Page 191 - English Vocabulary In Use upper intermediet and advance

US English

Englkh in the USA differs considerably from British English. Pronunciation is the most
striking difference but there are also a number of differences in vocabulary and spelling as
well as slight differences in grammar. On the whole, British people are exposed to a lot of
American English on TV, in films and so on and so they will usually understand most
American vocabulary.

American spelling is usually simpler. For example, British English words ending in -our and
-re, end in -or and -er in American English, e.g. colourlcolor, centrelcenter. There are
differences in individual words too, e.g. British 'plough' becomes 'plow'. The American
spelling usually tries to correspond more closely to pronunciation.

Here are some common US words with their British equivalents.
Travel and on the street In the home
American English British English American English British English
gasoline petrol antenna aerial
truck lorry elevator lift
baggage luggage eraser rubber
blow-out puncture apartment flat
sidewalk pavement closet wardrobe
line queue drapes curtains
vacation holiday faucet tap
trunk (of car) boot kerosene paraffin
hood (of car) bonnet Scotch tape sellotape
cab taxi yard garden
freeway motorway cookie biscuit
round trip return candy sweets
railway car railway carriage garbage rubbish
engineer (on train) engine driver diaper "aPPY
baby carriage pram panti-hose tights
Note also: the fall = autumn semester = term [semester is becoming common in Britain.]

Here are some words and phrases which can cause confusion when used by Brits and
Americans talking together because they mean something different in each 'language'.
when they say: an American means and a Brit means
what a Brit calls: what an American calls:
a bill a (bank) note a check (in a cafi)
the first floor the ground floor the second floor
pants trousers underpants
potato chips potato crisps french fries
purse a handbag a wallet
subway an underground railway an underpass
vest a waistcoat an undershirt
wash up wash your hands wash the dishes

English Vocabulary in Use