AMERICAN-ENGLISH/ENGLISH-AMERICAN TRANSLATION GUIDE --------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN - ENGLISH ------------------ American English -------- ------- A account bill/account adhesive tape sticking plaster aisle gangway AM radio Medium wave antenna aerial (radio/TV) apartment/unit flat apartment hotel service flats apartment house block of flats awaken someone (to) knock up B baby bed/crib cot/crib baby carriage/baby buggy pram (perambulator) back-up lights reversing lights balcony (theater) gallery band-aid elastoplast/plaster barrette hairslide baseboard skirting board bathe (v.) bath bathrobe dressing gown bathtub bath bell pepper green pepper biscuit scone-like thing (no equivalent) bill bank note billfold wallet (mens) billion=thousand million billion=million million black top tarmac bobbie pin hair grip/kirby grip bomb (disaster) bomb (success) booth (telephone) kiosk (telephone/cigarette) brass knuckles knuckle duster broil grill buffet sideboard bureau chest of drawers business suit lounge suite C call/phone ring up/phone call collect reverse charges can tin candy sweets/chocolate candy store sweet shop/confectioner caravan convoy carnival fair (fun) change purse/small wallet (womens) purse charged (goods bought) put down/entered check (restaurant) bill checkers draughts check room cloakroom cheese cloth butter muslin/cheese cloth chicory endive chips (potato) crisps cigarette fag city/municipal government corporation closet cupboard closet (hanging clothes) wardrobe clothes pin clothes peg collar button collar stud collar stay collar stiffener comforter eiderdown concert master leader conductor (train) guard connect (telephone) put through cookie biscuit (sweet) corn starch corn flour cotton batting/absorbing cotton cotton wool cotton candy candy floss cracker biscuit (unsweetened) crazy bone funny bone cream of wheat semolina cross-walk pelican crossing cuffs (pants) turn-ups (trousers) custom made bespoke/made to measure D davenport/sofa sofa dead-end cul-de-sac deck (cards) pack delivery truck van denatured alcohol methylated spirits derby bowler/hard hat desk clerk receptionist dessert pudding/dessert detour diversion diaper nappy dime store/five and ten Woolworth's directory assistance directory enquiries dishes, do the wash up divided highway dual carriageway downtown centre (city/business) draft conscription drapes curtains dresser chest of drawers druggist chemist drugstore/pharmacy chemist's shop drygoods store draper dump (n. and v.) tip dungarees jeans duplex semi-detached E editorial leader eggplant aubergine electric cord/wire flex elevator lift endive chicory engineer (train) driver eraser rubber/india rubber erector set meccano (tradename) eyeball (v.) visually position F faculty staff fag or faggot homosexual fall autumn faucet tap fender wing/mudguard first balcony upper circle first floor ground floor flashlight torch/flashlight floor lamp standard lamp floor walker shop walker FM radio VHF freeway/super highway motorway freight truck goods truck french fries chips freshman (at university) 1st year undergraduate front desk (hotel) reception G garbage/trash rubbish garbage can/ash can/trash can dustbin/bin garter belt suspender belt garters suspenders gas petrol gas station filling station gear shift gear lever generator dynamo German shepherd/police dog alsation goose bumps goose pimples grade class/form grade crossing level crossing green thumb green fingers ground wire earth wire/earth H hamburger bun bap hamburger (meat) mince hamburger beefburger hardware store ironmonger hat check girl cloakroom attendant homely - ugly homely - pleasant hood (car) bonnet hope chest bottom drawer hotdog bun bridge roll housewares hardware hutch Welsh dresser I incorporated limited intermission interval J jail gaol/jail janitor caretaker/porter jello jelly jelly/jam jam jelly roll Swiss roll jock a keen athelete (from jockstrap) jump rope skipping rope junior 3rd year (school) K kerosene paraffin knickers plus-fours knock up make pregnant L laundromat laundrette lawyer/attorney solicitor leader leading article in newspaper/ 1st violin in orchestra lease/rent let legal