Vocabulary differences in American and Commonwealth English

[Creoda]

List them.

Some off the top of my head:

American: Sidewalk. British & Australian: Pavement/Footpath
American: Chips. British & Australian: Crisps
American: Fries. British & Australian: Chips
American & Australian: Truck. British: Lorry
American: Elevator. British & Australian: Lift
American: Parking Lot. British & Australian: Car Park
American: Cell Phone. British & Australian: Mobile Phone
American & Australian: Soccer. British: Football
American: Football. British & Australian: Gridiron
American: Faucet. British & Australian: Tap
American: Bell Pepper. Australian: Capsicum
American: Tomato Ketchup. Australian: Tomato Sauce
American: PA system or loudspeaker. British: Tannoy
British: Flip Flops. Australian: Thongs
British: Thongs. Australian: G-string
American & Australian: Pants. British: Trousers
British: Pants. Australian: Undies
American: Sneakers. British: Trainers. Australian: Runners
American: Hockey. British & Australian: Ice Hockey
American: Wop. Australian: Wog
American: SUV. Australian: 4-Wheel Drive
American: Sweater. British & Australian: Jumper
American: Jello. British & Australian: Jelly
American: Jelly. British & Australian: Jam
American: Couch. British: Sofa. Australian: Couch/Settee
American: Beets. British & Australian: Beetroot
American: Cookies. British & Australian: Biscuits
American & Australian: Crackers. British: Biscuits
American: Soda. British: Pop/Fizzy Drink. Australian: Soft Drink
American: Vacation. British & Australian: Holiday
American: Caribou. British & Australian: Reindeer
American: Garbage/Trash. British & Australian: Rubbish
American: Dumpster. British & Australian: Skip
Baseball: Batter. Cricket: Batsman
American: Shutout. British & Australian: Clean sheet
American: Bar. British & Australian: Pub
American: Rutabaga. British & Australian: Swede

[Anglo-Celtic]

In America, Pepsi is called soda up north, pop in the midwest, and Coke down south. My grandma's generation called it dope, but that was after Coca-Cola removed cocaine from its *pop* (the correct term because I use it).

[Creoda]

American: Candy. British & Australian: Sweets (and Lollies in Aus)
American: Taffy. British & Australian: Toffee
American: Scots-Irish. British: Ulster Scots or Northern Irish.

[Chron]

American: Beanie. Canadian: Toque.
American: Cigarette. Canadian & Australian: Dart.
American & modern Canadian: Couch. Old Canadian: Chesterfield.
American: 24 pack. Canadian: Two-four

And, the most jarring one to hear on tv or whatever is "goof". I think Canada is the only place where it means someone who uh... does things to kids.

[Creoda]

American: Beanie. Canadian: Toque.
American: Cigarette. Canadian & Australian: Dart.
American & modern Canadian: Couch. Old Canadian: Chesterfield.
American: 24 pack. Canadian: Two-four

Tbh I've never heard of dart for cigarettes here, it's just ciggies, fags or smokes.

A 24 pack of beer in Australia is a slab.

[Chron]

I've never heard it from Australians either, but I keep finding websites (even wiktionary) say it's Australian too

[Creoda]

American: Kindergarten. Australian: Pre-School
American: Elementary School. British & Australian: Primary School
American: College. Australian: Uni
American: Bangs. British & Australian: Fringe
American: Diaper. British & Australian: Nappy
American: Shopping Cart. British & Australian: Shopping Trolley
American: Checkers. British: Draughts
American: Telephone (game). British & Australian: Chinese Whispers
American: Trailer/Trailer Park. British & Australian: Caravan/Caravan Park
American: Tic-Tac-Toe. British & Australian: Noughts and Crosses
American: Funeral Home. Australian: Funeral Parlour
American: Cotton candy. Australian: Fairy floss
American: Ice cream float. Australian: spider
American: Traffic cones. Australian: Witches' hats

[oszkar07]

List them.

