User:Mclay1/Britishisms

The following is an incomplete list of the differences between words and phrases in the UK, US and Australia. If you know of something that is not listed, feel free to add it, unless the only difference is the usual use of full stops in an abbreviation (e.g. US vs U.S.). Differences between words also apply to derivatives, unless otherwise noted.

British	Australian	American	Context
accommodation	accommodation	accommodations	noun
accoutre	accoutre	accouter	all
action replay		instant replay	all
adze	adze	adz	all
aerofoil	aerofoil	airfoil	all
aeroplane	aeroplane	airplane	all
ageing	ageing	aging	all
agony aunt		advice columnist	all
Allen key	Allen key	Allen wrench	all
alternative	alternative	alternate
aluminium	aluminium	aluminum	all
American football	gridiron	football	American football
analogue	analogue	analog	all
analyse	analyse	analyze	all
analysing	analysing	analyzing	all
aniseed	aniseed	anise	all
annexe	annexe	annex	noun
anticlockwise	anticlockwise	counter-clockwise; counterclockwise	all
armour	armour	armor	all
arse	arse	ass	buttocks
artefact	artefact	artifact	all
articulated lorry	semi-trailer	tractor trailer	all
assurance	assurance	insurance
asymmetric bars		uneven bars
aubergine	eggplant	eggplant	food
Australian rules football	football; Aussie rules	Australian rules football	Australian rules football
axe	axe	ax	all
back-up	back-up	backup	all
baking tray	baking tray	cookie sheet	all
bank holiday	public holiday	legal holiday	public holiday
beetroot	beetroot	beet	all
behove	behove	behoove	all
bill	bill	check	money
biscuit	biscuit; cookie or cracker	cookie or cracker	food, except cookie sheet
black economy		underground economy
blanket bath	sponge bath	sponge bath
blind	blind	shade	window covering
block of flats	block of flats	condomonium	housing
bogeyman	boogeyman	boogeyman	all
boiled sweets		hard candy	food
boiler suit		coveralls	clothing
bonnet	bonnet	hood	vehicle engine covering
boob tube	boob tube	tube top	clothing
boot	boot	trunk	vehicle storage space covering
bottom drawer	bottom drawer	hope chest	bottom drawer
bowls	lawn bowls	lawn bowling	sport
braces	suspenders	suspenders	clothing
brawn		headcheese
break-down van	tow truck	tow truck
break-up	break-up	breakup	all
breathalyse	breathalyse	breathalyze	all
breathalysing	breathalysing	breathalyzing	all
brent		brant
breeze block	breeze block	cinder block
bridging loan		bridge loan
bumbag		fanny pack
calibre	calibre	caliber	all
camomile		chamomile
candyfloss	fairy floss	cotton candy	food
carburettor	carburettor	carburetor	all
car park		parking lot
casualty		the emergency room
catalogue	catalogue	catalog	all, except catalogued/cataloged
catalogued	catalogued	cataloged	all
cataloguing	cataloguing	cataloging	all
catalyse	catalyse	catalyze	all
catalysing	catalysing	catalyzing	all
catapult	catapult	slingshot	verb
central reservation		median strip
charivari		shivaree	all
chemist	chemist	drugstore	place
cheque	cheque	check	money, except chequer/checker
chequer	chequer	checker	money
chilli	chilli	chili	food
chip	hot chip	French fry	food
centre	centre	center	all, except centred/centered
centred	centred	centered	all
centring	centring	centering	all
cinema	movies; cinema; movie theatre	movie theater; movie theatre; movies	place
clean-up	clean-up	cleanup	all
cling film	cling film	plastic wrap	all
common seal		harbor seal	animal
complexion	complexion	complexion; complection	all
connection; connexion	connection	connection	all
consumer durables		durable goods
cornflour	cornflour	cornstarch	food
coupé	coupé	coupe
colour	colour	color	all
cos	cos	Romaine	food
cosy	cosy	cozy	all
cotton bud	cotton bud	cotton swab
cotton wool	cotton wool	absorbent cotton
council estate		housing project
courgette	zucchini	zucchini	food
court card		face card
crash barrier		guardrail
crisp	chip	chip	food
crocodile clip	crocodile clip	alligator clip
cross-ply		bias-ply
crotchet	crotchet	quarter note	music
cupboard or wardrobe		closet	all
current account		checking account	money
cypher		cipher
danger money		hazard pay
deca-	deca-	deka-	all
defence	defence	defense	all
demagogue	demagogue	demagog	all
dependant	dependant	dependent	noun, except independent
dialogue	dialogue	dialog	all
diamante	diamante	rhinestone	all
disc	disc	disk	all, except "magnetic disk"; "optical disc"
distil	distil	distill	all
double cream	double cream	heavy cream	coffee
doughnut	doughnut	donut	all
draught	draught	draft
draughts	checkers	checkers	game
drawing pin		thumbtack
dressing gown	dressing gown	bathrobe	all
drink-driving	drink-driving	drunk driving	crime
drinks cupboard		liquor cabinet
drinks party	cocktail party	cocktail party
driving licence	driving licence	driver's license
dual carriageway	multi-lane highway	divided highway	road
dulness	dulness	dullness	all
dummy	dummy	pacifier	baby's item
dust sheet		drop cloth
dustbin; rubbish bin	garbage bin; rubbish bin	garbage bin; garbage can; trash bin; trash can	bin
earth		ground	electricity
elk		moose
encyclopedia; encyclopaedia	encyclopedia; encyclopaedia	encyclopedia	all
engaged		busy	telephone
enquire; enquiring; enquiry	enquire; enquiring; enquiry	inquire; inquiring; inquiry	all
enrol	enrol	enroll	all
