Although American and British English are basically the same language, there are differences which can be confusing for visitors in either direction. While most Brits are probably aware of elevators/lifts and apartments/flats, some words in the following lists are less well known.
This
list has the American words or phrases alphabetically, so Brits
confused by - for instance - a barette or a car hood - can look them
up, and find the British equivalent. This page has
words from A to J; the second
page has words from K-Z.
| American word | British equivalent | American word | British equivalent |
| - A - | - | - E - | - |
| adhesive bandage | sticking plaster | eggplant | aubergine |
| alphabetized | in alphabetical order | Elementary/Grade School | Junior/Primary School |
| anesthesiologist | anaesthetist | elevator | lift |
| antsy | wriggly | engineer (train) | driver |
| ATM | cashpoint machine | English horn | cor anglaise |
| apartment | flat | English muffin | muffin |
| assignment | homework | eraser | rubber |
| - B - | - | eyeball (vb.) | visually position |
| back yard | back garden | - F - | - |
| backpack | rucksack | fag or faggot | homosexual |
| baking soda | bicarbonate of soda | Fall (season) | Autumn |
| Band Aid | Elastoplast (or plaster) | fanny (slang, but not rude) | bum/bottom |
| bangs | fringe | fanny pack | belt bag/bum bag |
| barette | hair clip | faucet | tap |
| bathroom | loo | fender | wing/mudguard |
| bathtub | bath | field hockey | hockey |
| bell pepper | green pepper | fig newton | fig roll |
| billfold | wallet (for men) | figure out | work out |
| billion (thousand million) | billion (million million) | first floor | ground floor |
| binky or pacifier | dummy or comforter | flashlight | torch |
| birthed | bore/gave birth | football | American football |
| biscuit | scone (approx) | freeway | motorway |
| braces | brace (on teeth) | french fries/fries | chips |
| broil | grill | freshman (university) | 1st year undergraduate |
| bug | insect | freshman (high school) | Year 9 student |
| - C - | - | frosting | icing |
| caboose | guard's van | furnace | boiler |
| call collect | reverse charges | - G - | - |
| call | ring up/phone | garbage | rubbish |
| can (of food) | tin | garbage can | dustbin |
| candied cherries | glac� cherries | garbage truck | dustmen's lorry |
| candy | sweets | gas (or gasoline) | petrol |
| car (on train) | carriage | gas pedal | accelerator |
| cavity | tooth decay | gas station | filling station |
| cheap | second-rate | go figure! | work that one out! |
| check (noun) | cheque or bill | graham cracker | digestive biscuit (approx) |
| check (verb) | tick | granola | crunchy muesli (approx) |
| checkers | draughts | grill | barbecue |
| chips (potato) | crisps | grocery cart | supermarket trolley |
| chocolate | milk chocolate | grocery store | supermarket |
| chronic fatigue syndrome | post viral syndrome | ground beef | minced beef |
| closet (hanging clothes) | built-in wardrobe | - H - | - |
| club | truncheon | half-and-half | thin/single cream |
| Clue (game) | Cluedo | hamburger | beefburger |
| collar button | collar stud | hamburger/ground meat | (meat) mince |
| comforter | quilt or duvet | hamburger bun | bap/roll |
| commercials (on TV) | adverts | hardware store | ironmonger |
| conductor (train) | guard | High School | Secondary School (Y9 and up) |
| cookie | biscuit | hockey | ice hockey |
| cookie tray | baking sheet | homelike | homely |
| cornstarch | cornflour | homely | plain, unattractive |
| cotton | cotton wool | hood (of car) | bonnet (of car) |
| cream of wheat | semolina | hot tub | jacuzzi |
| cupcakes | iced fairy cakes | hutch | welsh dresser |
| - D - | - | - I - | - |
| dead-end | cul-de-sac | I could care less | I couldn't care less |
| dessert | pudding (or dessert) | ice chest | cool box |
| detour | diversion | incorporated | limited |
| diaper | nappy | interstate highway | motorway |
| dishwashing liquid | washing-up liquid | - J - | - |
| drapes | curtains | Jello | jelly |
| drug store | chemist | jelly | jam without pips |
| dumb | stupid, ignorant | jelly roll | Swiss roll |
| duplex | semi-detached house | joint | marijuana |
| junior (college/university) | 3rd year undergraduate | ||
| junior (high school) | Year 11 student | ||
| Junior High School | Middle School (approx yr 6-8) |