Vocabulary differences in American and Commonwealth English

[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 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

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

[Russki]

This is too much for ESL brains

[Creoda]

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/Austra...ther_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.