ensure	ensure	insure	make sure
enthral; inthral	enthral; inthral	enthrall; inthrall	all
estate agent	real estate agent	real estate agent; realtor	occupation
estate car	station wagon	station wagon	vehicle
ex-directory		unlisted
eyrie	eyrie	aerie
faith school		parochial school
fibre	fibre	fiber	all
fillet	fillet	filet
film	movie; film	movie	except "movie theater" / "movie theatre"
financial year	financial year	fiscal year
fire brigade; fire service	fire service	fire company; fire department
fire engine	fire truck	fire truck	vehicle
first floor etc.	first floor etc.	second floor etc.	buildings
fish finger	fish finger	fish stick	food
fitted carpet		wall-to-wall carpeting	all
flannel	face-cloth	washcloth	all
flat	apartment; flat	apartment	building
flexitime		flextime
flick knife	switch blade	switch blade
flip-flop	thong	flip-flop	type of shoe
British	American	Context
flyover	overpass	noun
foetus etc.	fetus etc.	all
football	soccer	Association football
footpath; footway	sidewalk
fringe	bangs	anatomy
fulfil; fulness	fulfill; fullness
full board	American plan
full stop	period	linguistics
furore	furor	all
gaol	jail	all
garden	lawn or yard
gauntlet	gantlet
gear lever	gearshift
gearing	leverage
glycerine	glycerin	all
goitre	goiter	all
goods train	freight train
got	gotten	past participle
gramme	gram	all
greaseproof paper	wax paper; waxed paper
green fingers	a green thumb	gardening
grey	gray	colour
grill	broiler	noun
grill	broil	verb
ground floor	first floor	buildings
grotty	grody	all
harbour	harbor	all
haulier	hauler
homologue	homolog	all
hydrolyse	hydrolyze	all
hairslide	barrette
hatstand	hatrack
hen night	bachelorette party
hire purchase	installment plan
hoarding	billboard
hob	stovetop
holdall	carryall
holiday; holidaymaker	vacation; vacationer
homely	homey	all
hosepipe	hose	object
hot flush	hot flash
housing estate	housing development
hundreds and thousands	sprinkles
ice lolly	Popsicle	food
icing sugar	confectioner's sugar	food
in hospital; to hospital	in the hospital; to the hospital
indicator	turn signal
inside leg	inseam
instal	install	all
instil	instill	all
jemmy	jimmy
jeweller; jewellery	jeweler; jewelry	all
Joe Bloggs	Joe Blow
John Public	John Q. Public
jumble sale	rummage sale
jump lead	jumper cable
jumper	sweater	top
junior school	elementary school
kennel	doghouse
kerb	curb	noun
kidnapped; kidnapper; kidnapping	kidnaped; kidnaper; kidnaping	all
British	Australian	American	Context
labour	labour	labor	all, except the Australian Labor Party
ladybird	lady beetle	ladybug	all
British	American	Context
letter box; postbox	mailbox	object
lettuce	head of lettuce	a
level crossing	grade crossing
licence	license	noun
lift	elevator	object
line-up	lineup	noun
liquorice	licorice	all
litre	liter	all
loft	attic	all
lollipop lady; lollipop man	crossing guard
loose cover	slipcover
lorry	truck	noun except fire truck; pick-up truck; tow truck
loudhailer	bullhorn
low loader	flatbed truck
louvre	louver	all
lucky dip	grab bag
luggage van	baggage car
lustre	luster
macabre	macaber
maize	corn
mangetout	snow pea
manoeuvre	maneuver
market garden	truck farm
marshalling yard	railroad yard
maths	math	all
matt	matte
meagre	meager	all
British	Australian	American	Context
medieval; mediaeval	medieval; mediaeval	medieval	all
British	American	Context
metalled road	paved road
metre	meter	measurement
milometer; mileometer	odometer	all
minim	half note	music
mitre	miter	all
mobile phone	cell phone	object
mollusc	mollusk	all except molluscan
monkey tricks	monkey shines
monologue	monolog	all
motorway	expressway; freeway
mould	mold
moult	molt	all
moustache	mustache	all
mum	mom	all
nappy	diaper	all
naïvety; naivety	naïveté; naiveté	all
near by	nearby
needlecord	pinwale	all
neurone	neuron	all
newsreader	newscaster	all
nitre	niter	all
noughts and crosses	tic-tac-toe	game
number plate; registration plate	license plate	vehicles
ochre	ocher	all
off-licence	liquor store; package store
offence	offense	all
omelette	omelet	all
opencast mining	open-pit mining	all
ordinary share	common stock
oven glove	oven mitt
paddling pool	wading pool
paracetamol	acetaminophen	all
paralyse	paralyze	all
parting	part	amatory
patience	solitaire	game
pavement	sidewalk	all
pay packet	pay envelope
pedagogue	pedagog	all
pedestrian crossing; zebra crossing	crosswalk
peg	clothespin	noun
pelmet	valance
per cent; percent	percent
pernickety	persnickety	all
petrol	gasoline	all
phoney	phony	all
physiotherapy	physical therapy	all
piastre	piaster	all
pick-up	pickup	adjective; noun except vehicle
pick-up	pickup truck	vehicle
pinafore dress	jumper	dress
plain chocolate	dark chocolate	food
plain flour	all purpose flour	food
plough	plow	all
polo neck	turtleneck	clothing
positive discrimination	reverse discrimination
postal vote	absentee vote	all
postcode	zip code	all
power point	electrical outlet	object
practise	practice	verb
pram; pushchair	baby carriage; stroller	object
press stud	snap
press-up	pushup	noun
pretence	pretense
prise	prize	verb
private soldier	GI
programme	program	all except computer program
public school	private school
punchbag	punching bag	object
pyjamas	pajamas	all
pylon	utility pole	object
quantity surveyor	estimator
quaver	eighth note	all except semiquaver etc.
