This
list has American words or phrases alphabetically, so that
Brits
who are confused by - for instance - a monkey wrench or a nightstick -
can look them
up on this page, and find the British equivalent. This page has
words from K to Z; the first
page has words from A to J.
| American word | British equivalent | American word | British equivalent |
| - K - | - | - S - | - |
| kettle | large saucepan | scotch tape | sellotape |
| Kleenex | tissue | second floor | first floor |
| knickers | plus-fours | seeds (in fruit) | pips |
| knock up (slang) | get someone pregnant | semi-sweet chocolate | plain chocolate |
| - L - | - | senior (university) | 4th year undergraduate |
| leaded coffee | coffee | senior (high school) | Year 12 student |
| legal holiday | bank holiday | shedding (fur) | moulting |
| license plate | number plate | shift stick | gear lever |
| light corn syrup | golden syrup (approx) | shot (vaccination) | jab (injection) |
| lousy | grotty | shrimp | prawns |
| loveseat | two-person sofa | sidewalk | pavement |
| - M - | - | silverware/flatware | cutlery |
| mail (n.) | post | skillet | frying pan |
| mail box | letter box | sliver | splinter |
| mail box/mail drop | pillar box | smart | intelligent |
| mail slot | letter box (in door) | sneakers | trainers |
| mailman | postman | soda or soda pop | fizzy drinks |
| majoring in | reading (at university) | sophomore (university) | 2nd year undergraduate |
| markers | felt tip pens | sophomore (high school) | Year 10 student |
| meat market | butcher | spatula | fish slice |
| median (in road) | central reservation | stand in line | queue |
| Milky Way (chocolate) | Mars Bar | stomach flu | gastroenteritis |
| monkey wrench | spanner | stoop (noun) | small porch |
| mononucleosis | glandular fever | stove | cooker |
| movie | film | stroller | buggy or pushchair |
| movie theater | cinema | styrofoam | polystyrene |
| muffins | fairy cakes (approx) | sub sandwich | french bread sandwich |
| muffler (car) | silencer | subway | underpass |
| mute | dumb | suckers | lollipops |
| mutual fund | unit trust | suspenders | braces |
| - N - | - | sweats | tracksuit |
| neat | good idea, cool | - T - | - |
| nightstand | bedside table | teakettle | kettle |
| nightstick | truncheon | teeter-totter | see-saw |
| nurse (a baby, verb) | breastfeed | Tell me about it! | I know all about it! |
| Nutrasweet | aspartame | this administration | this government |
| - O - | - | Three Musketeers (chocolate) | Milky Way |
| odometer | milometer | thumb tacks | drawing pins |
| orchestra seats | stalls (in a theatre) | tic-tac-toe | noughts and crosses |
| overpass | flyover | to go potty | to go to the loo |
| - P - | - | trapper keeper | ring binder |
| pacifier | dummy | trash can | waste paper basket/dustbin |
| paddle | spank with an implement | Trouble (game) | Frustration (game) |
| panties | pants (ladies) | truck | lorry |
| pants | trousers | trunk (car) | boot (car) |
| pantyhose/hose | tights | two percent milk | semi-skimmed milk |
| Parcheesi (game) | Ludo | tylenol | paracetamol |
| pavement | road surface | - U - | - |
| pick up (the house) | tidy up | uh-huh | yes |
| pie crust | pastry | uh-oh | oh dear |
| pinky | little finger | uh-uh | no |
| pit (in fruit) | stone (in fruit) | Undergraduate school | College/University |
| pitcher | jug | unleaded coffee | decaff |
| plastic wrap/saran wrap | cling film | unsweetened chocolate | sugarless chocolate for cooking |
| PMS | PMT | - V - | - |
| popsicles | ice lollies | visit with | talk to/chat |
| powdered sugar | icing sugar | VW Bug | VW Beetle |
| preschool | nursery school | - W - | - |
| principal | headmaster/headmistress | wade | paddle |
| public holiday | bank holiday | wallet (for ladies) | purse |
| public school | state school | wash cloth | face flannel |
| pudding | Instant Whip (approx) | wash dishes | wash up |
| purse | handbag | wash up | wash hands |
| - R - | - | waxed paper | greaseproof paper |
| robe/bathrobe | dressing gown | Way to go! | Well done! Keep it up! |
| realtor, real estate agent | estate agent | wharf/pier | quay/pier |
| rowboat | rowing boat | wrench | spanner |
| rubber cement | cow gum | - Z - | - |
| rubbers | Wellington Boots | zipper | zip |
| run (for public office) | stand | zucchini | courgette(s) |