Page 203 - English Vocabulary in Use (Pre & Intermediate)

98 American English

British English and American English
People in Britain and America understand each other perfectly most of the time, but there
are differences in grammar, vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation. With vocabulary, the
same word may have a different meaning, e.g. British chips are American french fries; and
American chips are British crisps. Sometimes there are completely different words for the
same thing: a lorry in British English is called a truck in American English.

Vocabulary

Here are some important differences. The British English word comes first in each case.
Most of the words are explained in other units. Use the index to help you.
Roads and transport Food
taxi / cab/taxi
return (ticket) / round trip
petrol / gas (gasoline)

main road / highway
motorway/freeway
underground/subway
subway/underpass
pavement/sidewalk
lorry/truck
car park / parking lot
Education
secondary school / high school chips/french fries
term/semester (= periods in
a college year) Clothes
university/college
Time
autumn/fall
holiday/vacation
fortnight / two weeks
Homes
tap/faucet
rubbish / garbage/trash
dustbin/trashcan
toilet/bathroom
wardrobe/closet
Buildings
flat/apartment
vest/undershirt trainers/sneakers
ground floor / first floor
lift/elevator
toilet (gents/ladies) / bathroom (men’s/ladies’ room)

Note: Some American English words are now becoming more common in British English,
e.g. movie (Br. = film); apartment (Br. = flat); semester (Br. = term). One special problem is
that guys in American English can refer to men and/or women, but in British English it is
only used to refer to men.

200 English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate)