British Language Online
Although we in the USA say we speak English, a better description might be
that we speak American. Here are differences in words between British English
and American English:
When I first came to America, twenty two years ago, even though I spoke
English, the words coming out of my mouth often resulted in puzzled looks and
blank stares, the reason being, I didn't speak AMERICAN English. I now speak it
(and write it) rather fluently, and often interchange words because I'm an inconsistent
git (idiot). In attempts to help more people butcher their
vocabulary, I have compiled this incomplete dictionary of American and British
words (and spellings), in my free time, and Bob's your uncle.
Note: Words marked with a * show different spelling.
A
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Airplane
|
Aeroplane
|
Aluminum
|
Aluminium
|
Apartment
|
Flat
|
Appetizer
|
Entree, Starter
|
*Archeology
|
Archaeology
|
B
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Babysitter
|
Minder
|
Baked Potato
|
Jacket Potato
|
Bathroom
|
Loo, The Toilet
|
Band-Aid
|
Elastoplast
|
Bank Teller
|
Cashier
|
Bedspread
|
Similar to a Eiderdown and Duvet
|
Billion
|
Trillion
|
Bleachers
|
Terrace
|
Braces (for teeth)
|
Brace
|
C
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Call (on the phone)
|
Ring
|
Cafeteria
|
Refectory
|
Can
|
Tin
|
Candy
|
Sweets
|
*Catalog
|
Catalogue
|
Cents
|
Pence
|
Chapstick
|
Lip Balm
|
*Check
|
Cheque
|
Checkers
|
Draughts
|
Chips
|
Crisps
|
Cigarette
|
Fag
|
Closet (bedroom)
|
Wardrobe
Clumsy
|
Cackhanded
|
Collect Call
|
Reverse Charge Call
|
*Color
|
Colour
|
Cookie
|
Biscuit
|
Cotton Candy
|
Candy Floss
|
Commercial
|
Advertisment
|
Cracker
|
Savoury biscuit
|
Crib
|
Cot
|
Cross Walk
|
Zebra Crossing, Pedestrian Crossing
|
Crossing Gaurd
|
Lollipop Man
|
Cupcake
|
Fairy Cake
|
*Curb
|
Kerb
|
|
D
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Dessert
|
Afters, Pudding
|
Detour
|
Diversion
|
Diaper
|
Napkin, Nappy
|
Dollar Bill
|
Note
|
Drugstore
|
Chemist
|
Duplex
|
Semi-Detached House
|
E
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Eggplant
|
Aubergine
|
Elevator
|
Lift
|
Emergency Room
|
Casualty
|
Eraser
|
Rubber
|
Expensive
|
Dear
|
F
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Faucet
|
Tap
|
*Favorite
|
Favourite
|
Fire Department
|
Fire Brigade
|
Flashlight
|
Torch
|
A Flirt
|
Tart
|
Freeway (Expressway)
|
Motorway, Carriageway
|
G
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Garbage Man
|
Dustman
|
Garter Belt
|
Suspenders
|
Glue
|
Gum
|
Gasoline
|
Petrol
|
Gizzards
|
Offal
|
Golashes
|
Wellingtons, Wellies
|
*Gray
|
Grey
|
Gutter
|
Gully
|
H
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Hamburger Bun
|
Bap
|
*Honor
|
Honour
|
Hood (car)
|
Bonnet
|
Horny
|
Randy
|
House (one story)
|
Bungalow
|
*Humor
|
Humour
|
Hungry
|
Peckish
|
J
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
*Jail
|
Gaol
|
Jello
|
Jelly
|
Jelly
|
Jam
|
*Jewelry
|
Jewellery
|
K-L
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Kiss (passionate)
|
Snog
|
Ladybug
|
Ladybird
|
Line
|
Queue
|
Living Room
|
Lounge
|
Lawyer
|
Barrister, Solicitor
|
Leash (Dog)
|
Lead
|
Licens Plate
|
Number Plate
|
Liquor store
|
Off Licens, Offy
|
M
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Mail
|
Post
|
Mailbox
|
Postbox
|
Mail Carrier
|
Postman, Posty
|
*Maneuver
|
Manoeuvre
|
Math
|
Maths
|
Menopause
|
The Maenopause
|
*Mold
|
Mould
|
Movie
|
Film
|
Movie Theater
|
Cinema
|
N-O
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Napkin
