American vs. English Language

“America and England are two countries divided by a common language.”

George Bernard Shaw

Below are some of the most common words that are different between British English and American English:

 

American	English
aisle	gangway
antenna	aerial (radio/TV)
apartment	flat
argument	row
baby carriage	pram (perambulator)
band-aid	plaster
bathroom	loo
bathrobe	dressing gown
bill	bank note
break	recess
briefs (male underwear)	pants
broil	grill
cab	taxi
call (phone)	ring up (phone)
can	tin
candy	sweets
candy store	sweet shop/confectioner
caravan	convoy
carnival	fair
chopped liver	minced liver
check (restaurant)	bill (restaurant)
checking account	current account
checkers	draughts
check room	cloakroom
closet	cupboard
closet	wardrobe
cookie	biscuit (sweet)
corn	maize
corn starch	corn flour
crazy	mad
diaper	nappy
(do the) dishes	wash up
downtown	centre
drapes	curtains
druggist/pharmacist	chemist
drugstore/pharmacy	chemist’s shop
eggplant	aubergine
electric cord	cable/wire
elevator	lift
eraser	rubber
faculty	staff
fall	autumn
faucet	tap
fender	bumper
first floor	ground floor
flashlight	torch
freeway/highway	motorway
French fries	chips
freshman (at university)	1st year undergraduate
garbage/trash	rubbish
garbage can/trash can	dustbin
gas	petrol
gas station	petrol station/filling station
guy	bloke
hardware store	ironmonger
highway	mainroad
hood (car)	bonnet
incorporated	limited
intersection	crossroads
janitor	caretaker
jello	jelly
jelly	jam
kerosene	paraffin
lawyer/attorney	solicitor
lease/rent	let
legal holiday	bank holiday
license plate	number plate
line	queue
liquor	spirits
mad	angry
mail	post
mail box/mail drop	pillar box
mailman	postman
make reservation	book
mall	shopping centre
motor	engine
movie	film
movie theater	cinema
muffler	silencer
napkin	serviette
nothing	nought
one way ticket	single ticket
overpass	flyover
pacifier	dummy
package	parcel
panties	knickers
pantyhose	tights
pants	trousers
parking lot	car park
period	full stop
pharmacist	chemist
pitcher	jug
potato chips	crisps
president (business)	chairman
principal	headmaster/headmistress
private school	public school/private school
public school	state school
railroad	railway
raisin	sultana
rent	hire
restroom	toilet
round trip ticket	return ticket
rubber	contraceptive
sales clerk	shop assistant
sausage	banger
schedule	time-table
scotch tape	sellotape
second floor	first floor
sedan	saloon car
semester	term
shoestring	bootlace/shoelace
sidewalk	pavement/footpath
sneakers	trainers
soccer	football
sophomore	2nd year undergraduate
stand in line/line up	queue
station wagon	estate car
store	shop
stroller	pushchair
subway	underground
sunglasses	shades
sweater	jumper/pullover
tag	label
tank top	vest
transmission	gearbox
trash can	bin
truck	lorry
trunk	boot
two weeks	fortnight
undershirt	vest
vacation	holiday
vacuum (cleaner)	hoover
vest	waistcoat
18-wheeler	juggernaut
windshield	windscreen
wire	telegram
wrench	spanner
yard	garden
ZIP code	postal code