	A Sweater That Fits Closely Round The Neck & Has A Turned Over Collar.
Tuxedo	Dinner Jacket	"Tuxedo" Refers To The Jacket & Trousers Combination
Two-Four Can	No Equivalent	This Refers To Selling Beer In Packs Of 24 Bottles Or Cans. Beer Is Sold In Such Packs In The UK, But There Is No Specific Name For Such Packages. Apparently A "Slab" Or "Carton" In Australian.
Two Weeks	Fortnight	I.e. 14 Days
Under Basement Obs	Cellar	Underground Room Beneath House, Entirely Beneath Local Ground Level & Usually Without Windows, Used Just For Storage. Rare In British Houses Built Later Than About 1920. CE Is As BE.
Undershirt	Vest	.

English

Notes

911

999

Telephone Number For Emergency Services. Actually 99 Is Usually Sufficient. The Extra 9 Is In Case You're On A Private Branch Exchange When The First 9 Gets You An Exchange Line. British Telephone Systems Will Also Recognise The European Standard Emergency Services Number 112. A Correspondent Has Told Me That 911 Also Works In The UK But I've Never Had The Courage (Or The Need) To Try It.

9-11

11th Of September Attacks

Airplane*

Aeroplane

Alligator Pear

Avocado

Medium Wave

Radio Stations Broadcasting Using Amplitude Modulation On Frequencies In The Range 555-1600 KHz. In Europe (And The UK) The Actual Frequency Range Is 531 To 1611 KHz With 9KHz Channel Spacing. Stations Do Not Have Distinctive Callsigns. There Are (In The UK) A Number Of National Stations (Not All Operated By The BBC) That Can Be Heard Anywhere In The Country.

Antenna

Aerial

Electronics. A Correspondent Has Suggested That AE Uses "Aerial" For Rod Type Antennae Such As The "Rabbit Ears" Sometimes Used With TV Sets.

Apartment

Flat

A Flat Occupying More Than One Floor Is Called A "Maisonette" In BE. A Correspondent Suggests That CE Uses "Flat" To Refer To Accommodation With Some Shared Facilities & Another Suggests That AE Uses "Townhouse" To Refer To A Multi-Level Apartment.

Apartment House Or Building

Block Of Flats

See Entry For "Condominium".

Appetizer

Starter, Hors D'oeuvre

"Hors D'oeuvre" Is Rather Posh.

Area Code

Dialling Code

Telephone. The Obsolescent BE Phrase STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) Code May be Encountered.

Asphalt

Tarmac

The BE Term Is Proprietary. A Composite Of Bitumen (A Tary Substance) & Gravel Used For Surfacing/Paving Roads Etc. In American Usage "Tarmac" Is Used To Refer To Surface Of Airport Runways Etc. A Macadamised Road Is One With A Surface Of Carefully Graded Stones First Devised By John Macadam In The Early 19th Century. "Tarmacadam" Refers To The Same Form Of Road Construction With A Final Layer Of A Tarry Substance Designed Partially To Prevent Vehicles Throwing Up Dust & Small Stones & Partially To Prevent Rainwater Seeping Into The Road Structure. According To A Correspondent Oil Men Use "Asphalt" To Refer To Summat Found Down An Oil Well.

Attached Home Obs

Semi-Detached House

A Pair Of Dwellings Sharing A Single Common Wall.

Attorney

Lawyer

See Notes On "Lawyer".

Auto, Automobile Obs

Car

The Word "Auto" Is Still Sometimes Seen In Notices & Road Signs. The American Usages Would Sound Strange To British Ears.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

Cashpoint

A "Hole In The Wall" Machine From Which You Can Get Money.

Baby Carriage

Pram, Perambulator

The Word "Perambulator" Is Very Pompous. This Is A Substantial Crib Or Cot-Like Container Kept Well Clear Of The Ground On Large Wheels.

Backpack (Backbag)

Rucksack

Carrier For Camping Equipment Etc., Usually With A Metal Frame, Worn On The Back.

Back-Up Lights*

Reversing Lights

BE Sounds A Bit More Mature.

Baked Potato

Jacket Potato

A Potato Cooked Without Removing The Skin.

Baking Soda

Bicarbonate Of Soda

Sodium Bicarbonate (Na₂CO₃) Used In Cooking.

Ball-Point Pen

Biro

The BE Term Is Proprietary. Invented By The Hungarian Laszlo Jozsef Biro In The 1940's.

Band-Aid

Sticking Plaster

The AE Term Is Proprietary. The Words "Bandage" Referring To An Ad Hoc Wound Dressing Made Of Cloth, Gauze Etc., Are Common To AE & BE.

Bandshell

Bandstand

British Bandstands Do Not Have Sound Reflecting Shields Or Enclosures & Are Just Fenced, Roofed & Raised Enclosures In Public Parks.

Bangs

Fringe

Hair Style. In BE A "Fringe" Is Hair Hanging Straight Down beneath The Normal Hair Line & Usually Trimmed To A Straight Edge; "Bangs" Refers To A Fringe At The Side With Sharply Swept Forward Ends.

Bankroll US

Foot The Bill

Bar

Pub (Public House)

An Establishment Where Drinks Can be Purchased For Consumption On The Premises As Distinct From An Off-Licence BE Or Liquor Store AE. In BE A "Bar" Is Either A Room Within A Public House, Cafe, Club, Hotel Etc., Where Drink Is Sold Or The Actual Counter Over Which Drinks Are Sold. Public Houses Often Have Several Rooms With Differing Standards Of Furnishing & Comfort & Prices To Match. In Order Of Increasing Facilities These Are Quite Commonly Called The "Public Bar", "Saloon Bar" & "Lounge Bar" Although There Are Many Variations. Public Houses, Although Intended Primarily To Sell Drink, Often Sell Meals Nowadays. Many Public Houses Are "Tied", Which Means They Are Actually Owned By A Brewery, & The Landlord Really Is Just A Landlord. "Tied" Houses Give Preference To The Owner's Brands Although Recent Legislation & Consumer Pressure Has Made It Much More Likely That "Guest" Beers Will Be On Offer. You May Occasionally Come Across A "Beer House" Which Is A Public House Only Licensed To Sell Beer & Similar Drinks But Not Wines Or Spirits. See Notes On "Beer". The AE Terms "Tavern", "Roadhouse" & "Saloon" Referring To Various Types Of Drinking Establishment Have No Direct British Equivalent.

Barrette*

Hair Slide

Baseboard

Skirting Board

A Plank Fixed Along Bottom Of Wall. In BE A "Baseboard" Is A Board On Which Summat, Such As A Model Railway Layout, Is Built.

Bathrobe

Dressing Gown

Bathroom

Toilet

Especially In A Domestic Context. In BE A Bathroom Is A Room Containing A Bath In A Private House Or Hotel. See Discussion Under "Washroom".

Bathtub

Bath

Battle Stations US

Action Stations

Beater *Obs, Can

Banger

Decrepit Car. AE Also Has "Clunker", "Jalopy" (Obs?) & "Junker".

Beer

Lager

The Drink Referred To As "Beer" In American Usage Would Not Be Recognised As Such By Many British Drinkers. In British Usage "Beer" Is A Mildly Alcoholic Beverage Served At A Temperature That Does Not Freeze Your Taste Buds. "Real Ale" Is Beer Prepared With The Minimum Of Chemicals In A Traditional Fashion, Usually In Small Local Breweries. In BE Lager Is Beer Brewed Using Low Temperature Fermentation, It Is Typically Lighter & Clearer Than Normal Beer & Often Served Chilled. The Word "Lager" Has Some Negative Connotations Being Associated With Drunken Youths Known As "Lager Louts". The Word "Ale" Is Slightly Archaic & Now Means The Same As "Beer". The Word "stout" Describes A Strong Dark Beer Brewed With Roasted Malt Or Barley & Particularly Popular In Ireland (Guinness Is The Best Known Brand). See Notes On "Bar".

Bell Pepper*

Red Pepper, Green Pepper

Yellow Ones Are Also Available. A Variety Of Capsicum. There Is Some Evidence Of US Regional Variations. CE Has "Red Sweet Pepper" & Is Generally As BE.

Beltway, Loop

Ring Road, Circular Road

A Road Circling A City. There Are Various Other Regional & Local North American Names. CE As BE.

Bill

Note

In The Sense Of A Piece Of Paper Currency. British Currency Notes Currently In General Circulation Are £5, £10, £20 & £50. The £5 & £10 Notes Are Called "Fivers" & "Tenners". The Different Notes Are Of Different Sizes, Colours & General Appearance Which Makes Things A Bit Easier For The Visually Handicapped Unlike The Paper Currency Of A Certain North American Country.

Billfold Obs

Wallet

The AE Term Is Becoming Obsolescent & Being Replaced By "Wallet"

Billion

Thousand Million

The Old British Usage In Which A Billion Was A Million² Is Now Largely Obsolete & Most British Speakers Would Assume The American Meaning. Careful Users Avoid The Words Altogether & Use Exponent Notation. The Usage Continued,

Trillion = Tri+(m)illion = Million^³ = 10^{^18}
Quadrillion = Quad+(m)illion = Million^⁴ = 10^²⁴
Centillion = Cent+(m)illion = Million^{^100} = 10^⁶⁰⁰

The American Naming Seems To Work On The Principle 10^{^3}

Binder Clip

Bulldog Clip

Spring Loaded Device For Holding Sheets Of Paper Together.

Biscuit

Scone

Blacktop

Tarmac

See Notes On "Asphalt". AE Usage May Be Primarily Rural To Distinguish From "Dirt Roads".

Blinders

Blinkers

Indicators

Part Of A Car. See Note On "Turn Signals". In BE Blinkers Are Used On Horses To Prevent Them Being Distracted By Things Going On On Either Side.

Blood Sausage

Black Pudding

Bobby Pin*

Hair Grip, Kirby Grip

"Kirby Grip" Is Proprietary.

Boneyard

Scrapyard, Junkyard

Place Where Old Machinery Etc, Gently Rots Away.

Bouillon Cube

Stock Cube

Boxcar

No Equivalent

A Covered Railway Wagon With A Door For Loading. British Railways Use Either Open Trucks, Wagons Built For Specific Loads Such As Oil Or, Most Commonly "Container Flats" Which Are Flat Trucks With No Side Panels Adapted To Carry The Ubiquitous Containers.

Braid

Plait

Hair Style. British Geographers Would Refer To "Braided Streams" & British Electronic Engineers Would Refer To "Braided Conductors".

Breakdown Lane

Hard Shoulder

Lane At Edge Of Multi-Lane Limited Access Road.

Brewpub*

No Equivalent

British Usage Would Simply Refer To A "Pub That Brewed Its Own Beer" Although The Word "microbrewery" May Sometimes Be Encountered In Both BE & AE.

Brit

Briton

"Britisher" Sounds Rather Germanic (Especially In Stereotypical WW2 Films). "Briton" Is Not Widely Used. We Are Englishmen, Scotsmen, Welshmen & Irishmen (And Women!) & Confusing Them Causes GREAT Offence. The Correct Name Of The Country Is The United Kingdom Of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Often Abbreviated To The UK. Great Britain Is A Large Island Off The North West Coast Of Europe, It Includes The Kingdoms Of England & Scotland & The Principality Of Wales. England & Scotland Share The Same Monarch But Wales Has A Prince Of Its Own. Northern Ireland Is Just A Province, Don't Confuse It With Ulster Which Includes The Counties Of Cavan, Monaghan & Donegal In The Irish Republic. The Isle Of Man & The Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey Etc) Are Not Legally Part Of The UK.

The Word "Brit" Is Rapidly Coming Into Popular Usage. The Correct Adjectives For Things From Scotland Are "Scottish" For Most Things, "Scots" For The People & A Sort Of Pine Tree & "Scotch" For The Whisky.

Brown Bag Lunch

Packed Lunch

Lunch Obtained From Supermarket Or, More Usually, Made At Home & Taken To Work. In US Practice Supermarkets & Grocery Stores Give/sell Customers Brown Paper Bags To Take The Groceries Home In, In UK Practice Plastic Bags, With Handles, Are Used, A Practice Now Becoming Common In North America.

Bun

Bap, Roll

A Small Round Loaf, Often Used To Make Hamburgers. In BE Buns Are Often Sweet & Deliciously Sticky & There Are Many Varieties Such As The Hot Cross Buns Traditionally Served On Good Friday.

Bureau Obs

Chest Of Drawers +

A Piece Of Furniture Consisting Of A Number Of Wide Shallow Drawers One Above Another Mainly Used For Storing Clothes & Linen. A Correspondent Has Suggested That The US Usage Is Regional. In BE "bureau" Refers To A Piece Of Furniture Typically Found In Old-Fashioned Offices With Both Drawers & A Fold-down Writing Surface.

Burglarize

Burgle

Burlap

Hessian

Coarse Fabric Used For Sacking, Bags & , Sometimes, Wall Covering.

Bus

Coach

In British Usage For Journeys Between Towns & Cities Its A Coach, Always Single Decker. Within Towns & Cities It's A Bus, Often Double-decker.

Busy Signal

Engaged Tone

Telephone System.

Caboose *

Guard's Van

A Caboose Traditionally Includes Sleeping & Messing Facilities, A Guard's Van Does Not.

Cadaver

Corpse

A Dead Body. AE Seems To Increasingly Reserve The Word "cadaver" For Medical & Forensic Use.

Cafeteria

Canteen

Place, Especially In A Factory Or School, Where Meals Are Served. BE Also Uses "Canteen" For A Small Water Bottle Used By Soldiers & Campers & Also For A Collection Of Cutlery.

Candy

Sweet

The Word "Candy" Refers To A Particular Crystallised Sugar Confection In British Usage.

Canine Cookie

Dog Biscuit

Car

Carriage

A Railway Vehicle For Carrying Passengers Or Freight. On The Road Its A "car" In Both BE & AE.

Caravan Obs

Convoy

Group Of Vehicles Travelling Together. The American Usage "Caravan" Is Rare/archaic Except When The Vehicles Are Camels. In BE A "Caravan" Is A Mobile Home Or Trailer. A Correspondent Has Told Me That American Estate Agents (Realtors) Refer To Groups Of Viewers Of Properties As "Caravans".

Carnival

Circus

In British Usage A Carnival Is A Period Of Widespread Public Celebration Often Associated With Street Processions, This Also Applies In A Few American Cities Such As New Orleans. A Fair Is Travelling Entertainment With Sideshows & Rides Such As Dodgems, Ferris Wheels, Helter-Skelters Etc. A Circus Has Seating Round A Ring (Or Several Rings) Where Clowns & Animals Perform. The Tent Covering The Ring Of A Circus Is Called The "Big Top".

Carousel

Merry-go-round

Fairground Ride Consisting Of Wooden (Or Plastic) Horses On Poles Which Rise Up & Go Down As The Whole Rotates. I Have Seen Examples With Up To Five Rings Of Horses.

Cart

Trolley

Shopping. BE Does Not Use The Word "Cart" In This Context Reserving It For A Wheeled Trailer Pulled By A Vehicle Or Horse.

Casket

Coffin

The American Style Casket Looks Very Elaborate & In Rather Poor Taste To British Eyes. Coffins Are Invariably Very Plain Affairs.

Cattle Guard

Cattle Grid

Cellular Phone

Mobile Phone

Usually Just Called A Mobile In BE.

Check US

Cheque

Banking. Same Pronunciation, Different Spelling. CE As BE.

Checkers

Draughts

Board Game.

Checking Account

Current Account

Banking. The American Facility Is Technically Called A "Demand Deposit Account". It Is Called A "Chequing Account" In CE.

Chesterfield

Settee

See Entry For "Couch".

Chicory

Endive

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Managing Director (MD)

Head Of Day To Day Operations Of A Commercial Organisation. The American Usage Is Creeping In In The UK.

Chifforobe *

Gentleman's Wardrobe

A Wardrobe With Hanging Space On One Side & Drawers On The Other.

Chips

Crisps

Thin Fried Slices Of Potato Usually Sold In Bags As Snacks Or "Nibbles". According To A Correspondent There Is Now US Legislation Requiring That The Word "Crisp" Be Use To Describe Those Made From Moulding Chopped Potato.

City

Town

In American Usage "City" Is Used For Any "Incorporated" Area, Which Seems To Mean That It Has Some Form Of Local Government, As Such The Population May Be Only A Few Hundred. There Are State-By-State Regional Variations In The Precise Meaning Of The American Term. In British Usage An Urban Area Is Only A City If It Has A Cathedral Or Has A Royal Warrant Saying It's A City. If It Isn't A City It's A Town (Or A Village). My Own City, Wolverhampton, Has A Population Of About 250,000, A Bishop, A University, A Main-line Railway Station, Trams & Over A Thousand Years Of History But It Didn't Become A City Until December 2000.

Closet

Fitted Wardrobe

Especially A Walk-In Wardrobe Or Small Storage Room That Is A Permanent Fixture Not A Piece Of Furniture.

Closing Out

Closing Down

Sale Of Goods When Shop Or Company Ceases Regular Trading. AE Also Uses This To Refer To Stock Clearance Of Particular Lines Of Merchandise.

Clothes Pin

Clothes Peg

Holds Washing On A Line.

Coach

Economy

Inexpensive Class Of Accommodation On A Train Or Aeroplane. In BE A "Coach" Is A Single Decker Bus Like Vehicle That Carries Booked Passengers Or Is Booked For A Party Of Passengers, Unlike A 'Bus' It Does Not Stop To Pick Up Custom At The Roadside.

Collect Call *

Reverse Charge Call

Telephone.

Comfort Station Obs

Public Convenience, Toilet

See Discussion Under "Washroom". I Have Also Seen "Comfort House" Applied To A Portable Toilet On A Building Site. This Would Probably Be Called A "Portaloo" In BE, Although This Is A Proprietary Term.

Comforter

Quilt, Eiderdown

Warm Covering On Top Of Bed That Is Made Up Traditionally Using Sheets & Blankets As Distinct From A Duvet.

Concert Master

Leading Or First Violin, Leader

Orchestra.

Condominium, Condo *

Block Of Flats

In BE A "Condominium" Refers To A Territory Governed Jointly By Two Nations. In Referring To A Block Of Flats BE Does Not Distinguish Between Rented Flats & Individually Owned Flats. "Condominium" Means That The Flats Are Individually Owned Rather Than Rented.

Conductor

Guard

A Railway Official. In London, Buses Have Both A Driver & A Conductor Whose Job Is To Sell Tickets.

Consignment *

Second Hand Goods

The American Term Refers To Goods Sold On Commission, A Concept Unknown In The UK.

Biscuit (Sweet)

In British Usage "Cookie" Is Sometimes Used To Refer Specifically To A Biscuit With Chips Of Chocolate Included Known, I Believe, As A "Chocolate Chip Cookie" In AE.

Cooler

Cool Box

A Well Insulated Box Used For Food Etc., Both BE & AE Also Use "Cooler" As A Slang Word For A Detention Cell.

Cord

Lead, Flex

Flexible Electrical Cable Joining An Electrical Appliance Or Telephone To A Socket. For Power Connections British Practice Uses The Same Colours As Are Used In Europe, Brown For Live, Blue For Neutral & Green With Yellow Stripe For Earth. Older British Practice Still Used For Permanent Cables Is Red For Live, Black For Neutral & Green (Or Bare Copper) For Earth. American Practice Is Black For Live, White For Neutral & Green For Earth, Although It Is Not Normal For The Cord From The Outlet To The Appliance To Have Colour Coded Wires.

Corn

Sweet Corn, Maize, Corn-on-the-cob

In British Usage "Corn" Is Used Fairly Generically To Mean "Wheat" Or "Oats".

Corn Starch

Corn Flour

Cotton Batting Obs

Cotton Wool

Cotton Candy

Candy Floss

Cotton Swab

Cotton Bud

Q-Tip Is A Proprietary US Term.

Couch

Settee

An Upholstered Seat For Two Or More People. BE Has Several Variants With No Specific Words For Two Or Three Seated Versions. A "Chesterfield" Has Buttoned Leather Upholstery. "Sofa" Is A Fairly Common Alternative. A "Chaise Longue" Has An Arm At One End Only So You Can Lie Down On It. A "Love Seat" Has Two Seats Side By Side But Facing In Opposite Directions In A Sort Of "S" Shape, Suitable Only For The Most Chaste Amatory Activities. "Couch Potato" Means The Same In BE As AE.

County

American Usage Would, Typically, Be "Orange County". Apart From "County Durham" The Word Would Not Be Used In Referring To A British Administrative Division, The Suffix "-shire" Means That It's A County Anyway. The Use Of The Word "County" Is Normal In Referring To Irish Administrative Divisions. They're Called "parishes" In Louisiana, In British Usage A "parish" Is The Lowest Level Unit Of Government (Rural Areas Only) Or Ecclesiastical Organisation. Unlike The States Of The USA & The Provinces Of Canada There Are No Standard Postal Abbreviations For British Counties, & Their Names Are Frequently Omitted From Addresses, A Practice That Is Accepted By The Post Office If A Post Code Is Included.

Cow Pie

Cow Pat

Summat You Don't Want To Put Your Foot In.

Crackers

Biscuits

In British Usage "Cracker" Can Refer To A Particular Type Of Biscuit Used With Cheese Or The Usage "Crackers" Can Imply That Somebody Is Mentally Deranged. BE Speakers Would Be Unaware Of Any Racially Offensive Connotations.

Crane Fly

Daddy-long-legs

Insect With Long Legs (Tipula Maxima). [My Dictionary Suggests That AE Uses Daddy-long-legs To Refer To Summat Called A Harvestman (Order Opilones) That Lives In Leaf Litter & Is A Sort Of Spider With Very Long Legs.]

Crawl Space

Under Floor Void

Crazy Bone *Obs

Funny Bone

Cream Of Wheat

Semolina

Creek

Stream, Brook

In British Usage A "Creek" Is A Small Inlet Of The Sea. I Am Told The American Word Can Also Be Spelt "Crick", Reflecting Common Pronunciation, Although This Would Be Considered Uneducated.

Crosswalk

Pedestrian Crossing

Specially Marked Part Of Roadway Used By Pedestrians Crossing The Road. The British Usage "Zebra Crossing" Is Obsolescent. Many Such Crossings Are Controlled By Traffic Lights, Some Are Still Uncontrolled But Indicated By Large Orange Globes On Striped Posts Known, After The Presiding Minister Who First Installed Them, As Belisha Beacons.

Cuffs

Turn-ups

At Bottom Of Trouser Legs. British Shirts (With Long Sleeves) Have Cuffs.

Cupcake

Fairy Cake

Small Individual Cake.

Custom Made

Bespoke, Made To Measure

This Refers To Clothing, Otherwise "Custom Made" Is Normal British Usage. BE Also Has "bespoke Software" (For Computers).

