British and American English compared

Spelling differences:

Phonetic differences:

Grammatical differences:

- Use of the Article:

- Irregular verb forms:

Lexical differences:here are a few tips to get you started, mainly with the American traveller in mind:

Clothing: The word "pants" means underwear in Britain. What Americans would refer to as "pants" are called "trousers" in the UK. Y-fronted underpants are also known as "Y-fronts" or "undies". 'Sweaters' are known as 'jumpers'. Also "trainers" are tennis shoes or sneakers. You'll often see "no trainers" listed in the dress code of clubs.

Places: Main Road = Highway, Slip Road = Off Ramp, Motorway = Freeway, Petrol Station/Filling Station = Gas Station, Level Crossing = Railroad Crossing, Zebra Crossing = Pedestrian Crossing, Off Licence/Off Sales = Liquor Store, Public Toilet = Restroom; Chemist = Drug Store

Foods: Aubergine = eggplant, courgette = zucchini, baps/muffins/barmcakes = soft rolls, (bap is also a term for breasts so is best avoided), white coffee = coffee with milk, biscuit = cookie, chips = fat french fries, crisps = chips, coriander = cilantro, bangers = sausages, mash=mashed potatoes, piece (Scotland only) = sandwich, jam = preserve - a term that is often also used for jam, Jelly is not somthing you put on toast but a childrens sweet desert that comes in a variety of colours.

Misc: lift = elevator, queue = line, bin = trash, brilliant = wonderful, "I'll give you a lift" = "I'll give you a ride", "I'll give you a ring/bell" = "I'll call you", pissed = drunk (not angry), "boot" used in context of a car = "trunk", Petrol = Gas/Gasoline, Cashpoint/Hole In The Wall = ATM, ground floor = first floor

Hand signals: There's only one that really matters. When you're indicating the number "two" with your fingers (as in, "two pints, please", it is advised to use your thumb and first finger, NOT your first and middle fingers. If that "V" gesture is used with nails facing the person you're talking to, it is construed as raising the middle finger would be elsewhere (the middle finger raise also being offensive in the UK). If you are going to use the "V" to indicate two, face the palm towards the person you're addressing.

The "F" word! Fanny, that is. In the UK, this is a word used for the female genitals. The English equivalent for fanny is "bum" (fanny packs being called bum bags). Another "F" word to be aware of is "fag", which in Britain is a slang word for 'cigarette' - not the modern US usage of a derogatory term for a homosexual man - so do not fret if you hear the sentence in a bar: "I'm going outside for a fag"!!!

If asked to pass a rubber it does not mean pass a condom but an eraser. Australians need to be careful when asking for Durex. It's not a roll of sellatape but the leading brand of men's contraceptives.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 842