Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
BRITISH TERM and its AMERICAN EQUIVALENT
hire a care = rent a car
in hospital, in corner = in the hospital, in the corner
nappie = diaper
pram = baby stroller/carriage
knickers = underpants
bristols = breasts
lift = elevator
bonnet = car trunk
boot = car hood
serviette = napkin
spanner = wrench
chemists = drugstore
roundabout = traffic circle
lorry = truck
coach = bus
biscuit = cookie
tart = prostitute
aubergine = eggplant
wog = Indian person (offensive term)
frog = French person
Brummie = person from Birmingham
Geordie = person from Newcastle
groundfloor = first floor
first floor = 2nd floor
diversion = detour
barrister = lawyer who argues a case
solicitor = lawyer who prepares a case
constable = policeman
kippers = fish for breakfast
porridge = oatmeal
Muesli = granola cereal
chips = french fries
crisps = potato chips
motorway = express highway
carriageway = regular highway
high street = main street
quay = city street beside a river
straight away = immediately
yes, quite = I agree
football = soccer
treacle = pudding
hoover = vacuum cleaner
corn = wheat
maize = corn
petrol = gasoline
chapel = a non-Anglican Protestant church
vicar = an Anglican parish clergyman
public school = private school
railway = railroad
there are so many differences you really need to buy an American/British English dictionary. A couple of tips: a fanny is not a butt. a f a g is a cigarette.
Yeah, there's far too many to realistically list here but just some off the top of my head that I don't think have been mentioned yet:
trolly = shopping cart
tram = street train (trolly)
Manc = person from Manchester
Scouse/scouser = person from Liverpool
bin = trash can
bin liners = trash bag
kitchen towels = paper towels
toilet or loo rolls = toilet paper
paracetamol = Tylenol
trainers = sneakers/tennis shoes
pants = underpants
A chav is also stereotyped by their clothing choices, usually something tacky and cheap.
You don't "call" someone on the phone, you "ring" them. And if you're stopping or going somewhere, you are "calling" to there - for example "I'm going to call to Sainsbury's (food store)".
People don't refer to carbonated drinks "soda" or "pop", they just refer to it by it's brand name like "Coke" or "Pepsi".
Of course language is regional within the UK too so words, phrases and slang may be different in Scotland than it is in England or where I'm located in England (for example, refering to a brother as "our kid" is a very Manchester thing).
have a go = have a try
post = mail
note = bill (currency)
loo = bathroom
queue = waiting line
tin = tin can
ring up = call on phone
council housing = public housing
ring road = beltway or bypass
riding = election district
return ticket = roundtrip ticket
VAT = value-added tax
dustbin = garbage can
greengrocer = produce market
ironmonger = hardware store
rubbish = garbage
dustman = garbage man
vespers = worship at sundown
mad = enthusiastic
fancy = to like something
reckon = suppose
I have NEVER, in my entire life, heard anyone use the word "bristols" out loud when referred to breasts! 99.9% of the time people use the word "t!ts". Better get used to that.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
) so I thought I'd start a thread for the ones I don't know.