Davenport

Bed-settee

The AE Term Is Probably Proprietary. In BE A Davenport Is A Type Of Desk.

Daylight Saving(s) Time

(British) Summer Time

In AE "Summer Time" Refers To Any Period Of Time During The Summer.

Dead End

Cul-de-sac

BE Also Has "no Through Road", Meaning A Road That Just Stops. "cul-de-sac" Is Largely Confined To Suburban Roads & Usually Implies A Turning Circle At The End, Often With Houses Built Round It. People Live In Cul-de-sacs Not On Them. "no Outlet" Is Also Sometimes Seen In North America.

Deck

Pack

Of Playing Cards

Deck

No Equivalent

A Part Of A House Consisting Of Wooden Boards On The Outside Of The Building At Ground Or First Floor Level (Or Higher) Allowing People To Walk Around. British Houses Simply Do Not Have Such Things, The Nearest Equivalents Are "Patio" Meaning An Unroofed Area Adjacent To A Building Paved With Slabs, "Verandah" A Covered & Glassed Walkway Along The Side Of A Building & "Conservatory" A Room-like Extension Entirely Walled & Roofed In Glass. Wooden Decking For Use In Gardens Was Introduced To The British Market In 1998 & Is Being Heavily Promoted As "Decking".

Deductible

Excess

Of Insurance Payouts.

Deep Freeze

Freezer

Domestic Appliance For Storing Frozen Food.

Delivery Tanker

Tanker

A Vehicle That Transports & Delivers Liquids Such As Milk & Petroleum Products.

Delivery Truck

Van

Denatured Alcohol

Methylated Spirits, Meths

Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) That Has Been Made Unfit For Drinking By The Addition Of Methanol (CH₃OH), Pyridine & Purple Colouring. See Also "Rubbing Alcohol".

Desk Clerk

Receptionist

In Hotel. Both BE & AE Use "Receptionist" To Mean The Person In A Commercial Office Who Greets Visitors.

Dessert

Pudding

Course After Main Course Of A Meal Other Than Breakfast. "Pudding" Usually Implies That It Has Been Cooked, Otherwise "Dessert" Is Often Used. Calling The Course "Afters" Is Thought Rather Common By Most British People. It Is Also Sometimes Called A "Sweet" In BE. A Correspondent Has Suggested That AE Uses "Pudding" With The Same Meaning As The BE "Jelly", See Entry For "Jell-O". CE As BE.

Detour

Diversion

Diaper *

Nappy

Differ... Than

Differ... From

The American Usage "Different Than" Grates Terribly In British Ears, In BE It's "Different From" & "Differing From".

Dime

No Equivalent

10 Cent Coin. For Notes On British Money See The Entries For "Nickel" & "Loonie".

Diner

Café

Strictly There Is No British Equivalent Of The Traditional 12' Wide American Diner. In British Usage The Spelling "Caff" (And Pronunciation) Is Used To Indicate A Rather Lowly Establishment.

Dirt Road

Unpaved Road

BE Would More Usually Call This A "Track".

Discount

Concession

Reduced Admission Prices To Cinemas, Theatres Etc., For Students, Pensioners Etc. Advertisements Often Quote A Regular Admission Price & A Price For "Concessions". Other Uses Of "Discount" Are The Same In AE As BE.

District Attorney

Public Prosecutor

The "Procurator Fiscal" In Scotland. Many State Variations In The US.

Divided Highway

Dual Carriageway

Docent *

Curator, Guide

In A Museum, Historic House Or Art Gallery. A Correspondent Has Suggested That "Docent" Implies A Volunteer.

Doctor's Office

Surgery

Contrary To The Usage Actual Surgery Is Only Done By Surgeons In Hospitals. British Senior Surgical Staff Are Often Referred To As "Mr." Rather Than "Dr." No Matter How Highly Qualified. This Probably Dates Back To The Time When Doctors Were Qualified But Surgeons Were Little More Than Barbers Unworthy Of The Honorific Title. British Dentists & Veterinarians Never Use The Title "Dr.".

Double Whole Note

Breve

Music.

Downtown

Town Centre

The Word "Center" Is, Apparently, Common Usage In New England. Geographers Sometimes Refer To The Central Business District Or CBD, But This Isn't A General BE Usage.

(The) Draft

Conscription

Enforced Membership Of Military Forces. It Was Also Called "National Service" In The UK But Was Abolished In The 1950's.

Drapes *

Curtains

Dresser

Chest Of Drawers, Dressing Table

A Dressing Table Is Table, Usually With 2/3 Small Drawers & A Large Adjustable Mirror Used By Ladies For Doing Their Make-up.

Driver's License US, Driver's Permit Can

Driving Licence

Drug Store

Pharmacy, Chemists

Pharmacy Refers Specifically To A Place Where Medicines Can Be Obtained Both On & Off Prescription. A Chemist's Shop As Well As Incorporating A Pharmacy Will Also Sell A Variety Of Personal Products Such As Soap, Tooth Brushes, Toothpaste, Combs Etc.

Druggist Obs

Chemist, Pharmacist

The Word "Chemist" Is More Common In BE.

Dry Goods Store

Drapery, Haberdashery

A Shop Selling, Cloth, Thread & Related Items.

Dumpster *

Skip

Waste Storage & Transportation. AE Term Is Proprietary.

Duplex (House) *

Semi-detached House

A Pair Of Dwelling Houses Sharing A Common Wall. The Single-storied Version, Which Is Very Unusual, Is Called A "Semi-detached Bungalow" In BE. An Apartment With Two Floors Would Be Called A "Maisonette" In BE. CE As BE. According To A Correspondent CE Uses "Duplex" & "Triplex" To Mean A Building Containing Two Or Three Self-contained Flats. A Correspondent Has Also Mentioned "Shared-wall Dwelling" As AE Bureaucrat-speak.

Editorial

Leader

Article In Newspaper Or Magazine Expressing The Opinions Of The Editor. The American Usage Is Not Uncommon In BE.

Eggplant *

Aubergine

Eighth Note

Quaver

Music.

Electrician's Tape

Insulating Tape

Sometimes Called "Electrical Tape" Or Even "Sticky Tape".

Elevator

Lift

If It's For Goods Only BE Has The Word "Hoist". A "Grain Elevator" Is Called A "Silo" In BE.

Engineer

Engine Driver

Person Controlling A Locomotive. Otherwise BE Uses "Engineer" In The Same Way As AE.

England

The American Habit Of Saying "England" When The UK Is Meant Is Mildly Annoying To People Who Live In England & EXTREMELY Annoying To People Who Live In Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland. A Correspondent Has Suggested That This American Habit Is Becoming Less Common. See Notes On "Brit".

Entree

Main Course

In British Usage "Entree" Means First Course Sometimes Known As Starter Or"Hors D'oeuvre".

Eraser

Rubber

Used To Remove Marks Made By Pencils, British Pronunciation Is EraZer, American Is EraSer.

Excise Laws

Licensing Laws

Exit

Junction

Usually Numbered Location Where You Enter BE Or Leave A Limited Access Highway. In North America Exit Numbering Normally Reflects The Distance In Miles (US) Or Kilometres (Canada) From The Start Of The Highway Except On The East Coast. In The UK Junctions Are Numbered Successively With New Junctions Built Since The Road Was First Laid Out Having Numbers Such As 7a & 11b.

Expressway

Main Road

See Notes On "Interstate".

Exxon

Esso

Petrol Company. Now ExxonMobil.

Eyeglasses

Spectacles, Specs

Usually Just Plain "Glasses" In Both AE & BE. Now Where Did I Put Them ?

Fair

Show

There Is No Direct British Equivalent Of A State Or County Fair. The Nearest Are Agricultural Shows Held In Rural Districts. In BE A Fair Is A Travelling Collection Of Rides & Amusements That Is Set Up For A Few Days In A Convenient Location.

Fall

Autumn

Both Words Are Used In CE.

Fanny Pack

Bum Bag

Small Bag Worn Around The Waist & Resting On The Bottom. In BE "Bum" Is A Slightly Vulgar Word For "Bottom" & "Fanny" Is A Distinctly Vulgar Word For The Female Genitalia.

Faucet *

Tap

Strangely In AE Tap Water Comes Out Of The Faucet Unless You're In Pennsylvania Where, Apparently, Its The Register.

Fava Bean

Broad Bean

Vegetable (Vicia Faba).

Feminine Napkin

Sanitary Towel

The Word "Tampon" Has The Same Meaning In Both British & American Usage. "Maxi Pad" Is An American Proprietary Term.

Fender

Wing

Part Of Car.

Mudguard

Part Of Bicycle.

Field

Pitch

A Sports Ground.

Fire Hall Can

Fire Station

Firehouse

Fire Station

Fire Starter

Fire Lighter

Small Packet Of Readily Combustible Material.

Fire Truck *

Fire Engine

Professional Fire Fighters Deprecate The Usage "Fire Engine" & Refer To "Fire Appliances" BE Or "Fire Apparatus" AE. The Phrase "Fire Engine" Is Also Used In America.

First Floor

Ground Floor

In British Usage The Floors Of A Building Are Numbered Starting At Zero Rather Than One. So An American Reference To The "Second Floor" Would Correspond To A British Reference To The "First Floor".

First Nations *Can

Native Americans, Indians

The Native (Pre-Columbian) Population Of America.

Flagstaff Obs

Flag Pole

"Flagpole" As A Single Word Is Common American Usage.

Flashlight

Torch

With A Bulb & Batteries.

Flatware

Cutlery

Float Home Obs

House Boat

Float Plane Can

Sea Plane

An Aeroplane Adapted To Land On & Take Off From Water. The British Usage "Flying Boat" Is Obsolete. There Are Differences In Nomenclature Depending On Whether The Main Fuselage Is Intended To Touch The Water (A Flying Boat Or Sea Plane) Or Whether The Only Part Intended To Touch The Water Are Floats In More Or Less The Position Where A Normal Aircraft Would Have Wheels (A Float Plane).

Floor Lamp

Standard Lamp

Domestic Lighting Appliance Consisting Of A Tall Pole With A Lamp On Top.

Football

American Football

See "Soccer".

Four Way (Stop)

Cross Roads

A Place Where Two Roads Intersect. In America In The Absence Of Traffic Lights, Priority Is Given To Vehicles In Order Of Arrival & , If Two Arrive At Once, To The Vehicle On The Right. In The UK One Or Other Of The Roads Will Have Priority, Priority Is Indicated By Road Markings.

Freeway

Motorway

Limited Access High Speed Trunk Road. American Usages "Freeway", "Highway", "Beltway", "Causeway", "Express Way", "Parkway" All Have Similar Meanings That Are Not Differentiated In British Usage. "Freeway" Often Implies That It Isn't A Toll Road Or Turnpike. Apart From A Few Bridges, Toll Roads Are Currently Unknown In The UK, Although The Government Has Suggested That The Situation Might Change. See "Interstate" Entry For Details On British Road Numbering.

French Fries

Chips

The Variants "Home Fries", "Steak Fries" & "Shoestring Fries" Don't Map Into BE, They're Thick-cut Chips, Thin-cut Chips & Whatever You Get In MacDonald's.

Freshman

No Equivalent

In BE "Freshman" Or "Fresher" Is Sometimes Used To Refer To A First Year Undergraduate At A University. See Notes On "High School".

Funeral Director

Undertaker

Furnace *

Boiler

Domestic Use Only.

Galoshes

Wellington Boots, Wellies

Tall Rubberised Boots.