Some off the top of my head:

American: Sidewalk. British & Australian: Pavement/Footpath
American: Chips. British & Australian: Crisps
American: Fries. British & Australian: Chips
American & Australian: Truck. British: Lorry
American: Elevator. British & Australian: Lift
American: Parking Lot. British & Australian: Car Park
American: Cell Phone. British & Australian: Mobile Phone
American & Australian: Soccer. British: Football
American: Football. British & Australian: Gridiron
American: Faucet. British & Australian: Tap
American: Bell Pepper. Australian: Capsicum
American: Tomato Ketchup. Australian: Tomato Sauce
American: PA system or loudspeaker. British: Tannoy
British: Flip Flops. Australian: Thongs
British: Thongs. Australian: G-string
American & Australian: Pants. British: Trousers
British: Pants. Australian: Undies
American: Sneakers. British: Trainers. Australian: Runners
American: Hockey. British & Australian: Ice Hockey
American: Wop. Australian: Wog
American: SUV. Australian: 4-Wheel Drive
American: Sweater. British & Australian: Jumper
American: Jello. British & Australian: Jelly
American: Jelly. British & Australian: Jam
American: Couch. British: Sofa. Australian: Couch/Settee
American: Beets. British & Australian: Beetroot
American: Cookies. British & Australian: Biscuits
American & Australian: Crackers. British: Biscuits
American: Soda. British: Pop/Fizzy Drink. Australian: Soft Drink
American: Vacation. British & Australian: Holiday
American: Caribou. British & Australian: Reindeer
American: Garbage/Trash. British & Australian: Rubbish
American: Dumpster. British & Australian: Skip
Baseball: Batter. Cricket: Batsman
American: Shutout. British & Australian: Clean sheet
American: Bar. British & Australian: Pub
American: Rutabaga. British & Australian: Swede

I would usually say Chips over Crisps , I think Crisps is more British. Maybe Australians said Crisps in the past ? or unless its a Victorian thing ?

I think ive always said Sneakers over Runners, or maybe runners is an older term Ive forgotten to use in preference for sneakers, but I recall in my youth people saying sandshoes to refer to runner/sneaker type shoes.

America: Cilantro. Australia: Coriander
America: Cantaloupe. Australian: Rock melon
America: shot as in shot glass. Australia:Nip
America: Fanny means buttocks. Australia/British:Fanny is vulgar slang for female genitals.
America: Burger. Australia:Hamburger
America:Lemonade means a drink originally made from sweet lemons or tastes simliar to this also pink lemonade. Australia: Lemonade means either Sprite,7up or Sweppes Lemonade...or other brands of similiar taste.
America:shrimp. Australia: Prawns

[Creoda]

I would usually say Chips over Crisps , I think Crisps is more British. Maybe Australians said Crisps in the past ? or unless its a Victorian thing ?
Yes you're right, chips is most commonly said now, but crisps is still known and used (by me at least). Smith's were still officially called crisps here until the early 00s.


I think ive always said Sneakers over Runners, or maybe runners is an older term Ive forgotten to use in preference for sneakers, but I recall in my youth people saying sandshoes to refer to runner/sneaker type shoes.
Perhaps runners is more Victorian, I've never heard sneakers except on TV.



America:Lemonade means a drink originally made from sweet lemons or tastes simliar to this also pink lemonade. Australia: Lemonade means either Sprite,7up or Sweppes Lemonade...or other brands of similiar taste.
True, although American-style cloudy lemonade is also sold by Schweppes etc.

[rothaer]

(...)

1.
What do Americans call what is hockey in British English?

2.
In German you have the Naher Osten (literally "Near East"),

https://i.imgur.com/vhvPi0D.png

the Mittlerer Osten (literally "Middle East")

https://i.imgur.com/oah6QXn.png

and the Ferner Osten (literally "Far East").

https://i.imgur.com/CiUjZde.png

When did the English forget about the Mittlerer Osten and begin to call the Near East the Middle East and why??? Are there differences between different English speaking countries?

[Chron]

American: Kindergarten. Australian: Pre-School

American: College. Australian: Uni

Interesting. Kindergarten and pre-school are different things here, same with college and university.