queue	line
quin	quint	offspring
racing car	race car	object
rack and ruin	wrack and ruin	saying
railway	railroad	all
real tennis	court tennis	game
reconnoitre	reconnoiter	all
recorded delivery	certified mail
remould	retread	all
reverse-charge call	collect call	noun
reverse the charges	call collect	verb
reversing lights	backup lights	vehicles
right-angled triangle	right triangle	geometry
ring road	beltway
room only	European plan
roundabout	carousel	ride
roundabout	traffic circle	roads
rowing boat	rowboat
rubbish	garbage; trash	all
sabre	saber	all
sailing boat	sailboat
saltpetre	saltpeter	all
saloon	sedan	vehicle
sandpit	sandbox
sandwich cake	layer cake
sanitary towel	sanitary napkin
scallywag	scalawag	all
sceptic	skeptic	all
self-raising flour	self-rising flour
semibreve	whole note	music
semiquaver etc.	sixteenth note etc.	music
semitone	half step	music
sepulchre	sepulcher	all
share option	stock option
shop	store	noun
shopping trolley	shopping cart	object
show house; show home	model home
silencer	muffler	vehicles
silverside	rump roast
skimmed milk	skim milk
skipping rope	jump rope
skirting board	baseboard
sledge; sledged; sledging	sled; sledded; sledding
sleeper	railroad tie	object
sleeping partner	silent partner
slowcoach	slowpoke
snakes and ladders	chutes and ladders
sneaked	snuck	all
solicitor	lawyer
sombre	somber	all
soya	soy
soya bean	soybean
speciality	specialty	all
spectre	specter	all
splashback	backsplash
spring onion	green onion
stag night	bachelor party
standardise etc.	standardize etc.	all
Stanley knife	utility knife
starter	appetizer	food
state school	public school
storey	story	buildings
storm in a teacup	tempest in a teapot	saying
sulphur	sulfur	all
surtitle	supertitle	all
swede	rutabaga	food
sweets	candy	food
synagogue	synagog	all
takeaway	takeout; to go	food
taxi rank	taxi stand
tea towel	dish towel
terrace house	row house	building
theatre	theater	all
tick	check mark	symbol
ticket tout	scalper	person
tights	pantyhose	clothing
timber	lumber	wood
timbre	timber	music
titbit	tidbit	all
titre	titer	all
toffee apple	candy apple	food
tonne	metric ton	all
touch wood	knock on wood	saying
trade union	labor union
trading estate	industrial park
trainers	sneakers
tram	streetcar; trolley car; cable car
transport	transportation	noun
transport cafe	truck stop
travelled; traveller; travelling etc.	traveled; traveler; traveling etc.	all
twelve-bore	twelve gauge
tyre	tire	noun
unalike	unlike	adjective
underground	subway	transport
vacuum flask	thermos bottle
verge	shoulder	roads
vest	undershirt	clothing
veterinary surgeon	veterinarian
vice	vise
wagon	train
waistcoat	vest	clothing
walking frame	walker
wapiti	elk
water ice	Italian ice
weatherboard	clapboard
white coffee	coffee with cream	drink
white spirit	mineral spirits	drink
wholemeal	wholewheat	food
windcheater	windbreaker	object
windscreen	windshield	vehicles
wing	fender	vehicles
woodcutter	lumberjack	person
worktop	countertop
worshipped; worshipper; worshipping	worshiped; worshiper; worshiping	all
Yale lock	cylinder lock
zed	zee	Z
zip	zipper	noun

• soccer; soccer; soccer player; soccer player; soccer player → football; football; footballer; footballer; footballer
  • Except: Football (soccer) → Association football