Garbage, Trash

Rubbish, Refuse

Garbage Can

Dustbin

Garbage Collector

Dustman

Garter Belt

Suspender

Used To Support Ladies' Stockings. In British Usage A "Garter" Is A Band, Usually Elastic, That Goes Around The Leg To Support A Sock Or Stocking. There Are No Gender Specific Connotations.

Gas

Petrol

Fuel For Motor Vehicles. British Usage Reserves "Gas" To Mean An Inflammable Gas Such As Methane Or Carbon Monoxide Piped To Domestic & Industrial Premises As A Fuel. The Word Gasoline Would Not Be Widely Understood In Britain. "Petroleum" Is Sometimes Seen In Legal & Official Notices. British Aeroplanes Are Fuelled With "Avgas" However, Unless They're Jets, Of Course.

Gear Shift, Gear Stick

Gear Lever

Part Of Car.

Generator

Dynamo

It Converts Mechanical Energy To Electrical Energy. The American Usage Would Be Familiar To British Ears. I Was Once Told That A Dynamo Only Generates DC Whereas The Machine That Generates AC Is Called An Alternator.

Girl Scouts US

Girl Guides

Goaltender

Goalkeeper

"Goalie" Is Common In Both AE & BE.

Goatsucker

Nightjar

Bird

Golden Raisin US

Sultana

A Dried Grape.

Goose Bumps

Goose Pimples

Goose Egg

Duck

Score Of Zero In A Game. The BE Usage Is Confined To Cricket.

Gooten

Got

"Gooten" Is Sometimes Used In BE To Suggest An American Rustic.

Grade

Gradient (Slope)

The American Usage Of The Word To Refer To A Stage In A Child's Progress Through School Is Unknown In The UK. AE Has "Sixth Grade" & "Sixth Graders" Whereas CE Has "Grade Six" & "Grade Sixes". See Entry For "High School".

Grade Crossing *

Level Crossing

Graham Crackers

Digestive Biscuits

Biscuits Made From Whole Wheat Flour. Also Available Part Coated With Chocolate Or As A Pair Sandwiching A Cream Filling.

Grease Pencil

Chinagraph Pencil

Ground

Earth

Electrical Wiring.

Ground

Minced

Meat, But Mincemeat Is Summat Completely Different Composed Mainly Of Fruit & Used For Making Delicious Small Pies At Christmas Time.

GST Can
Goods & Services Tax

VAT
Value Added Tax

A Tax Levied "At The Point Of Consumption". In The UK Shop Prices Are Almost Always Quoted Inclusive Of VAT (Currently 17.5%) So What You See Is What You Pay. In Canada Shop Prices Are Quoted Exclusive Of This Tax So You're In For A Surprise When You Get To Pay, You Can Always Blame "The Government". Canadian GST Is Currently 7% But The Provinces Levy Their Own Provincial Sales Tax (PST), Typically At About The Same Level As The Government Tax.

Gumboot *Obs

Wellington

Boot, Usually Rubber Or Rubberised, Reaching Well Up The Calf Worn In Agricultural Contexts.

Gurney *

No Equivalent

It's Not That Wheeled Stretchers Are Unknown In British Hospitals, It's Just That There Is No Common Name For Them.

Half Note

Minim

Music.

Hardware Store

Ironmonger

Hat Check Girl

Cloakroom Attendant

Headlamp

Headlight

Car.

Heavy Cream

Double Cream

Hex

Cast A Spell On

Hidabed, Hideaway

Bed-Settee

A Couch Or Sofa That Can Be Converted To A Bed. Hidabed Is Proprietary.

High School

Secondary School

The British System Of Education For Those Under 18 Is Quite Different From The US System. From 5 To 11 Children Attend A Primary School, Often Starting In A Class Called "Reception". From 11 To 16 They Will Attend A Secondary School, They May Transfer To Sixth Form Colleges Or Other Forms Of College At The Age Of 16. The Stages Are Referred To As Years Starting At 1 (At Age 5) Up To 6 In Primary School: Then From 1-5 In Secondary School- These Are Being Renamed 7-11 Now. After The 5th (11th) Year Children May Join The 6th Form College Until 18 Years Old Then Go To Work Or University. AE References To "Freshmen", "Sophomores", "K12" Etc., Would Not Be Understood In The UK. In Scotland "High School" Means Any Secondary School.

Highway

Main Road

In British Usage The Word "Highway" Is Confined To Formal & Legal Contexts. See Entry For "Interstate".

Hoagie *

Roll

There Is Really No Direct BE Equivalent. The Alternative AE Usage "Submarine" Or "Sub" Is Not Uncommon In British Usage. "Grinder", "Hero" & "Poor Booy" Are Apparently Regional US Variants.

Hobo *

Tramp

Some AE Speakers Use "Hobo" To Mean A Casual Or Itinerant Worker As Distinct From A "Bum" Or "Tramp" Who Lives By Begging & Handouts. There Is No Word In BE To Convey This Precise Distinction.

Hog

Pig

In British Usage A "Hog" Is A Person That Claims Exclusive Use Of Summat, I.e. Hogs It. Farmers Use "Hog" To Mean A Male Pig & "Sow" To Mean A Female Pig, The Use Of "Hog" To Mean A Pig Of Either Gender Is Probably Obsolescent.

Hood

Bonnet

Car

Horny

Randy

Slang. Eager To Engage In Sexual Congress. Americans Called Randolph Should Not Introduce Themselves In British Circles By Saying "Hi, I'm Randy", Unless, Of Course, ......

(House Numbering)

British Houses Are Usually Numbered Serially Starting From One End Of A Road Or Street With Even Numbers On One Side & Odd Numbers On The Other Side, However It Is Not Uncommon To Find Them Numbered Sequentially Up One Side Of The Road & Down The Other. Subsequent Subdivision Of Plots Results In Houses With Numbers Such As 60A, 60B, 60C Etc., Fractional House Numbers Are More Or Less Unknown In British Usage. North American Numbering Seems To Be A Sort Of Co-ordinate System Related, Probably, To Land Subdivisions Giving Rise To Frequent Gaps. Driving Along A Country Road & Passing House Number 82357, Half A Mile Of Open Countryside & Then House Number 85163 Is Very Puzzling To The British Visitor Who Will Wonder Where 82359, 82361, 82363 Etc., Are. According To A Correspondent The Post Office Or Local Government Allocates Such Numbers On A Basis Of One Number For Every 25 Feet Of Frontage. There Are, As In Many Things American, Regional Variations.

House-trailer *

Caravan

See Entry For "Trailer".

Hutch

Chest, Welsh Dresser

A Piece Of Furniture With Open Shelves, A Flat Surface & A Single Row Of Drawers, Usually Used For Storage & Display Of Plates Etc. In BE A "Hutch" Is A Small, Usually Outdoor, Structure Where Rabbits, Ferrets Or Similar Animals Live.

Icebox Obs

Refrigerator

In BE "Icebox" Refers To The Part Of The Refrigerator Kept Below Freezing Point & A "Cool Box" Is A Well Insulated Box For Carrying Food & Drink. The American Practice Of Garages & Supermarkets Selling Ice To Replenish A Cool Box Is Unknown In Britain.

Ice Chest Obs

Cool Box

Incorporated

Limited

British Firms Often Have Titles Ending In "Ltd" Meaning Limited Liability Or "Plc" Meaning Public Limited Company. "Public" Implies That The Company's Shares Are Publicly Traded. There Are Also Private Companies.

Industrial Park

Industrial Estate

An Unlovely Area Of Factories & Other Commercial Premises. BE Also Has "Trading Estate".

Installment Plan

Hire Purchase

A Scheme For Paying For Summat By A Series Of Payments After You've Obtained The Item.

Instant Replay

Action Replay

Use Of Video Recordings To Replay Highlights Immediately After The Event Particularly During TV Coverage Of Sporting Events.

Intersection

Cross Roads

A Place Where Four Roads Meet Or Two Roads Cross Depending On Your Point Of View. See Also Notes On "Four-way".

Intermission

Interval

Break In Performance In Theatre, Cinema Or On TV. "Intermission" Sounds Rather Old-fashioned To British Ears.

Interstate *US

Main Road, Major Road, Trunk Road

A Major Highway Joining Different Parts Of The Country.

The Usage "Trunk Road" Is Largely Confined To Road Planners & Road System Administrators But Most Closely Captures The Meaning Of "Interstate". The Specific Usage Of "Interstate" To Mean Roads Funded Under A Particular Legislative Act Would Be Unknown To BE Speakers. Interstate Highways Are Arranged In A More Or Less Regular Geographic Fashion With Even Numbers For Those Running East-West & Odd Numbers For Those Running North-South.

Roads In Great Britain Have Numbers Whose Initial Digits Are Based On A Radial Zone System Based On London & Edinburgh

A1 - London To Edinburgh
A2 - London To Dover
A3 - London To Portsmouth
A4 - London To Bristol
A5 - London To Holyhead
A6 - London To Carlisle
A7 - Edinburgh To Carlisle
A8 - Edinburgh To Greenock
A9 - Edinburgh To John O'Groats

Roads, For Example, Between The A1 & A2 All Have Numbers Starting With 1. An Initial A Means A Major Road, An Initial M Means A Motorway, An Initial B A Minor Road. A T After The Number Means A Trunk Road. An A Road Number Will Sometimes Have The Suffix M, Indicating That It Has Been Built To Motorway Standards. [E.g. A40(T), A1(M)] There Is Also An Extensive Network Of Unclassified Roads Sometimes Called Class C Roads. Road Numbering Is Unique, The More The Digits, The Less Important The Road.

Broadly Speaking An "A" Road (Not Trunk) Is Equivalent To A "Federal" Road, A "B" Road To A State Road & The Others Are Equivalent To "County" Roads.

See Also Entry For "Freeway". E Numbers Are European Designations, Although Many Of These Have Been Designated For The UK, They Are More Or Less Unknown In The UK.

Intimate Apparel

Underwear

Inuit

Eskimo

Most British People Are Unaware Of The Preferred Usage & Are Equally Unaware Of Any Negative Connotations Associated With The Word "Eskimo". There Are Very Few Inuit In The British Isles. A Slovak Colleague Of Mine Told Me That In A Recent Census In The Czech Republic Over 10,000 People Described Themselves As Inuit So Forcing The Government To Make Special Provisions. CE Prefers "Inuit".

Janitor *

Caretaker

BE Has No Distinction Between A "Live-in" Caretaker & One Who Comes In On A Daily Basis.

Jack

Socket

Connector For Telephone. In BE "Jack Plugs" & "Jack Sockets" Are Particular Types Of Multi-pole Electrical Connectors. See Entry For "Outlet".

Jelly

Jam

Spread For Toast Or Bread Not Incorporating Preserved Fruit Only Fruit Juice. See Discussion Under "Preserves".

Jelly Roll

Swiss Roll

A Sort Of Cake Made By Spreading Jam On A Square Cake Base & Then Rolling It Up Into A Cylinder.

Jell-O

Jelly

A Wobbly Edible Gelatine Based Substance Often Flavoured With Fruit & Used As A Dessert. In British Usage It Is Often Served With Ice Cream & Is A Children's Favourite.

John

Toilet

See Discussion Under "Washroom".

Jump Rope US

Skipping Rope

Jumper

Short Dress

In British Usage "Jumper" Means A Sweater.

Kerb Side

Near Side, Passenger Side

Side Of A Vehicle Nearest The Kerb. In The UK This Would Be The Left Hand (Port) Side. It Would Still Be Called The Near Side If You Were Standing In The Middle Of The Road When You Would Be Nearest The Off Side Of The Vehicle. Sometimes Written "Nearside" & "Offside".

