British and North American English

British/North American Vocabulary

Here are some of the main differences in vocabulary between British and North American English.

British	Canadian	American
anywhere	anywhere	anyplace
autumn	autumn/fall	fall
barrister	lawyer	attorney
beeper, pager	pager	beeper
bill (restaurant)	bill	check
biscuit	cookie	cookie
block of flats	apartment block	apartment building
bonnet	hood	hood
boot (of car)	trunk (of car)	trunk (of automobile)
car	car	automobile
caravan	trailer	trailer
chemist	drugstore	drugstore
chest of drawers	dresser	bureau
chips	French fries/chips	French fries
chocolate bar	chocolate bar	candy bar
the cinema	movies	the movies
clothes peg	clothes peg	clothespin
coffin	coffin	casket
condom	condom	rubber
crisps	potato chips	potato chips
crossroads	intersection	intersection
cupboard	cupboard	closet
cutlery	cutlery	silverware
diversion	diversion, detour	detour
drawing-pin	thumbtack	thumbtack
driving licence	driver's licence	driver's license
dummy (for babies)	soother	pacifier
dustbin	garbage can, trash can	ashcan, garbage can, trashcan
dustman	garbageman	garbage collector
engine	engine	motor
estate agent	real estate agent	realtor
film	movie	movie
flat	apartment	apartment
flat tyre	flat tire	flat
flyover	overpass	overpass
galoshes	galoshes	toe rubbers
gear-lever	gearshift	gearshift
Girl Guide	Girl Guide	Girl Scout
ground floor	ground floor, main floor	first floor
handbag	handbag	purse
holiday	holiday	vacation
jam	jam	jelly
jeans	jeans	blue jeans
jug	jug	pitcher
lift	elevator	elevator
lorry	truck	truck
luggage	luggage	baggage
mad	crazy	crazy
main road	main road, main thoroughfare	highway
maize	corn	corn
maths	math	math
mobile (phone)	cellular phone	cellular
motorbike	motorbike, motorcycle	motorcycle
motorway	highway, thoroughfare	freeway, expressway
motorway	freeway	freeway
napkin	serviette, table napkin	napkin
nappy	diaper	diaper
naughts and crosses	tick-tack-toe	tic-tack-toe
pants	shorts	shorts
pavement	sidewalk, pavement	sidewalk
petrol	gas, gasoline	gas, gasoline
The Plough	Big Dipper	Big Dipper
pocket money	pocket money	allowance
post	mail, post	mail
postbox	mailbox, post-box	mailbox
postcode	postal code	zip code
postman	mailman, letter carrier	mailman
pub	bar, pub	bar
public toilet	bathroom	rest room
puncture	flat	flat
railway	railway	railroad
return (ticket)	return	round-trip
reverse charge	collect call, reverse the charges	call collect
ring road	ring road	beltway
road surface	road surface, asphalt	pavement
roundabout	roundabout	traffic circle
rubber	eraser	eraser
rubbish	garbage, trash, refuse	garbage, trash
rubbish-bin	garbage can, trashcan	garbage can, trashcan
saloon (car)	sedan (car)	sedan (automobile)
shop	shop, store	store
single (ticket)	one-way (ticket)	one-way
solicitor	lawyer	attorney
somewhere	somewhere	someplace
spanner	wrench	wrench
spirits	spirits	hard liquor
sweets	candy, sweets	candy
tap (indoors)	tap (indoors)	faucet
tap (outdoors)	tap (outdoors)	spigot
taxi	taxi	cab
tea-towel	dish-towel	dish-towel
telly, TV	TV	TV
third-party insurance	third-party insurance	liability insurance
timetable	schedule	schedule
tin	tin can	can
toll motorway	toll highway	turnpike
torch	flashlight	flashlight
trousers	pants	pants
tube (train)	subway, metro	subway
underground (train)	subway, metro	subway
underpants	shorts	shorts
van	truck	truck
vest	undershirt	undershirt
waistcoat	vest	vest
wallet	wallet	billfold
wellington boots	rubber boots	rubbers
whisky	whisky, scotch	whiskey, scotch
windscreen	windshield	windshield
zip	zipper	zipper