Pre-school is a private daycare for before you go to kindergarten, and kindergarten is a government school program pretty similar to first grade.
College is usually more hands-on, training for jobs like the trades, nursing, anything to do with computers, etc.
University is more theoretical and academic, things like engineering, sciences, history, mathematics.

[rothaer]

American: Hockey. British & Australian: Ice Hockey


If we presuppose that hockey existed before ice hockey, then better bandy should have been called ice hockey because it's more hockey-like. Both the bandy stick is bent - is hockey maybe even derived from hook? - and it's played with a ball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandy

[oszkar07]

Yes you're right, chips is most commonly said now, but crisps is still known and used (by me at least). Smith's were still officially called crisps here until the early 00s.


Perhaps runners is more Victorian, I've never heard sneakers except on TV.


True, although American-style cloudy lemonade is also sold by Schweppes etc.

True,also to some degree over time Australains have adopted some more American terms compared to the past.
When I was a kid nobody celebrated Halloween but now its become a trend in Australia.
Also when I was a kid we did celebrate a firecracker night and firecrackers were sold everywhere in shops and shopping centres. I think Firecracker night was banned either in late 1980's or early 1990's.

[Creoda]

1.
What do Americans call what is hockey in British English?

I guess they call it Field Hockey, which is its official name in the Olympics.


2.
When did the English forget about the Mittlerer Osten and begin to call the Near East the Middle East and why???
I have no idea why, but I agree it's silly. Maybe because it doesn't seem so near :p Contrary to the German definition there South Asia and Afghanistan isn't included in the Middle East in English.


Are there differences between different English speaking countries?
Not in that respect, however in America and Australia 'Asians' tends to refer only to East Asians, while in Britain it refers only to South Asians. Also orientals always means East Asians. Wog historically meant South Asians and Arabs in Britain rather than Southern Europeans, contrary to Australia. Don't ask why that difference.

[rothaer]

(...) [Near East/Middle East] Maybe because it doesn't seem so near :p

Maybe when the Germans became the Huns from WWI on the Near East in an English reception had moved to Central Europe. :p

[Russki]

This is too much for ESL brains


https://i.imgur.com/MO6zg3C.gif

[Creoda]

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.DcVGZfeufMjPKoxRuMEmpgHaDf?pid=ImgDet&rs=1

More:

American: Airplane. British/Australian: Aeroplane
American: To go to the bathroom. British/Australian: To go to the toilet
American: Stickshift. Australian: Manual
American: Hurricane. Australian: Cyclone
American: Wildfire. Australian: Bushfire
American: Ground Beef. British/Australian: Mince
American: Sharpie. Australian: Texta/Permanent Marker