|
Serviette
|
Nudist
|
Naturist
|
On/Off Ramp
|
Slip Road
|
Oven
|
Cooker
|
Overalls
|
Dungarees
|
Overpass
|
Flyover
|
P
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Pacifier
|
Dummy
|
Pants
|
Trousers
|
Paper Towel
|
Kitchen towel, Kitchen Paper
|
Parade
|
Carnival
|
Parking Lot
|
Car Park
|
Pharmacist
|
Chemist
|
Picnic Basket
|
Picnic Hamper
|
Pie Crust
|
Pastry Base
|
Plastic Wrap
|
Clingfilm
|
Private school
|
Public school
|
Public School
|
State school
|
*Pajamas
|
Pyjamas
|
R-S
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Raincoat
|
Mackintosh
|
Realtor
|
Estate Agent
|
Rent (to)
|
Hire
|
Robe
|
Dressing Gown
|
Sand Box
|
Sand Pit
|
Sandwich
|
Butty, Sarny
|
Santa Clause
|
Father Christmas
|
Sell
|
Flog
|
Shopping Cart/Basket
|
Trolley
|
Sidewalk
|
Pavement
|
Sir
|
Squire, Guv'nor
|
Sneakers
|
Trainers, Plimsolls,Pumps
|
Soccer
|
Football
|
Spelled
|
Spelt
|
Stroller
|
Pram, Pushchair
|
Styrofoam
|
Polystyrene
|
Suspenders
|
Braces
|
Sweater
|
Pullover, Jumper
|
T
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Take-Out
|
Take-Away
|
Talk Show
|
Chat Show
|
Traffic Jam
|
Tailback
|
Thumb Tack
|
Drawing Pin
|
Tic Tac Toe
|
Naughts and Crosses
|
*Tire
|
Tyre
|
Toothpick
|
Cocktail Stick
|
Track Housing
|
Housing Estate
|
Trailor
|
Caravan
|
Trash
|
Rubbish
|
Trash Can
|
Bin, Dustbin (the one outside)
|
Truck
|
Lorry
|
Trunk (car)
|
Boot
|
Tuxedo
|
Dinner Jacket
|
U-Z
|
AMERICAN
|
BRITISH
|
Umbrella
|
Brolly
|
Undershirt
|
Vest
|
Underwear
|
Pants, knickers
|
Vacation
|
Holiday
|
Vest
|
Waistcoat
|
Wallet (Woman's)
|
Purse
|
Washcloth
|
Flannel
|
Windshield
|
Windscreen
|
Yard
|
Garden
|
Zee (letter)
|
Zed
|
Zip Code
|
Post Code
|
Zucchin
|
Courgette
|
Great English Slang Site HERE.
Slang Expressions are quite colorful. HERE
is a list of slang expressions and their meaning. Idioms often do not translate
without study and help from the speakers, themselves.
Click HERE
to go to a Google list of British slang which is current to the minute.
Online Dictionaries
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ArtLex, a dictionary
of visual art.
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Dictionary.com.
Offers various on-line dictionary and language services.
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English-Spanish
Library and Information Studies Dictionary This is a
compilation of the terminology, both general and specific,
that students and professionals generally encounter when
reading library and information literature. 89,215 entries.
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Glossary
Agent (tm), access to glossaries
in insurance, finance, law and healthcare
|
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lexicool.com,
directory of bilingual and multilingual dictionaries.
|
Merriam-Webster Online,
access to Webster's American English dictionary and
thesaurus
|
OneLook Dictionaries,
search or browse general and subject-specific glossaries and
dictionaries
|
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Roget's
Thesaurus (version 1.02) from the ARTFL Project at the
University of Chicago
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xrce
Language Identifier Key in text to identify which
language it is written in (47 languages are included)
|
yourDictionary.com
(formerly Web of On-line Dictionaries) links to many
dictionaries, thesauri and other language resources.
|
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Acronym Database
- a source of general acronyms and abbreviations, based in
Ireland.