Kerosene

Paraffin

A Flammable Liquid. "Paraffin" In AE Refers To A Solid Waxy Substance Known As "Paraffin Wax" Or Just Plain "Wax" In BE & Used For Making Candles Etc.

Kindergarten

Nursery

See Discussion Under "High School".

Kleenex

Tissues

American Term Is Proprietary.

Knickers, Knickerbockers

Plus Fours

Rather Old-Fashioned Loose Fitting Trousers Especially Worn By Golfers. In BE "Knickers" Refers To An Undergarment Covering The Body From The Waist To The Top Of The Thighs, It Can Also Be Used As A Slang Word Implying Contempt Or Annoyance. In BE A "Knickerbocker Glory" Is A Rather Splendid Ice Cream, Fruit & Cream Dessert Served In A Tall Glass.

Last Name

Surname

Lawyer, Advocate, Attorney

Lawyer, Solicitor, Barrister

In BE "Lawyer" Is A General Purpose Term, Broadly Synonymous With "Solicitor" For A Legal Practitioner. A "Barrister" Is A More Highly Qualified (And Paid!) Practitioner Who Specialises In Pleading (Advocacy) In Higher Courts. Until Very Recently Only Barristers Were Allowed To Practice In Higher Courts But This Is Slowly Changing. In England & Wales, Justice Is Administered Via A Hierarchy Of Magistrates' Courts, County Courts, Crown Courts & High Courts With An Ultimate Appeal To The House Of Lords. In Criminal Cases Proceedings Are Initiated & Led By The Public Or Crown Prosecutor (Known As The Procurator Fiscal In Scotland). The Legal System In Scotland Is Different From That In The Rest Of The UK. CE As BE.

Lead

Cable

Permanent Electrical Wiring. See Entry For "Cord". "Cable" Meaning TV Distributed By Cable Is Common To Both AE & BE.

Legal Holiday

Bank Holiday

Current Bank Holidays In England Are (For 2002) Jan 1st (New Year's Day), March 29th (Good Friday), April 1st (Easter Monday), May 6th (May Day), Jun 3rd Spring Bank Holiday, Don't Confuse With Whitsun Which Is A Religious Festival), Aug 26th (Summer Bank Holiday), Dec 25th (Christmas) & Dec 26th (Boxing Day). [In 2002 June 4th Is Also A Bank Holiday To Celebrate The 50th Anniversary Of The Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth 2nd.] The May Day Holiday Is Always The First Monday In May, Not 1st May

Lemonade

Real Lemonade, Squash, Cordial

In British Usage "Lemonade" Often Refers To A Sort Of Carbonated Sugar Water.

License Plate Or License Tag

Number Plate

It Indicates The Identity Of A Vehicle. British Number Plates Are Permanent For The Life Of The Vehicle. There Is A Single Nationwide System Of Numbering. The Payment Of Annual Road Tax Is Indicated By A Small Paper Disc Fixed To The Windscreen.

Lifesavers *

Polo

Both Terms Are Proprietary & Refer To A Hard Round White Mint, Sometimes Fruit Flavoured, With A Hole In The Middle.

Lima Bean

Butter Bean

Line *

Queue

Group Of People Waiting In An Orderly Fashion. AE "Waiting In Line" Is Equivalent To BE "Queueing".

Line Cord *

Mains Lead

Flexible Cable Joining Electrical Appliance To Supply.

Liquor

Spirits

Alcoholic Drink Whose Preparation Involves Distillation. Includes Whisky, Brandy, Gin, Vodka.

Liquor Store

Off Licence

A Shop Selling Alcoholic Drinks For Consumption Off The Premises. There Are Regional Variations In Both AE & CE. Many British Supermarkets & Grocery Shops Also Sell Alcoholic Beverages. In Some North American Regions (E.g. British Columbia) The Sale Of Alcohol In This Fashion Is A Monopoly. See Notes On "Bar".

Lobby

Foyer

First Main Room You Encounter On Entering A Hotel, Theatre Or Cinema. Both Terms May Be Encountered In All Versions Of English. In BE A "Lobby" Is A Group Of People Attempting To Influence An Organisation Or Decision Making Process, Especially Parliament.

Locker Room

Changing Room

Long Distance

Trunk Call Obs

Telephone. There Is No General Word For This In BE.

Longshoreman

Docker

Loon

Great Northern Diver

Bird Pictured On Canadian One Dollar Coin.

Loonie Can

No Equivalent

This Refers To A One Dollar Coin. In BE & AE "Loony" Is A Colloquialism For Lunatic.

Fortunately I'd Read The Air Canada In-flight Magazine When The Airport Bus Driver Asked Me "Have You Got A Looney ?"

The British Pound Coin Is Simply Called A "Pound Coin". Pound Notes Were Last Issued In England In About 1985. Scottish Banks Issue Their Own Notes Which Are Different From Those Issued By The Bank Of England & Their One Pound Notes May Sometimes Be Encountered. They Are Generally Accepted In England.

Referring To A Pound As A "Quid" Or "Bob" Is Becoming Uncommon In BE. The Plural Of "Quid" Is "Quid". See Entry For "Bill" For Details On British Paper Currency.

Lorry

Hand Cart, Dolly

Lost & Found

Lost Property

Lot

Plot

Parcel Of Land That Can Be Bought & Sold & Is, Usually, Partly Occupied By A Building.

Love Seat

Settee

See Entry For "Couch".

Low Fat Milk

Semi Skimmed Milk

In The UK There Is No Defined Meaning For Phrases Such As "Fat Free" & "Low Fat" Although Consumer Groups Are Campaigning For Such Standards.

Luggage Rack

Roof Rack

On The Roof Of A Car. In BE Luggage Racks Are Found In Trains & Aeroplanes But Not Cars.

Lumber

Timber

AE Distinguishes Standing Timber (I.e. Trees That Haven't Been Chopped Down) From Lumber (Which Is What They Become After They've Been Chopped Down & The Logs Cut To Shape & Size). BE Uses "Timber" In Both Contexts.

In BE "Lumber" Refers To Unwanted Items Hence "Lumber Room" & "To Lumber Somebody" I.e. Give Them An Unwanted Task & Also Means To Proceed Slowly & Clumsily.

Lunch Pail

Lunch Box

M & M

Smarties

Both Terms Are Proprietary & Refer To Small Sweets With Hard Coloured Sugary Coatings. Both Words Are Also Sometimes Used To Mean Any Small Item. Smarties Have Hard Chocolate Centres Are Shaped Vaguely Like Flying Saucers. A Correspondent Tells Me There Is A US Sweet Called Smarties That Do Not Have Chocolate Centres.

Mail

Post

What You Do To A Letter Or Parcel To Send It On Its Way. Whilst On Its Way Its "In The Mail" AE Or "In The Post" BE.

Mail Man

Postman

"Mail Lady" Sounds Improbable To British Ears. In Britain She's Called A Post Woman. "Mail Carrier" Is An Alternative American Usage & Has The Official Approval Of The US Postal Service.

Mail Slot

Letter Box

Aperture For Delivery Of Postal Items To Premises. Note That In BE, "Letter Box" Also Refers To A Box In Public Place Where Letters Etc., Are Deposited For Onwards Transmission By The Postal Service, Also Known As A Pillar Or Post Box.

Main Street

High Street

A Common Name For The Most Important Road In A Town Or City. Often Used To Refer Generally To The Shops & Retail Outlets Of A Town Or City.

Maize

Sweet Corn

"Maize" Is Apparently Uncommon In AE. Also Known As "Corn On The Cob". The Use Of "Maize" To Mean A Shade Of Yellow Is Not Known In BE.

Mall

Shopping Centre

The Older British Usage "Shopping Arcade" Means A Group Of Shops Fronting On To A Covered Pedestrian Way. "Shopping Centre" Usually Implies Covered Access In British Usage Whereas American Usage Uses "Mall" To Imply Covered Access & "Center" To Imply Non-Covered Access. A "Parade Of Shops" In British Usage Refers To A Row Of Shops Fronting On To A Road, This Usage Is Usually Confined To Southern England. "Mall" Can Also Mean A Large Public Park Like Area Such As Independence Mall In Philadelphia.

Mason Jar

Kilner Jar

Both Terms Are Proprietary.

Mass Transit

Public Transport

Master Card

Access

Credit Card Company. The British Arm Has Been Called "Master Card" Since 1998 But Many British People Still Refer To "Access".

Master Of Ceremonies

Compere

The Person Who Introduces The Performers In A TV Or Stage Variety Show. However BE Uses "Master Of Ceremonies" For The Person "Orchestrating" A Wedding Reception Or Similar Social Occasion.

Mean

Bad Tempered

In BE "Mean" Means Stingy, Unwilling To Spend Money, Miserly. In AE "Mean" Can Also Mean "Good"

Meat Grinder

Mincer

Median (Strip)

Central Reservation

Dividing Strip Down The Middle Of A Dual Carriageway. Also Called "Median Strip" In AE.

Military Time

24 Hour Clock

Times Expressed Using Numbers In The Range 0-23 For The Hours.

Mimosa *

Buck's Fizz

A Drink Made By Mixing Champagne & Orange Juice.

Mobile Home

Caravan

See Notes On "Trailer".

Mortician *

Undertaker

There Are Regional Variations In American Usage. A Correspondent Tells Me That "Mortician" Is Still Used For A Hospital Employee Working In The Morgue.

Movies

Films

The Productions Themselves. In BE You Go To The Cinema.

Movie Theater

Cinema

"Cinema" Is Also Used In Both BE & AE To Refer To The Art & Culture Of Films.

Moving Company

Removal Company

A Company That Will Move Your Personal Effects Etc.

Moving Van

Pantechnicon, Removal Van

Lorry Adapted For Moving Personal Effects When Moving House. Sometimes Called A "Panel Truck" In AE.

Muffler

Silencer

Part Of Vehicle Exhaust System. In British Usage A Muffler Is A Sort Of Scarf. In AE A Silencer Is Summat You Put On A Gun.

Mutual Fund

Unit Trust

A Scheme Whereby The Investor Buys Shares Or Units In A Fund Which, In Turns, Buys Shares In Many Companies Thereby Spreading Risk. Dividends Received By The Fund Are Aggregated & Paid To The Fund's Investors In Proportion To The Number Of Units They Have Purchased.

Napkin

Serviette

Nickel

No Equivalent

5 Cent Coin.

The Traditional Names For British Coins Such As Tanner (6d), Bob (1s), Florin (2s) & Half-A-Crown (2s/6d) All Disappeared When £sd Was Scrapped In 1972. Surprisingly New Names For The New Coins Have Not Emerged Apart From The 1p Coin Being Called A "Penny". The Habit Of Referring To 5p As "Five Pee" That Was Common Immediately After Decimalisation Is Now Dying Out & Most People Would Simply Say "Five Pence".

The Current Coin Set Is 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 & £2. The 1p & 2p Are Copper Plated Steel, Sometimes Called "Coppers", The 5p & 10p Are "Silvery", The 10p Being Bigger Than The 5p (Unlike The Nickel & Dime). The 20p & 50p Are Curious Seven-sided "Silvery" Affairs With Curved Edges, These Having The Interesting Geometrical Property Of Constant width (Similar To The Eleven-sided Loonie). The £1 Coin Is Small Thick & Rather Yellowy, Nobody Calls It A Sovereign. The Recently Introduced (1999) £2 Coin Is Similar To The Canadian $2 Coin Having A Silver Bit & A Golden Bit.

I Was At A Meeting At The European Commission Recently & We Were All Comparing Our Shiny New Small Change ('Euro' Coins Have National Symbols On The Reverse) & Commenting That I'd Got A Luxembourg 'Euro' When A German Colleague Asked If I Had Any British Euros.

Nightstick

Truncheon

Blunt Cosh-Like Weapon Carried By Policemen.

Normalcy

Normality

Notions

Haberdashery

Accessories Such As Buttons & Zips Used In The Manufacture Of Garments. In BE "Haberdashery" Also Refers To A Shop Selling Such Things.

Number Sign

Hash Mark

See Notes On "Pound Sign".

Oatmeal

Porridge

Offense Players

Forwards

Players Who Lead Attack In Certain Team Sports Such As Football. Spelt Offence In BE & Can.

Nil

Used In Reporting The Scores Of Sports Fixtures. Where AE Would Say "Two-oh" Or "Two To Nothing", BE Would Say "Two-nil" For A Score Of 2-0.

Oil Pan

(Oil) Sump

Part Of Engine Of Motor Vehicle.

On-ramp, Off-ramp

Sliproad

How You Join Or Leave A Limited Access Highway. Sometimes Called "Exit Ramp" In AE.

Operating Room

Operating Theatre

Orchestra Seat

Stalls

Seat In A Theatre On The Same Level As The Stage & Orchestra

Outhouse

Privy

In British Usage An Outhouse Is Just That. A Small, Usually Brick, Building Used For Storage Or Similar Purposes With No Through Access From The Main Building.

Overalls

Dungarees

In British Usage An "Overall" Is A One-piece Sleeved Garment Used To Cover One's Normal Clothes When Working In A Dirty Place Or Job. In British Usage "Dungarees" Often Refer To Such A Garment Worn By Children Or Women, Especially When Pregnant, It Consists Of Trousers Integral With A Bib-like Top.

Outlet

Socket

Connector For Telephone Or Electrical Power.

British Telephone Sockets Are Similar To American Ones Except That The Little Latching Thingy Is On The Side Rather Than The Top. Technically The American Connector Is An RJ11, The British Plug Is A BT/431A Or A BT/631A Depending On Whether There Are 4 Or 6 Wires, The Socket Is A BT/601A Although There Are Variants. RJ45's Are Used In Both The UK & North America For Data Connections.

British Power Sockets Have Three Thick Flat Pins In A Sort Of T-Shaped Arrangement, Plugs Are Large Their Only Saving Grace Is A Fuse, The User Has To Find A Screwdriver To Connect A Plug To A Cable. American Power Sockets Use Thin Flat Blades, Sometimes With A Round Earth Pin, Plugs Are Almost Always Moulded On To The Cable. In Very Old British Buildings An Extraordinary Variety Of Round Pin Sockets May Sometimes Be Encountered. British Domestic Electric Power Is Nominally 230V At 50Hz, Whereas American Is Nominally 117V At 60Hz

British Light Bulbs Use A Two Pin Bayonet Fitting Of Similar Size To The Large Screw Fitting Used On American Light Bulbs. Light Fittings Have Two Spring Loaded Pins That Hold The Bulb In Place. Less Likely To Come Undone Than A Screw Fitting. Screw Fitting Light Bulbs Are Quite Widely Obtainable For Use In Imported Fittings.

Overpass

Flyover

Elevated Road System.

Pacifier

Dummy

Artificial Nipple Used To Stop Small Children Crying.

Paddle

Bat

For "Ping-pong" & Similar Games.

Panhandler *

Beggar

Pantihose Or Pantyhose

Tights

An American Correspondent Tells Me That "Pantihose" Are Translucent Whereas "Tights" Are Opaque. This Distinction Is Not Known In BE.

Pants

Trousers

The Word "Pants" Refers To An Undergarment In BE.

Paraffin

Wax

See Entry For "Kerosene".

Parka

Anorak

In British Usage The Word "Anorak" Is Also Used Pejoratively To Refer To Somebody With A Seemingly Obsessive Hobby Interest In Summat Mechanical Or Boring.

Parkade Can

Multi-storey Car Park

Parking Garage/ramp

Multi-storey Car Park

Parking Lot

Car Park

Parking Stall

Parking Bay

Pass

Overtake

When A Faster Vehicle Passes A Slower One Travelling In The Same Direction, Especially When The Manouevre Involves Crossing Into A Lane Normally Used By Vehicles Travelling In The Other Direction.

Pastor

Minister, Vicar, Rector

There Are Subtle Differences But You Have To Understand The Ancient & Complex Administrative Hierarchy Of The Church Of England To Understand Them. There Are Also Curates, Rural Deans (Even In Urban Areas), Archdeacons, Wardens, Vergers, Readers & Sextons.

Paved Shoulder

Hard Shoulder

At Side Of Road. See Entry For "Pull Out".

Pavement

Paved Area

Many British People Think, Incorrectly, That The American Usage "Pavement" Refers To The Surface Of A Road. In Fact, It Refers To Any Area That Is Paved & Sealed Against Water By Asphalt Or Concrete. Such Areas Can Be For Foot Traffic As Well As Vehicular Traffic.

Penitentiary

Prison

"Prison" Is Also Common American Usage Except In The Proper Names Of Such Institutions Where "Penitentiary" Or "Correctional Institute" Is Used.

Penny

Cent

Referring To A 1 Cent Coin As A "Penny" Confuses British Visitors.

Period

Full Stop

Punctuation At End Of Sentence, Otherwise Its Just A Dot Or Decimal Point.

Personalty

Personal Property

Presumably By Analogy With "Realty".

Petroleum

Crude Oil

As It Comes Out Of The Ground. See Entry For "Gasoline".

Phonograph Obs

Record Player, Gramophone

"Gramophone" Is Distinctly Archaic. Of Course Gramophone Records (AKA"Vinyl") Are Themselves Pretty Much Obsolete Now, Although Keen Audio Types May Still Have A "Turntable" To Play Them On.

Pitcher

Jug

Nowt To Do With Baseball(!).

Plastic Wrap

Clingfilm

Thin Transparent Film Used For Wrapping Food. "Saran Wrap" Is A US Proprietary Term.

Pocketbook Obs

Wallet, Purse

The AE Word "Pocketbook" Is Reported As Being Synonymous With "Handbag"

Polliwog * Obs

Tadpole

Baby Frog.

Pool

Snooker

Really Very Different Games, The Only Similarities Are The Use Of Long Narrow Wooden Cues To Push Balls Around On A Cloth Covered Table Usually In A Smoky Club.

Popsicle

Lollipop

Frozen Confectionary Made Of Ice Cream Or Fruit Juice. The British Version Usually Has A Spatula Like Wooden Stick Printed With Execrable Jokes. The Old Fashioned Version Consisting Of Flavoured Crystallised Sugar May Also Be Encountered. "Popsicle" Is Proprietary.

Pork Rinds

Pork Scratchings

Postal Code Can

Post Code

See Entry For "Zip Code".

Postal Outlet Can

Sub Post Office

A Shop That Includes A Counter Providing Postal Services As Well As Its Normal Trade (It May Be A Pharmacy, A Grocery Or, Especially In Rural Areas, A General Store). Post Offices (Sometimes Called General Post Offices Or Crown Offices) Are Owned By The Post Office (Or Post Office Counters Ltd.,) & Handle Only Postal Services, Although They're Increasingly Branching Into The Sale Of Stationery, Greetings Cards Etc.

Potato Chips

Crisps

See Also Entry For "French Fries".

Pot Holders

Oven Gloves

Padded Mittens For Holding Hot Dishes. Oven Mitts In CE.

Pound Sign, Number Sign

Hash Sign

This Refers To The Symbol #. To British People A Pound Sign Is, Of Course, The Currency Symbol £. Confusion Is heightened By The Fact That The # Symbol Appears In The Same Place On American Keyboards As The £ Symbol On British Keyboards (Above The 3). You're Probably Wondering Where The # Symbol Appears On British Keyboards, That's Another Story.

Powdered Sugar US

Icing Sugar

Pre-natal

Ante-Natal

For Mothers To Be.

Preserves

Jam, Marmalade

Fruit, Usually Chopped In, Mixed With Sugar & Boiled Then Cooled & Bottled. Used As A Spread On Toast, Bread Etc, & As A Cake Filling. In AE It Is Suggested That "Jam" Implies Pulped Fruit Whereas "Preserves" Implies Recognisable Chunks Of Fruit, In BE Both Would Be Called "Jam". In BE "Preserves" Refers To Fruit Preserved Whole, Usually In A Sugar Solution Or Syrup, Without Being First Chopped Up. "Marmalade" Is The Same Thing Made Using Citrus Fruits Such As Oranges & Is Widely Used On Toast At Breakfast.

Pressure

Pressurise

To Try & Force Somebody To Do Summat.

Private School

Public School

You Have To Pay To Go There. In BE "Private School" Means Pretty Much The Same Thing As "Public School".

Proctor

Invigilator

College Or University Official Charged With Supervising The Conduct Of An Examination.

Professor

Lecturer

Teacher In University Or College. In BE The Title "Professor" Is Awarded To Lecturers Who Have A Particularly Distinguished Record In Administration Or Research (Usually The Administration Of Research).

Prong

Business Part Of Electrical Connector, Especially The Large Flat Blades On North American Mains Connectors.

Public School

State School

You Don't Have To Pay To Go There. The Local Authorities, Pay.Ultimately You Pay Via Taxes.

Pullout, Pulloff

Lay By

Place Where You Can Park Temporarily At The Side Of A Road. This Is Not To Be Confused With The "Shoulder" Or "Hard Shoulder" That Runs Continuously At The Side Of Major Roads & Motorways.

Pump

Court Shoe

A Low-Cut Slip-On Woman's Shoe. In British Usage "Pump" Is A Regional Name For What Is Now Called A "Trainer" Or "Running Shoe". In Scotland "Pump", Means To Pass Wind.

Purse

Handbag

In BE A Purse Is Used By Women To Carry Currency Notes, Credit Cards Etc., Whereas A Handbag Is Used By Women To Carry A Vast Assortment Of Oddments Including Their Purses.

Quarter

No Equivalent

25c Coin.

Quarter Note

Crotchet

Music.

Quonset Hut *

Nissen Hut

Building Shaped As A Half-cylinder With Walls & Roof Formed From Corrugated Iron.

Radio

Wireless

"Radio" Is Now Normal In BE, "Wireless" Sounds Pleasantly Archaic Except When Applied To Non-Wired Local Area Networks.

Radio Shack

Tandy

The Same Catalogue Of Electronic Goods. Tandy Has Recently Been Taken Over & The Name Is Likely To Disappear From British High Streets.

Railroad

Railway

Rain Check

No Equivalent

There Is No BE Equivalent Of The "Strict" Meaning Of A Ticket For Re-Admission At A Later Date Or A Chit Issued By A Shop To Entitle You To Purchase A Reduced Price Item That Is Temporarily Out Of Stock.

Rappel

Abseil

Realtor *

Estate Agent

"Realtor" Implies Membership Of A Professional Body, The National Association Of Realtors Or Its Local Branches

Realty *

Estate Agency

Recess

Break

Gap In Proceedings, Usually For Refreshment When BE Might Specifically Refer To A "Lunch Break" Or A "Dinner Break", However British Courts Recess Or Adjourn.

Reforestation

Reafforestation

Rent

Hire

Of Cars.

Restroom

Toilet

See Discussion Under "Washroom".

Résumé

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Document Prepared To Impress Prospective Employers. "Curriculum Vitae" Is Sometimes Used By American Academics. In British Usage A Résumé Is Used To Mean A Summary Or Summing Up In Any Context.

