If you have compared the way an English person speaks with
the way an American person speaks, you probably noticed the difference straight
away. To English people American English sounds cool and laid back but not correct,
and to American people British English sounds posh and eccentric! This article
will show you the differences in vocabulary and usage of words between American
and British English.
Vocabularies
We start off with the difference between the vocabularies of
American and British English. If you have watched American and British TV you
can see the difference in the use of words; for example, if you compare the
American TV sitcom ‘Friends’ with
British sitcom ‘Gavin & Stacey,’ you will hear different words used
for the same object or thing. Here is a list of different words used for the
same thing...
British English
|
Vs
|
American English
|
Anticlockwise
|
Counterclockwise
|
|
Autumn
|
Fall
|
|
Biscuit
|
Cookie
|
|
Boot
|
Trunk
|
|
Chips
|
Fries/French Fries
|
|
Lift
|
Elevator
|
|
Pub
|
Bar
|
|
Crisps
|
Chips
|
Cultural Differences
As the States and Britain are quite far away from each
other, even though some people might say ‘just a across the pond,’ (meaning the
Atlantic Ocean), of course there is going to be a massive difference in culture,
the way language is used, and sayings and phrases. Many people know football in
the US is not the same sport as in the UK, and the thought of peanut butter &
jelly sandwiches to Brits sounds like hell inside to slices of bread! If you
have ever been to America and England you might have noticed a difference
in the use of the word ‘please’. British people use please a lot more. The
British will use please when ordering food in a restaurant or requesting
something in a store. On the other hand, Americans do not usually use ‘please’
in this context. Some Americans believe that there is no need to say please when
ordering food or asking for something in a store as you are simply giving the
worker the information that he/she needs to do their job… Doesn’t seem too
friendly!
Here is your chance to test your knowledge of British and
American words! Scroll down and give yourself or a friend a quick test to see if
you know which word belongs to which culture. The answers are at the bottom of
this post so we trust you not to cheat!
American or British?
Film
|
Movie
|
Wardrobe
|
Closet
|
Wrench
|
Spanner
|
Cinema
|
Movie-House
|
Package
|
Parcel
|
Truck
|
Lorry
|
Apartment
|
Flat
|
Trousers
|
Pants
|
Centre
|
Center
|
Colour
|
Color
|
Flavor
|
Flavour
|
Sidewalk
|
Pavement
|
Mobile
|
Cell Phone
|
Bonnet
|
Hood
|
Petrol
|
Gas
|
Answers...
British – American
British – American
American – British
British – American
American – British
American – British
British – American
British – American
British – American
American – British
American – British
British – American
British – American
British – American