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American *
British * Canadian
Englishes Contrasted
Leon's main source of information
for this page: Cambridge Dictionary of the English Language
If you are interested in differences in pronunciation, see my
Phonics
Page
UK
Terms
(Great Britain/Australia) |
North
American Terms
(USA &
Canada) |
| Housing |
| housing estate |
housing development |
| block of flats |
apartment building |
| flat |
apartment |
| (detached) house |
house |
| semi-detached house |
duplex |
| lift |
elevator |
| mortise lock |
deadbolt |
| Bags |
| bum bag |
fanny pack |
| to sack (v.t.)
(slang) |
to fire (v.t.)
(slang) |
| Food |
| crisps |
(potato) chips |
| chips |
French fries |
| cake piping |
cake decoration |
| sponge cake |
layer cake |
| fairy cake |
cup cake |
| biscuit |
cookie |
| jelly |
Jell-O |
| jam doughnut |
jelly doughnut |
| packet of ... |
pack of ... |
| courgette |
zucchini |
| marrow |
squash |
| aubergine |
eggplant |
| Bathroom |
| dustbin
(Austrailia: rubbish bin) |
garbage can / trash can / waste
basket |
| bin |
trash can |
| flannel |
wash cloth |
| bath |
bath tub |
| scales |
scale |
| toilet pan |
toilet
bowl |
| Bedding |
| cot |
crib |
| camp bed |
cot |
| Biking |
| stabilizers |
training wheels |
| cycle helmet |
cycling helmet |
| brake lever |
hand brake |
| Tools |
| dust bin |
dust pan |
| adjustable spanner |
adjustable wrench |
| open-ended spanner |
open-ended wrench |
| ring spanner |
box wrench |
| Stanley knife |
utility knife (razor knife) |
| skip |
dumpster |
| a spirit level |
a level |
| Automobiles |
| petrol |
gasoline |
| boot |
trunk |
| bonnet |
hood |
| windscreen |
windshield |
| number plate |
license plate |
| indicator |
turn signal |
| aerial |
antennae |
| gear stick |
stick shift |
| tailboard |
tailgate |
| while driving: filter in |
while driving: merge in |
| tailback / traffic jam |
traffic jam |
| junction / interchange |
exit / interchange |
| slip road |
ramp |
| flyover |
overpass |
| central reservation |
median (strip) |
| cat's eye |
reflector |
| tipper truck |
dump truck |
| breakdown truck |
tow truck (Central U.S.: wrecker) |
| dustbin lorry |
garbage truck |
| juggernaut,
lorry |
tractor-trailer (semi,
18-wheeler) |
| soft top |
convertible |
| estate car |
station wagon |
| caravan |
trailer (mobile home) |
| saloon car |
sedan |
| public transport |
public transportation |
| Clothing |
| dressing gown |
robe |
| nappy |
diaper |
| the washing |
the wash |
| jumper |
sweater |
| a body |
a bodysuit |
| waistcoat |
vest |
| poloneck |
turtleneck |
| turtleneck |
mock turtleneck |
| body warmer |
down vest |
| lifebelt / life buoy |
preserver/ buoy |
| bobble hat |
Amer: stocking cap Canada:
toque |
| checks / gingham pattern |
checkered pattern |
| clothes peg |
clothes pin |
| coat peg |
coat hook |
| Hair |
| fringe |
bangs |
| parting |
part |
| top knot |
bun |
| hair slide |
barrette |
| Recreation/Leisure |
| skipping rope |
jump rope |
| sand pit |
sand box |
| climbing frame |
jungle gym |
| paddling pool |
wading pool |
| noughts and crosses |
tic tac toe |
| football |
soccer |
| shuttle cock (badminton) |
birdie (badminton) |
| sledge |
sled |
| glove puppet |
hand puppet |
| bricks |
blocks |
| doll's house |
doll house |
| Racks
& Rails |
| plate rack |
dish rack |
| towel rail |
towel rack |
| clothes rail |
clothes rack |
| railway |
railroad (R.R.) |
| Footwear |
| walking boots |
hiking boots |
| Wellingtons |
rubber boots |
| football boots |
cleats |
| plimsolls |
sneakers |
| court shoes |
pumps |
| flip flops |
thongs |
| People/Titles |
| bobby |
police officer (cop) |
| mum, mummy |
mom, mommy |
| head master / head mistress |
principal |
| solicitor |
lawyer |
| Stationery |
| drawing pin |
tack, thumbtack |
| elastic band |
rubber band |
| bulldog clip |
clip |
| sellotape |
scotch tape |
| Biro [name brand metonymy] |
(flowing ink) ball point pen |
| ball pen |
(sticky ink) ball point pen [like
Bic] |
| Miscellaneous |
| rubbish |
garbage |
| gas |
natural gas |
| arcade |
mall |
| hygiene |
sanitation |
| telephone box |
telephone booth |
| queue |
line |
| walking frame |
walker |
| tin |
(tin) can |
| shopping trolley |
shopping cart |
| surgery |
medical clinic |
| fag |
cigarette |
| plaster |
Band-aid (sticky bandage) |
Tick and Cross |
Check
mark and x |
| |
English |
|
Spanish
|
Korean |
Mongolian |
Chinese |
|
Parents of
Homeschool
|
|
Halloween
|
|
Thanksgiving
|
|
Winter Solstice
|
|
Christmas
|
|
New Years
|
|
Chinese Lunar
New Year
|
|
Valentine's
|
|
|
|
Easter
|
|
All About
Dr. Seuss
|
|
Roald Dahl
|
|
Prepper's
Pen |
|
Ways to
Help
Leon's Planet
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