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British vs. American
Vocabulary
1. British English and American English
English is spoken in both Britain and the United States. However, there are certain differences, especially in vocabulary.
BRITISH ENGLISH
Hyde Park is gorgeous in autumn.
AMERICAN ENGLISH
Central park is also gorgeous in the fall.
2. British English versus American English
| British | American |
|---|---|
| Film | Movie |
| Holiday | Vacation |
| Biscuit | Cookie |
| Lorry | Truck |
| Flat | Apartment |
| Lift | Elevator |
| Chemist's / pharmacy | Drugstore |
| Chips | Fries / French fries |
| Crips | Chips |
| Petrol | Gas / gasoline |
| Sweet | Candy |
| Garden | Yard |
| Post | |
| Head teacher | Principal |
| Car park | Parking lot |
| Rubbish | Trash / garbage |
| Football | Soccer |
| Queue | Line |
| Trousers | Pants |
| Underground | Subway |
| Shop | Store |
| Rubber | Eraser |
| Mobile phone | Cell phone |
| Cinema | Movie theater / movies |
| Torch | Flashlight |
2. Other differences
- Apart from having different words for the same meaning, there are also cases where the word is the same, but with some spelling change.
British American Colour Color Mum Mom Theatre Theater Favourite Favorite Grey Gray Licence License Traveller Traveler Dialogue Dialog / dialogue Aeroplane Airplane Paediatrician Pediatrician Learnt Learned - In British English they use the verb have got, whereas in American English they use the form have.
BRITISH ENGLISHI haven't got a garden.AMERICAN ENGLISHI don't have a yard.
Remember!
Although British and American English generally follow the same rules, there are some differences between them.
| Differences | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | Autumn | Fall |
| Garden | Yard | |
| Film | Movie | |
| Rubber | Eraser | |
| Spelling | Colour | Color |
| Mum | Mom | |
| Favourite | Favorite | |
| Aeroplane | Airplane | |
| Grammar | Have got | Have |