|
Acronym Finder
- for computer, technology, telecommunications and military
acronyms.
|
Acronym Search
- a source of general acronyms and abbreviations.
|
AllRefer.com
Educational resource provides a comprehensive collection of
reference, encyclopedia, health, gazetteer, country studies,
and educational databases. Includes more than 150,000
articles on topics covered under health, history, science,
people, places, arts, sports, plants, animals, technology,
philosophy, religion, literature, and more.
|
AllRefer
Reference Browse articles in all areas of topics within
Earth & Environment, History, Literature & Arts,
Health & Medicine, People, Philosophy & Religion,
Places, Plants & Animals, Science & Technology,
Social Science, Law, Sports, Everyday Life, and more.
Includes Country Studies and North America Gazetteer.
|
Bartleby.com
(Reference section) - online versions of reference works
(including 1918 edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human
Body)
|
Bartlett's Familiar
Quotations - search this database of quotations based on
the original collection by John Bartlett
|
Britannica.com -
includes Encyclopędia Britannica
|
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The
Catholic Encyclopedia - an online version (not yet
complete) of the 1913 printed edition
|
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Date and Time Gateway
- discover the local time in countries and cities world-wide
|
De Imperatoribus
Romanis - an online encyclopedia of the rulers of
ancient Rome
|
Diccionarios
en internet - a directory of reference works in English
or Spanish
|
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Encyclopedia.com
- a first-stop Internet encyclopedia
|
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Encyclopedia of Life
Sciences - a subscription service from the Nature
Publishing Group (available to UK education via a CHEST
agreement)
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Encyclopedia
Mythica - an encyclopedia on world-wide mythology,
folklore and magic
|
International
Dialing Codes - a table listing of telephone country
codes and international prefixes
|
Internet FAQ Archives -
a compilation of Usenet Frequently Asked Questions postings
|
The
Internet Grammar of English - an online course in
English grammar from University College London
|
Measuring
Units Conversion Tables - for conversion from/to metric
and imperial and US measurement systems.
|
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Oxford Reference
Online: the Core Collection - cross-searchable resource
including dictionaries, thesauri, language reference works,
subject dictionaries and general reference works, from
Oxford University Press. (Available to UK education at
subsidised rates.)
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The PC Technology
Guide - a guide to the technology underlying the
personal computer's major components and peripherals
|
Perpetual
Calendar - a perpetual (Gregorian) calendar for the
Western World
|
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Portals
to the World - links to information about the countries
of the world, from the Library of Congress
|
Postcode
Finder - lets you find postcodes in the UK, from
Consignia (Royal Mail)
|
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Refdesk.com - a US
service offering a single source for facts via the Internet
|
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UN Atlas of the
Oceans - an Internet portal providing information
relevant to the sustainable development of the oceans
|
Universal Currency
Converter - convert currencies from one to another
using a simple form
|
V.E.R.A.
- the Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms lets you search
for computer-related acronyms and other terms.
|
xrefer - an online
reference engine incorporating encyclopedias, dictionaries,
thesauri and more.
|
Webopedia - a
dictionary and reference site for computer and Internet
technology information.
|
whatis.com - a
reference site for a range of information about computing
and the Internet
|
World
Clock - tabular format displays local time in key
locations world-wide
|
World
Factbook - 2002 edition (published by the CIA)
The information for each country includes: total area,
boundaries, climate, disputes, population, political system
and economy.
|
WORLDTIME - rotate
an image of the globe to see which parts are in daylight and
also discover local time
|
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Landmap -
satellite image and elevation maps of the UK (available to
the academic community in the British Isles)
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MapBlast! - street
maps of the USA (you enter a street address)
|
MapQuest - street
plans and driving directions in the US and Europe
|
Map collection - including a map
of the UK (317K). This collection, the Perry-Castańeda
Collection, holds more than 230,000 maps covering every
area of the world and also includes the maps for European
countries and a map
of the World
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Multimap.com - for
detailed maps of Great Britain (can be searched via
postcode), and maps of Europe and the world
|
old-maps.co.uk -
UK maps dating back to 1846 from Landmark Information Group
|
Streetmap - Post
Code searching and street maps online for the whole of
mainland Britain
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