Glossary of US-UK equivalents
The words in this glossary have been selected because of the confusion or misinterpretation or just amusing situations they can cause on one or another side of the Atlantic. The reason is that the thinking behind these words is different or, on some occasions, fundamentally different. Besides, to catch the essence of any country it is helpful to know what the natives are talking about.
| AMERICAN ENGLISH | BRITISH ENGLISH | |
| Aisle | gangway | |
| antenna | aerial | |
| baby buggy | pram | |
| baggage room | left luggage office | |
| balcony | gallery (theatre) | |
| big (mother) truck | juggernaut | |
| bill | bank note | |
| billion (thousand million) | billion (million million) | |
| biscuit (baking powder) | scone | |
| bomb (disaster) | bomb (success) | |
| call collect | reverse charges | |
| candy | sweets / chocolate | |
| checkers | draughts | |
| chips | crisps | |
| cigarette | fag | |
| comforter | eiderdown | |
| connect | put through | |
| cookie | biscuit (sweet) | |
| cracker | biscuit (unsweetened) | |
| custom made | bespoke / made to measure | |
| derby | bowler / hard hat | |
| diaper | nappy | |
| draft | conscription | |
| drugstore / pharmacy | chemist’s shop | |
| duplex | semi-detached | |
| editorial | leader | |
| English muffin | UNKNOWN | |
| eraser | rubber | |
| faculty | staff | |
| fag | poof | |
| fall | autumn | |
| faucet | tap | |
| first balcony | upper circle | |
| freeway | motorway | |
| French fries | chips | |
| front desk (hotel) | reception | |
| garbage / trash | rubbish | |
| garters | suspenders | |
| gas | petrol | |
| German shepherd / police dog | alsation | |
| grade | class / form | |
| haberdashery | men’s clothing | |
| hardware store | ironmonger | |
| hat check girl | cloakroom attendant | |
| homely (= ugly) | homely (= pleasant) | |
| information / directory assistance | directory enquiries | |
| intermission | interval | |
| janitor | caretaker / porter | |
| jerk | wally | |
| lawyer / attorney | solicitor | |
| lease / rent | let | |
| legal holiday | bank holiday | |
| licence plate | number plate | |
| liquor | spirits | |
| liquor store | off licence / wine merchant | |
| long distance | trunk call | |
| meat grinder | mincer | |
| molasses | black treacle | |
| monkey wrench | spanner | |
| notions | haberdashery | |
| off | jerk | |
| office (doctor’s / dentist’s) | surgery | |
| outlet / socket | point / power point | |
| overalls | dungarees | |
| overpass | flyover | |
| pacifier | dummy | |
| pantie hose | tights | |
| parka | anorak | |
| parking lot | car park | |
| penitentiary | prison | |
| period | full stop | |
| pit (fruit) | stone | |
| pitcher | jug | |
| popsicle | iced lolly | |
| precinct | district | |
| president(business) | chairman | |
| private school | public school | |
| raincheck | postponement | |
| raincoat | mackintosh | |
| realtor | estate agent | |
| recess | break (school) | |
| restroom | toilet / cloakroom (indoors) | |
| restroom / toilet / comfort station (outdoors) | public convenience | |
| robin (first sign of spring) | robin (symbol of Christmas) | |
| roller coaster | big dipper | |
| roomer | lodger | |
| roast | joint (meat) | |
| run (for public office) | stand | |
| sack lunch | packed lunch | |
| sales clerk / sales girl | shop assistant | |
| scab | blackleg | |
| second floor | first floor | |
| sedan | saloon car | |
| semester | term | |
| senior | 4th year (school) | |
| shade | blind (window) | |
| sherbet | ice / sorbet | |
| shorts | briefs | |
| shorts (underwear) | pants | |
| shot | jab (injection) | |
| sidewalk | pavement | |
| slice (bacon) | rasher | |
| smoked herring | kipper | |
| sneakers / tennis shoes | gym shoes / plimsolls / tennis shoes | |
| squash | marrow | |
| station wagon | estate car | |
| straight (drink) | neat | |
| (umbrella)-stroller | pushchair | |
| suspenders | braces | |
| sweater | jumper | |
| tag | label | |
| taxi stand | taxi rank | |
| tic-tac-toe | noughts and crosses | |
| time payment / instalment plan | hire purchase | |
| toilet / john / bathroom | lavatory / toilet / w.c. | |
| top (car) | roof / hood | |
| traffic circle | round-about / island | |
| trailer / camper / mobile home | caravan | |
| trailer truck | articulated lorry | |
| two weeks | fortnight | |
| undergraduates: freshman | 1st year | |
| sophomore | 2nd year | |
| junior | 3rd year | |
| senior | 4th year | |
| undershirt | vest | |
| UNKNOWN | crumpet | |
| vacuum | hoover | |
| vest | waistcoat | |
| wall to wall | fitted carpet | |
| wash up | wash your hands | |
| weather stripping | draught excluder | |
| wharf / pier | quay | |
| windshield | windscreen | |
| with our without? | black or white? (milk / cream in coffee) | |
| zip code | postal code | |