100 Frequently Used British English Words and their American Equivalents
On your first visit to the United Kingdom did you feel clueless when someone asked you where the nearest loo is? Were you looking for baking soda but ended up with nothing – maybe you should’ve looked for the bicarbonate of soda? Is saying maths wrong? To answer these questions and to make you more informed, here are 100 of the various English words that have different meanings once you step in the land of the United Kingdom. These aren’t like the American English words you’ve always used!
2. Trousers: Pants
3. Vest: Undershirt
4. Crisps: Potato Chips
5. Chips: French Fries
6. Biscuit: Cookie
7. Scone: Biscuit
8. Flat: Apartment
9. Maths: Math
10. Trainers: Running shoes / Gym shoes
11. Pants: Underwear
12. Braces: Suspenders
13. Suspenders: Garter belts
14. Lift: Elevator
15. Spanner: Wrench
16. Loo/Bog: Toilet
17. Plimsolls: Sneakers
18. Bicarbonate of Soda: Baking Soda
19. Rubber: Eraser
20. Jumper: Sweater
21. Pinafore: Jumper
22. Banger: Sausage
23. Boot: Trunk of a car
24. Chemist’s: Pharmacy
25. Tap: Faucet
26. Football: Soccer
27. Tin: Can
28. Nappy: Diaper
29. Flatmate: Roommate
30. Dummy: Pacifier
31. Cot: Crib
32. Playgroup: Daycare
33. Pushchair: Stroller
34. Petrol: Gasoline
35. Tube: Subway
36. Holiday: Vacation
37. Motorway: Highway
38. Cooker: Stove
39. Torch: Flashlight
40. Waistcoat: Vest
41. Sweets: Candy
42. Taxi: Cab
43. Wardrobe: Closet
44. Post: Mail
45. Car Park: Parking Lot
46. Queue: Line
47. Row: Argument
48. Plaster: Band-aid
49. Fringe: Bangs
50. Fag: Cigarette
51. Subway: Underpass
52. Brackets: Parentheses
53. Skip: Dumpster
54. Dustbin: Garbage can
55. Courgette: Zucchini
56. Curriculum Vitae: Résumé
57. Double cream: Heavy cream
58. Flannel: Wash cloth
59. Full stop: Period
60. Headmaster: Principal
61. Hoover: Vacuum Cleaner
62. Duvet: Comforter
63. Drawing pin: Thumbtack
64. Maize: Corn
65. Naughts and crosses: Tick-tack-toe
66. Pub: Bar
67. Silencer (car): Muffler
68. Telly: Television
69. Timetable: Schedule
70. Windscreen: Windshield
71. Aubergine: Eggplant
72. Zip: Zipper
73. Hooker: Middle front in the sport rugby
74. Trolley: Shopping cart
75. Block of flats: Apartment building
76. Casualty: Emergency room
77. Candyfloss: Cotton candy
78. Catapult: Slingshot
79. Cling film: Plastic wrap
80. Cornflour: Cornstarch
81. Diamante: Rhinestone
82. Draughts (game): Checkers
83. Dressing gown: Bathrobe
84. Faith school: Parochial school
85. Flick knife: Switch blade
86. Footway: Sidewalk
87. Garden: Yard
88. Greaseproof paper: Wax paper
89. Hairslide: Barrette
90. Hoarding: Billboard
91. Hen party: Bachelorette party
92. Patience: Solitaire
93. Clothes-peg: Clothespin
94. Sanitary towels: Sanitary napkins
95. State school: Public school
96. Vacuum flask: Thermos bottle
97. Zebra crossing: Pedestrian crossing
98. Agony aunt/uncle: Advice columnist
99. Anticlockwise: Counterclockwise
100. Drinks cupboard: Liquor cabinet