Others lifted from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_English_vocabulary#Comparison_with_othe r_varieties
American: Comforter. British: Duvet. Australian: Doona
American/Australian: Eggplant. British: Aubergine
American: Hood (of a car). British/Australian: Bonnet
American: Trunk (of a car). British/Australian: Boot
American: Pickup (truck). Australian: Ute
American: Cooler. Australian: Esky
American/Australian: Swamp/Swampland. British: Fen/Fenland
British: Heath. Australian: Shrubland
British: Stream. Australian: Creek
American/British: Woods. Australian: Bush
American/Australian: Babysitter. British: Child-minder
American/Australian: Station wagon. British: Estate Car
American/Australian: To vacuum. British: To Hoover
American: Acclimate. British/Australian: Acclimatise
American: Aluminum. British/Australian: Aluminium
American: Bayou. Australian: Billabong
American: Bellhop. British/Australian: Porter
American: Beltway. British/Australian: Ring Road
American: To Broil. British/Australian: To Grill
American: Burglarize. British/Australian: Burgle
American: Check. British/Australian: Bill
American: Counter-Clockwise. British/Australian: Anticlockwise
American: Downtown. Australian: CBD
American: Drugstore. British/Australian: Chemist
American: Fall (season). British/Australian: Autumn
American: Flashlight. British/Australian: Torch
American: Frosting (on a cake). British/Australian: Icing
American: Gasoline. Australian: Petrol
American: Gas Station. Australian: Petrol Station
American: Golden Raisins. British/Australian: Sultana's
American: Hot Tub. British/Australian: Spa
American: Mailman. British/Australian: Postman
American: Mass Transit. British/Australian: Public transport
American: Math. British/Australian: Maths
American: Obligated. British/Australian: Obliged
American: Out of state. Australian: Interstate
American: Pacifier. British/Australian: Dummy
American: Period (punctuation). British/Australian: Full stop
American: To Play Hooky. British/Australian: To Wag
American: Popsicle. Australian: Icy Pole
American: Railroad. British/Australian: Railway
American: Rappel. British/Australian: Abseil
American: Realtor. British/Australian: Real Estate Agent
American: Row House. British/Australian: Terrace House
American: Saran wrap. British: Clingfilm. Australian: Gladwrap
American: Scallion. British/Australian: Spring Onion
American: Silverware. British/Australian: Cutlery
American: Streetcar. British/Australian: Tram
American: Sweatpants. Australian: Tracksuit pants/Trackie Dacks (dacks is slang for pants)
American: Tailpipe. British/Australian: Exhaust
American: Takeout (food). British/Australian: Takeaway
American: Windshield. British/Australian: Windscreen

[Hulu]

I'd say we use sofa for the big ones and a soft drink/ beverage or the name of the drink, dont hear any soda.

[Creoda]

Not vocabulary but have noticed lately Americans say 'where's he at?' a lot instead of where is he.

Is this ebonic influence? Sounds like it.

[Dragoon]

My way:

American: Sidewalk.
American: Chips.
American: Fries.
American & Australian: Truck.
American: Elevator.
American: Parking Lot.
American: Cell Phone.
American & Australian: Soccer. British: Football
British & Australian: Tap
American: Bell Pepper.
American: Ketchup.
American: PA system or loudspeaker.
British: Flip Flops.
British: Thongs.
American & Australian: Pants.
American: Hockey.
American: SUV.
American: Sweater.
American: Jello.
British & Australian: Jam
American: Couch.
American: Cookies
American & Australian: Crackers.
Australian: Soft Drink, Other: Coke
American: Vacation. British & Australian: Holiday
British & Australian: Reindeer
American: Garbage/Trash.
Baseball: Batter
American: Shutout.
American: Bar.

[Dragoon]

American: Airplane.
American: To go to the bathroom. Other: Washroom
Australian: Manual
American: Hurricane.
American: Ground Beef.

Others lifted from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austra...ther_varieties

American: Hood (of a car).
American: Trunk (of a car).
American: Pickup (truck).
American: Cooler.
American/Australian: Swamp/Swampland.
British: Stream. Australian: Creek
American/British: Woods.
American/Australian: Babysitter.
American/Australian: Station wagon.
American/Australian: To vacuum.
American: Aluminum.
American: Check. British/Australian: Bill
American: Counter-Clockwise.
American: Downtown.
American: Drugstore.
American: Fall (season). British/Australian: Autumn
American: Flashlight.
American: Frosting (on a cake). British/Australian: Icing
American: Gasoline.
American: Gas Station.
American: Hot Tub. British/Australian: Spa
American: Mailman. British/Australian: Postman
British/Australian: Public transport
American: Math.
American: Out of state.
American: Pacifier.
American: Period (punctuation).
American: Popsicle.
American: Railroad. British/Australian: Railway
American: Realtor. British/Australian: Real Estate Agent
American: Streetcar.
American: Sweatpants. Australian: Tracksuit pants
American: Tailpipe. British/Australian: Exhaust
American: Takeout (food).
American: Windshield.

skipped a few for lack of usage

[Creoda]

Apparently Americans don't say fortnight/fortnightly for two weeks like we do. That's new to me. I guess it's bi-weekly there?

[Graham]

Used the term mailman instead of postie and got a lost look in England. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you use American words or if it's normal. People say chemist(correct) for example but then you see the word pharmacy a lot. My school had a janny, and they don't use that in England.

I say pictures, but many don't or we say puggy where I'm from and the English say fruit machines. everything gets blurred.

[Creoda]

Used the term mailman instead of postie and got a lost look in England. Sometimes it's hard to tell if you use American words or if it's normal. People say chemist(correct) for example but then you see the word pharmacy a lot. My school had a janny, and they don't use that in England.

I say pictures, but many don't or we say puggy where I'm from and the English say fruit machines. everything gets blurred.
We don't say Janitor here either.

Fruit machines/slot machines = Pokies.

[Creoda]

How could I forget - UK/Aus: Stanley Knife. US: Box cutter.

[Universe]

When did the English forget about the Mittlerer Osten and begin to call the Near East the Middle East and why??? Are there differences between different English speaking countries?
In my country the area that Anglophones call Middle East is Near East. I think Middle East is a USA-centric term, because from American point of view Lebanon, Israel, Iran etc. is not near.

...
How common is the usage of the word "movie" in British Isles and Australia?

[Universe]

...

[Creoda]

In my country the area that Anglophones call Middle East is Near East. I think Middle East is a USA-centric term, because from American point of view Lebanon, Israel, Iran etc. is not near.

How common is the usage of the word "movie" in British Isles and Australia?
It's the regular term, alongside film(s), which I don't think Americans say. The 'pictures' is only said by older people here.

[Roy]

Not vocabulary but have noticed lately Americans say 'where's he at?' a lot instead of where is he.

Is this ebonic influence? Sounds like it.

Their use of ''ain't'' also seems to be such.

[Sheppey]

List them.

Some off the top of my head:

American: Sidewalk. British & Australian: Pavement/Footpath
American: Chips. British & Australian: Crisps
American: Fries. British & Australian: Chips
American & Australian: Truck. British: Lorry
American: Elevator. British & Australian: Lift
American: Parking Lot. British & Australian: Car Park
American: Cell Phone. British & Australian: Mobile Phone
American & Australian: Soccer. British: Football
American: Football. British & Australian: Gridiron
American: Faucet. British & Australian: Tap
American: Bell Pepper. Australian: Capsicum
American: Tomato Ketchup. Australian: Tomato Sauce
American: PA system or loudspeaker. British: Tannoy
British: Flip Flops. Australian: Thongs
British: Thongs. Australian: G-string
American & Australian: Pants. British: Trousers
British: Pants. Australian: Undies
American: Sneakers. British: Trainers. Australian: Runners
American: Hockey. British & Australian: Ice Hockey
American: Wop. Australian: Wog
American: SUV. Australian: 4-Wheel Drive
American: Sweater. British & Australian: Jumper
American: Jello. British & Australian: Jelly
American: Jelly. British & Australian: Jam
American: Couch. British: Sofa. Australian: Couch/Settee
American: Beets. British & Australian: Beetroot
American: Cookies. British & Australian: Biscuits
American & Australian: Crackers. British: Biscuits
American: Soda. British: Pop/Fizzy Drink. Australian: Soft Drink
American: Vacation. British & Australian: Holiday
American: Caribou. British & Australian: Reindeer
American: Garbage/Trash. British & Australian: Rubbish
American: Dumpster. British & Australian: Skip
Baseball: Batter. Cricket: Batsman
American: Shutout. British & Australian: Clean sheet
American: Bar. British & Australian: Pub
American: Rutabaga. British & Australian: Swede

It is not just that but spelling too e.g. centre vs center and maths vs math but overall I think Brits can fake American 'English' , online, better than unsophisticated Americans can fake British English.

[Creoda]

overall I think Brits can fake American 'English' , online, better than unsophisticated Americans can fake British English.
No shit :icon_lol:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moaW8LRusak&t=31s&ab_channel=Tomislav%C5%A0kacan

[Creoda]

Their use of ''ain't'' also seems to be such.
I doubt it, since Cockney's have also said 'ain't' going back a long way, e.g. It Ain't Half Hot Mum.