Retirement Fund

Superannuation

Certain Type Of Contributory Pension Scheme, Usually Involving Regular Deductions From A Monthly Salary.

American Revolutionary War

American War Of Independence

Spot Of Unpleasantness In The Late 18th Century.

Roast

Joint

Meat. In American Usage "Joint" Refers To A Preparation Incorporating Illegal Drugs (Or "Certain Substances" As The British Police Call Them), This & Other Usages Of "Joint" Are Not Uncommon In BE.

Robe

Dressing Gown

See "Bath Robe". The Use Of The Word "Robe" For A Particularly Rich & Special Garment Is Common To British & American English.

Roll

Tube

Cardboard Cylinder, Especially For Certain Sweets.

Rooming House

Lodging House

Also "Roomer" & "Lodger".

Rotary

Roundabout

Road System. Also Known As A "Traffic Circle" In AE. "Rotary" Is, Apparently, Common Usage In Parts Of New England But Unknown In Other Parts Of North America. Sometimes Called A "Traffic Island" In BE. In The UK You'll Also Find Mini-roundabouts Which Are White Painted Humps At Road Junctions, Car Drivers Treat Them As Roundabouts But Drivers Of Large & Awkward Vehicles Can Drive Straight Over Them With Due Caution. Near Swindon There Is A Wonderful Road System Called The "Magic Roundabout" Which Consists Of A Large Roundabout With Small Satellite Roundabouts Where Each Side Road Joins It.

In Some Parts Of The UK There Is A Modern Practice Of Placing Large & Bizarre Items Of Scuplture In The Centre Of Roundabouts.

Round Trip US

Return

Ticket To Get You There & Back.

Row House *

Terrace House

See Entry For "Townhouse".

Rubber Boots

Wellingtons

"Welly/Wellies" Are Common Informal BE. Very Long Boots Reaching Above The Knee & Worn By Fishermen/anglers Are Called "Waders" In Both British & American Usage.

Rubbers Obs

Condoms

Contraceptives. "Rubbers" Is Colloquial/archaic. "Durex" Is A BE Brand Name. "Rubbers" Is, Apparently, Used For Rubber Boots In New England.

Rubbing Alcohol *

Surgical Spirit

Used For Sterilizing.

Rude Goldberg

Heath Robinson

Early 20th Century Humourists & Cartoonists Specialising In Drawings Of Implausible & Eccentric Machines Tied Together With String & Sticky Tape.

Run

Ladder

Defect In Ladies' Tights (Pantihose) Or Stockings.

Run For Office

Stand For Election

Runners Can

Trainers

Running Shoes

Trainers

There Are Interesting Regional Variations In Both British & American Usage. "Pumps", "Plimsolls" & "Daps" Are All British Regional Variations. American Regional Variations Include "Sneakers" (New England & Mid-Atlantic States) & "Tennis Shoes".

Rutabaga *

Swede

Sack Lunch

Packed Lunch

Sales Clerk

Shop Assistant

Sales Tax

VAT

See Entry For "GST".

Sand Box *

Sand Pit

Where Children Play. In BE A "Sand Pit" Is Also A Place Where Sand Is Extracted For Commercial & Industrial Use, Children Don't Play In Such Sand Pits.

Sanitary Napkin

Sanitary Towel

"Tampons" Are The Same In British & American Usage. Pantyshield May Be A Proprietary AE Term.

Saran Wrap Can

Clingfilm

The CE Term Is Proprietary.

Savings & Loan Trust

Building Society

Organisation Originally Devoted To Making Loans To Help Members Purchase Their Own Homes. Until Fairly Recently British Building Societies Were Owned By Their Members, I.e. Were "Mutual", Many Have Now Converted To Banks & Are Owned By Their Shareholders. In The Process Of Conversion Substantial Numbers Of Shares Were Issued Free To Members Who Then Sold Them. The Resulting Money Is Called A "Windfall" In The British Press & Has Also Resulted In The Appearance Of "Carpetbaggers" Who Join A Still Unconverted Society In Anticipation Of Easy Profits. Technically Building Societies That Have Converted To Banks Are No Longer Building Societies But This Subtlety Would Probably Be Lost On Most British People.

Sawbuck *

Sawhorse

The Usage Of "Sawbuck" For A $10 Bill Has No British Equivalent. "Workhorse" & "Trestle" Have Very Similar Meanings.

Scale

Weighbridge

Facility For Weighing Commercial Vehicles.

Scallion

Spring Onion

Schedule

Timetable

In BE "Schedule" Is Used To Refer To Forward Planning Of, Usually Personal, Activities With A Very Similar Meaning To The Word "Plan".

Scheme

Plot

Both Terms Have Overtones Of Deviousness. "Scheme" Lacks Such Overtones In BE.

Scotch Tape

Sellotape

Both Terms Are Proprietary. "Sticky Tape" Is Also Sometimes Used. This Refers To Thin Transparent Tape Used For Parcels, Mending Torn Paper & Fixing Notices In Such A Way That The Paint Comes Off The Wall.

Seaboard

Coastline

Second Floor

First Floor

In British Buildings The Ground Floor Is, Effectively, Floor Zero.

Sedan

Saloon

Type Of Car.

Seeing Eye Dog *US

Guide Dog

An Animal Specially Trained To Help Blind People. CE Is As BE. AE Term Is Proprietary.

Semi-trailer *

Articulated Lorry

Server

Waiter Or Waitress

The Word "Server" Has Overtones Of Gender Non-specific Political Correctness.

Senior

Pensioner

"Senior Citizen" Is Common In Both AE & BE.

Shade

Blind

Specifically "Shade" In American Usage Refers To A Continuous Piece Of Fabric That Can Be Rolled Or Unrolled, Known As A "Roller Blind" In British Usage. The Arrangement Of Adjustable Horizontal Slats Is Known As A "Venetian Blind" In British Usage.

Sherbet

Sorbet

Water Ice Made From Fruit Juice Etc. In British Usage "Sherbet" Is A Fruit-flavoured Effervescent Powder, Often Eaten With Liquorice By Children.

Shoestring Obs

Bootlace, Shoelace +

Used For Tying Up Shoes & Boots. Both BE & AE Have "Doing Summat On A Shoestring" To Mean With The Least Expenditure Of Resources.

Shrimp

Prawn

In British Restaurants "Shrimps" Are Larger (& More Expensive) Than "Prawns" Which Is Contrary To Normal Zoological Practice. AE Restaurant Usage Is Equally Confusing With Regional Variations.

Sidewalk

Pavement Or Footpath

Silverware

Cutlery

Knives, Forks & Spoons. Modern AE/CE Reserves "Silverware" For The Best Cutlery.

Sixteenth Note

Semi-quaver

Music

Ski Mask

Balaclava

Head Covering Popular With Terrorists & Bank Robbers.

Skivvies Obs

Underpants & Vest

"Skivvy/skivvies" In BE Refers To A Menial Domestic Worker.

Sled

Sledge

A Sledge Hammer Is The Same In Both BE & AE.

Slingshot

Catapult

Slowpoke

Slowcoach

Smoked Herring

Kipper

Very Nice Too Apart From All Those Little Bones.

Snaps

Press Studs

Metal Or Plastic Fixings That Snap Together.

Sneakers

Trainers

See Discussion On "Running Shoes".

Snowpack

Lying Snow

Snow Peas *

Mangetout

Soccer

Football

Do Not Confuse With American Football.

Social Security Number US

National Insurance Number

Unique Personal Identification Used By State Benefits & Taxation Schemes. British National Insurance Numbers Consist Of Two Letters, Six Digits & A Further Letter (No Spaces). Known As "Social Insurance Number" In Canada.

Soda

Soft Drink

Sometimes Called "Pop" Or A "Fizzy Drink" In BE. Correspondents Have Suggested That Americans Use "Soda", "Soda Water", "Soda Pop", "Soft Drink", "Coke", "Cola" & "Pop" Fairly Interchangeably With Distinct Regional Preferences, E.g. "Pop" In The Mid-west, "Coke" In The South & "Soda" In The North-east. There Is No BE Equivalent Of The Delicious Sounding Dessert/treat Called "Soda" & Made From Ice Cream & Fruit Juice.

Soother *Obs

Dummy

Artificial Nipple Used To Stop Small Children Crying, Usually Called A "Pacifier" In AE.

Sophomore

No Equivalent

Spool

Reel

Sewing Thread Etc.

Spur Line

Branch Line

Characterful & Uneconomic Part Of Railway System.

Squash *

Vegetable Marrow

Slightly Different But Related Vegetables. In British Usage "Squash" Often Means "Fruit Juice". The Game "Squash" Is The Same In Both British & American Usage.

Standings

Table, League Table

Lists Showing Relative Performance Of Sports Teams.

State School ?

Special School

School For Those With Learning Difficulties.

Station Wagon

Estate Car

Statutory Holiday Can

Bank Holiday

Stemware *

Wineglasses

Stick Shift

Gear Lever

"Stick Shift/Stick" Can Also Refer To A Car With Manual Transmission.

Stocking Stuffer

Stocking Filler

Small Christmas Gift

Store

Shop

In British Usage A Store Is A Place Where Things Are Stored Such As A Warehouse, However The American Usage Is Not Uncommon In Britain Although Confined To Larger Establishments.

Stove

Cooker, Oven

Used For Cooking Not Heating. In British Usage A Domestic "Cooker" Comprises Both A Heated "Hob" Comprising Burners Or Hotplates On The Top Of The Cooker ("Cooktop" In AE) & A Heated "Oven" Which Forms The Main Part Of The Cooker.

Straight

Neat

Drinks, Undiluted With Mixers Such As Water & Tonic.

Streetcar

Tram

Americans Seem To Use The Words "Streetcar", "Tramway" & "Trolley" Almost Interchangeably To Mean Any Form Of Public Surface Transport Not Powered By An Internal Combustion Engine. In British Usage There Are A Number Of Quite Distinct Usages.

Cable Car A Vehicle Without An Engine Or Motor That Is Moved By A Hauling Cable. Apart From The Unique System In San Francisco, These Are Suspended From A Stationary Overhead Cable. They Are Sometimes Called "Gondolas" Or "Air Trams" In AE/CE. "Chair Lifts" & Similar Arrangements Used By Winter Sports Enthusiasts Are Not Referred To As "Cable Cars" In BE.
Tram This Is A Vehicle That Uses Steel Wheels Running On Steel Rails Let Into The Surface Of A Normal Road. It Is Usually Powered By Electricity Taken From Overhead Conductors. They Were Once Driven By Steam Engines Or Pulled By Horses. Modern Systems Are Sometimes Referred To As "Light Railways" Or "Metros" Especially When A Substantial Portion Of The Route Is On A Private Track Rather Than Public Roads.
Trolley Bus This Is A Bus-Like Vehicle With Normal Rubber Tyres But Powered By Electricity Taken From Overhead Conductors. These Quiet, Clean Vehicles Are, Alas, Obsolete In The UK, However Extensive Systems Still Operate In Vancouver & Several Other North American Cities.

Strip Mall

Parade Of Shops

See Entry For "Mall"

Stroller

Push Chair, Baby Buggy

A Device With Four (Small) Wheels For The Conveyance Of Small Children In A Sitting Position. The Version With Three Large Wheels Is Now Being Seen Occasionally In The UK.

Stub

Counterfoil

In British Usage A "Stub" Is A Shortened End Of Summat, Often Implying That The Rest Of The Object Has Been Broken Off, The Usage "Stub One's Foot" Means To Bring The Foot Into Sudden, Often Accidental, Contact With Some Obstacle. "Counterfoil" Is Becoming Uncommon In BE But My Cheque Book Still Has Counterfoils.

Subway

Underground Railway

In British Usage A "Subway" Is A Means By Which Pedestrians Can Cross From One Side Of A Road To Another By Means Of Tunnel Or Underground Passageway. The American Usage Of "Underground Railway" To Refer To The Smuggling Of Escaped Slaves From The South By Harriet Tubman Would Be Unknown To The Vast Majority Of British People.

Suspenders

Braces

In British Usage "Suspenders" Are Used To Keep Ladies' Stockings In The Right Place. Braces Are Elastic Straps Passing Over The Shoulder & Used To Keep Gentlemen's Trousers From Falling Down Although The Use Of A Belt Or Elasticated Waist-band Is Now Much More Common. Both AE & BE Also Use "Brace" To Refer To A Device For Supporting Summat Or Holding Components At A Precise Distance In Both Dentistry & General Engineering.

Sweeper *Obs

Vacuum Cleaner

Also Often Called A "Hoover" In BE, Although The Word Is Proprietary.

Switch

Points

Part Of Railway. BE Uses "Switch" In The Same Way As AE In Other Contexts.

Switchback

Hairpin Bend

Sudden Reversal In Direction Of Road. In BE A "Switchback" Refers To A Road That Goes Up & Down A Lot, Also Known As A "Roller-coaster".

Switchblade Knife

Flick Knife

Switcher

Shunter

Small Railway Locomotive.

Switchyard

Marshalling Yard

Place Where Goods Trains Are Assembled From Individual Trucks.

Telephone Pole

Telegraph Pole

Although The Provision Of A Public Telegram Service By The Then Post Office Is A Distant Memory, The Poles That Support The Overhead Wires Are Still Quite Frequently Called "Telegraph Poles". See Notes On "Utility Pole".

Teleprompter

Autocue

Device That Saves Politicians & Actors The Chore Of Memorising Their Lines. US Term Is Proprietary & Should Be "TelePrompTer".

Teller

Cashier

Banks, Shops. CE Uses "Bank Teller" Otherwise CE Is As BE.

Texas Gate *Can

Cattle Grid

System Of Bars Let Into Surface Of Road To Prevent Passage Of Animals Whilst Allowing Free Passage Of Vehicles.

Thread

Cotton

Used For Sewing. In British Usage "Thread" Is Sometimes Used In This Context To Identify Summat Stronger Than The Normal Product.

Thumbtack

Drawing Pin

Tic-tac-toe

Noughts & Crosses

Tie

Sleeper

Piece Of Timber Or Concrete Supporting The Rails Of A Railway.

Tie

Draw

Sport

Toonie Can

No Equivalent

Two Dollar Coin. Variant Spellings Including "Twoonie", "Twonie" & "Twoony" Are Now, Apparently, Rare. For Notes On British Money See The Entries For "Nickel" & "Loonie".

Townhouse *

Terrace House

A House, Usually Of More Than One Storey & With Other Houses Sharing Common Walls On Both Sides. It Will Have Its Own Door Onto The Street. In British Usage "Terrace Housing" Sometimes Implies Low Quality Housing Reflecting The Large Number Of Small Dwellings Of This Type Put Up To House The Workers Of The Newly Industrialised Towns Of The 19th Century.

Tractor-trailer

Articulated Lorry Or "Artic"

Traffic Circle US

Roundabout

Road System.

Trail

Track, Footpath

Especially Away From Roads.

Trailer, Trailer Home

Caravan

Mobile Living Accommodation Towed Behind A Vehicle. Caravans, Sometimes Called Just Plain Vans By Their Users, Are Subdivided Into Touring Caravans Which Are Towed By People Travelling From Place To Place & Static Caravans Which Stay More Or Less Permanently On A Site But Can Be Moved On The Back Of A Lorry. AE "Trailer Park" Is Equivalent To BE "Caravan Park".

Train Station

Railway Station

The Logical American Usage Is Replacing The Illogical British Usage.

Transit

Public Transport

Transmission Tower

Electricity Pylon

Metal Lattice Tower Supporting High Voltage Electric Power Cables.

Trash

Rubbish

Trash Can

Dustbin

Trolley

See Discussion Under "Streetcar".

Truck

Lorry

In BE "Fallen Off The Back Of A Lorry" Means Acquired In Dubious Circumstances.

Truck Stop

Transport Café

Trunk

Boot

Of Car

Tub

Bath

See "Bathtub".

Tube

Valve

Electronics.

Turn Signals *

Indicators

Part Of Car. Very Old British Cars Used "Trafficators", Which Were Small Illuminated Mechanical Arms That Emerged From The Top Of The Door Pillar.

Turtle Neck

Polo Neck

A Sweater That Fits Closely Round The Neck & Has A Turned Over Collar.

Tuxedo

Dinner Jacket

"Tuxedo" Refers To The Jacket & Trousers Combination

Two-Four Can

No Equivalent

This Refers To Selling Beer In Packs Of 24 Bottles Or Cans. Beer Is Sold In Such Packs In The UK, But There Is No Specific Name For Such Packages. Apparently A "Slab" Or "Carton" In Australian.

Two Weeks

Fortnight

I.e. 14 Days

Under Basement Obs

Cellar

Underground Room Beneath House, Entirely Beneath Local Ground Level & Usually Without Windows, Used Just For Storage. Rare In British Houses Built Later Than About 1920. CE Is As BE.

Undershirt

Vest

Unemployment Compensation (Insurance)

Dole, Unemployment Pay (Benefit)

Money Paid Via State Run Insurance Schemes For Those Out Of Work. "Unemployment Pay" Is The Official Title. "Pogey" Is A Canadian Word.

Union Suit *Obs

Long Johns, Combinations

Thermal Underwear. "Union Suit" & "Combinations" Refer To A One-piece Garment Covering The Whole Body.

Utility Pole

Telegraph Pole

Pole, Usually Wooden, Supporting Power & Communications Cables Especially For Final Distribution To Domestic Premises. In The UK Electric Power Is Almost Always Distributed Underground & Communication Cables Are Increasingly Underground. British Visitors Are Often Surprised By The Untidy Tangles Of Overhead Wire In North American Cities.

Vacation

Holiday

BE Does Not Distinguish Between "Public" Or Statutory Holidays (Called BankHolidays Because Banks Are Not Open For Business) & Individual Holidays From Work. CE As AE. In BE The Verb Is "To Go On Holiday".

Vacationer

Holidaymaker

Valance

Pelmet

Decorative Box Like Construction At Top Of Window To Conceal The Tops Of The Curtains & The Rail They Run On.

Vest

Waistcoat

In British Usage "Vest" Refers To An Undergarment Worn Underneath A Shirt.

Veterans' Day

Remembrance Day

Day For Remembering Former Soldiers. In Britain This Is Celebrated On The Sunday Nearest November 11th With Parades & Church Services. The Custom Of Observing 2 Minutes Silence At 1100 On November 11th Has Recently Be Re-introduced & Is Now Observed By Most British People, Especially The Young, This Is Most Impressive & Moving. Canadian Practice Is Similar To British Practice. Around Remembrance Day British People Wear Paper Poppies As A Mark Of Remembrance.

Walker

Zimmer (Frame)

BE Term Is Proprietary.

Wall To Wall

Fitted Carpet

Carpet.

Wallet

Purse

In British Usage A Wallet Is A Small Folding Holder For Paper Money (Not Coin), Cards Etc. Men Usually Carry Wallets In A Pocket (Trouser Or Jacket).

Wash Cloth

Flannel

"Face Cloth" In CE.

Washroom

Toilet

Both AE & BE Have Numerous Euphemisms For The Place Where One Urinates Or Defecates. "Toilet" Is Generally Acceptable In British Usage As Is "Loo". "WC" (Meaning Water Closet) Is Also Acceptable But Usually Means The Actual Apparatus Rather Than The Room In Which It Is Located. "Lavatory" Sounds Rather Old-Fashioned. In BE A Washroom Is A Place Where One Goes To Wash. The Words "John" & "Jakes" Perhaps Both Derive From The French "Jacques".

"Washroom" Seems To Be The Preferred Canadian Usage.

Public Facilities Are Called Public Conveniences In BE.

Water Heater

Immersion Heater, Geyser

Arrangement For Producing Domestic Hot Water Other Than As Part Of A Central Heating System. An Immersion Heater Uses An Electric Heating Element In A Tank. A Geyser, Sometimes Known By The Proprietary Name "Ascot", Is A Gas Operated Device, Which Bursts, Rather Frighteningly, Into Action When You Turn The Tap On.

Weed Wacker, Weed Eater

Strimmer

Powered Garden Tool That Consists Of A Rapidly Spinning Nylon Line That Chops Down Weeds. US Terms Are Proprietary.

Welfare

Benefits

A Variety Of State Payments To The Poor & Needy.

Wheat Bread US

Brown Bread

I.e. It Isn't White. There Are Many Variants Some Of Which Are Just Coloured, Most Of Which Are "Wholemeal" Meaning That All The Wheat Including The Husks Is Used In Making The Bread, Not Just The Grain. CE Is Pretty Much As BE.

Whiskey

Whisky

"Whisky" Is Distilled In Scotland Only, The Drink Distilled In Ireland & Other Places Is Called "Whiskey".

White-Out

Tippex

BE Term Is Proprietary, The Non-Proprietary "Correcting Fluid" Is Sometimes Used.

Whole Note

Semi-Breve

Music.

Windshield

Windscreen

Part Of Car.

Wire

A Text Message Sent Via A Public Telegraph System. In BE The Verb Is "To Send A Telegram".

Wrench

Spanner

A Tool With A Claw Shaped Aperture Used For Tightening Or Loosening Nuts. An Adjustable Version Is Called An "Adjustable Spanner" Or A "Monkey Wrench" Or A "Stilson" In BE. Most British Nuts & Bolts Are Now In European Standard Metric Sizes Although The American UNC & UNF Sizes Are Not Uncommon As Are The Older British Association (BA) & Whitworth Sizes. You Need A Lot Of Spanners To Cover All Eventualities. Most Nuts Are, Of Course, Hexagonal. You'll Find Octagonal Nuts On Some Plumbing Fixtures & Square Nuts Are Also Seen Occasionally. I'd Never Seen A Pentagonal Nut Until I Went To Florida & Looked At A Fire Hydrant.

Yard

Garden

In British Usage "Yard" Means An Area Of Ground Adjacent To A Building With A Hard Surface Adapted For Use By Vehicles & Horses, A "Garden" Is A Place Where Plants Are Grown. In American Usage "Yard" Covers Both, Referring To That Part Of The Property Not Covered By Buildings. I've Received Some Suggestions That BE Uses "Garden" To Refer To That Part Of The Property Where Crops, Especially Vegetables, Are Grown For Private Domestic Use. This Would Be A "Vegetable Garden" Or A "Kitchen Garden" In BE.

Zee US

Zed

Last Letter Of The Alphabet. Canadians Call It "Zed".

Zip Code US

Post Code

Used To Speed Sorting Mail. American Zip Codes Consist Of A Single 5 Digit Number Sometimes Followed By A 4 Digit Number. British & Canadian Codes Use Both Letters & Digits E.g. WV1 1SB (This University), WN1 1JS (A Good Book Shop I Once Visited) & Are Correctly Shown With A Gap Between The Two Parts & No Full Stops Since They Are Not Abbreviations.

Zucchini

Courgette

It Doesn't Taste Very Nice Whatever You Call It.