5 British vs American English Vocabulary Differences
8 min read
Level: Intermediate—Upper-intermediate
So you've learnt about British and American English spelling differences, but what about vocabulary?
In our previous post we focused on the main spelling differences between British and American English. This time we're looking at vocabulary. There are actually so many words and expressions we say in Britain that aren't used in the USA, and vice versa. So let's look at the differences in five main areas of British and American vocabulary you simply need to know...
Transportation
When it comes to transportation, some of the words used in the UK are quite different to the ones used in America. For example, British people normally say 'lorry' while Americans use 'truck'. And in London most people get around on the 'underground', unlike Americans, who use the 'subway'. This is an interesting one actually, because a 'subway' in the UK is typically a path which pedestrians use to cross from one side of a busy road to the other. A bit confusing, right?
A perhaps well-known one is the American word 'eggplant'—any idea what we call this in the UK?
We even have different words for vehicle parts. In the UK, a 'boot' is not only a type of shoe, but it's also the place where you can store luggage at the back of a car. But in the USA, they use another word for this: trunk. There's also another difference when referring to the front part of a vehicle covering the engine. Americans call this the 'hood', but Brits use the word 'bonnet'. So if your car broke down in America, you'd need to have a look under the hood, whilst in Britain you'd check under the bonnet.
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Food
There are also quite a few differences when we talk about vegetables. A perhaps well-known one is the American word 'eggplant'—any idea what we call this in the UK? 'Aubergine'! And 'zucchini' in the USA are called 'courgettes' across the pond. When it comes to herbs, the pronunciation differs a bit, but not the actual words we use, like 'oregano'. Apart from one...'cilantro'. This herb is referred to as 'coriander' in the UK. Call it what you wish; it's still pretty tasty in curries!
We normally order 'chips' with our burger, but if you say this in the US, you might get some strange looks.
Moving on to less healthy (but much more fun) foods. 'Candy' is what most American children ask their parents for—'Mom! Can I have some candy?' British children, on the other hand, would usually say, 'Mum! Can I have some sweets?' And in the UK, we normally order 'chips' with our burger, but if you say this in the US, you might get some strange looks. That's because Americans use the word 'fries' instead, and for them, 'chips' are those thin slices of potato which are fried and eaten as a snack. But in Britain, we call these 'crisps'.
Housing
In British cities, people tend to live in what we call 'flats', individual units inside a 'block of flats'. However, in the USA the same type of accommodation is usually called an 'apartment' inside an 'apartment building'. And if you live on the top floor, you might want to take the 'elevator' to get there (especially if you're carrying something heavy!), but in the UK you'd use the 'lift' instead.
So the 'first' floor for British people would be the 'second' floor for Americans.
And don't forget that when you walk into a building from the street, in America this is called the 'first' floor, but in the UK this is normally referred to as the 'ground' floor. So the 'first' floor for British people would be the 'second' floor for Americans. You can see how someone might get a bit muddled when trying to find the right door to knock on!
Entertainment
'Are you going on a summer vacation?' your American friend might ask. Your British friend, on the other hand, would ask about your summer 'holiday'. And to unwind in the evenings, people in the UK often watch the 'telly'—an informal word for television. This word isn't used in the US, though. Instead they would say 'TV' (which is also used in Britain, by the way).
Not much of a movie/film fan? Maybe you prefer sports instead. Here's another key difference...
Whilst in the UK one of your hobbies might be going to the 'cinema', in the US the same place is called the 'movie theatre'. Notice the word 'movie' in this phrase—Americans tend to use this word more than Brits. In the UK we usually say 'film'. Not much of a movie/film fan? Maybe you prefer sports instead. Here's another key difference...in the UK, the nation's favourite sport is 'football'—but in the USA, the same sport is called 'soccer'. 'Football' in the USA is actually short for 'American football', which is a completely different sport! See pic below...
Fashion
And finally, there are some big differences in the words we use for clothing too. For example, if you go into a shop and ask for 'pants' in the USA, you will probably be directed to the area where they sell jeans and other similar items. But in the UK, the shop assistant would most likely show you to the underwear department. That's because we use the word 'pants' for 'underpants', and 'trousers' for the clothes you wear to cover your legs. This is good to know if you're ever on a shopping spree in either country!
And when winter comes along, people in Britain reach for a warm, woolly 'jumper' to wear...
We also have different words for shoes. If you're going for a run or doing some other kind of sport in the UK, you'd probably wear 'trainers' on your feet. However, the American equivalent for these would be 'sneakers'. And when winter comes along, people in Britain reach for a warm, woolly 'jumper' to wear, whilst in the USA they put on a 'sweater'.
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Now you know these five main vocabulary differences, the next time you're speaking to a British or American person, you'll be able to understand them even better than before! Interested in knowing more about this topic? Then check out our YouTube livestream comparing UK and US English, or scroll down to watch it here. Or why not learn more about vocabulary in a private lesson with one of Britcent's professional tutors?
Vocabulary takeaway
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Please note: These blog posts are written in informal, conversational English.
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