holiday bank holiday license plate number plate Life Savers (candy) Polos (fruit version) lima bean broad bean (similar to) line (n.) queue line-up identification parade liquor spirits liquor store off licence/wine merchant liverwurst liver sausage living room sitting room/lounge/ drawing room/living room lobby/foyer foyer long distance trunk call lost and found lost property love seat settee lumber room box room M M&Ms/Resses Pieces (candy) Smarties mail (n.) post mail box/mail drop pillar box mailman postman make reservations book Mars Bar (candy) Topic meat grinder mincer median strip/divider centre reservation mezzanine/loge dress circle Milky Way (candy) Mars Bar molasses black treacle mollybolt rawlplug monkey wrench spanner mopboard skirting board motorbike moped motorcycle motorbike/motorcycle mountain oyster cooked testicles of a sheep or bull movie film movie house/theater cinema moving van pantechnicon/removal van muffler (car) silencer mutual fund unit trust N newsdealer/news stand newsagent nightstand truncheon notions haberdashery O odometer mileometer office (doctor's/dentist's) surgery oil pan sump one way ticket single ticket orchestra seats stalls outlet/socket point/power point overalls dungarees overpass flyover P pacifier dummy package parcel paddle (ping pong) bat panty hose/nylons tights pantry larder pants/slacks trousers/slacks parka anorak parking lot car park pass (vehicle, etc.) overtake/pass pavement road surface pedestrian crossing zebra crossing penitentiary/prison prison period full-stop person-to-person personal call phonograph/record player gramophone/record player pig in a blanket sausage roll pit (fruit) stone pitcher jug plexiglas perspex pocket book handbag purse pocket knife pen knife pollywog/tadpole tadpole popsicle iced lolly pork and liver meatball faggot (normally fried) pot holders/gloves oven gloves/cloth powdered sugar/confectioner's sugar icing sugar precinct district president (business) chairman principal headmaster/mistress private school public school/private school private school gofer fag public school state school pull-off lay-by pullman/sleeper sleeping car pump (shoe) court shoe purse/pocketbook handbag R raincheck postponement raincoat mackintosh raisin sultana realtor estate agent rear view mirror wing mirror recess break (school) restroom toilet/cloakroom/ public convenience rhinestone diamante roast joint (meat) robin (large red-breasted bird, robin (small red-breasted bird, symbol - first sign of spring) symbol of Christmas) roller coaster big dipper roomer lodger round trip ticket return ticket rubber condom rubber cement cow gum rubbing alcohol surgical spirit run (for public office stand rutabaga/turnip swede S sack lunch packed lunch sales clerk/sales girl shop assistant scab blackleg scallion spring onion (similar) schedule time-table scotch tape sellotape scratch pad scribbling pad/block second floor first floor sedan saloon car semester (school - 2 in a year) term (3 in a year) senior 4th year (school) sewer pipe/soil pipe drain (indoor) shade (window) blind sheers/under drapes net curtains sherbet ice/sorbet shoestring bootlace/shoelace shorts/jockey shorts briefs shorts (underwear) pants shot (injection) jab shredded (coconut) desiccated sideburns sideboards sidewalk pavement/footpath sled sledge/toboggan slice (bacon) rasher slingshot catapult smoked herring kipper snaps press studs sneakers/tennis shoes gym shoes/plimsolls/tennis shoes Snickers (candy) Marathon soccer football/soccer soda cracker cream cracker spatula/pancake turner fish slice spool cotton reel squash marrow (similar) stand in line/line up queue station wagon estate car stop light/traffic signal/ stop signals traffic lights stove cooker straight (drink) neat stroller pushchair sub-division housing estate subway tube/underground suspenders braces sweater/pullover jumper/sweater/pullover Swing-arm/Architect's lamp Anglepoise lamp T tag label take-out take-away tea cart tea trolley Texas gate cattle grid thread cotton Three Muskateers (candy) Milky Way thumb tack drawing pin tic-tac-toe noughts and crosses time payment/installment plan hire purchase toilet/john/bathroom lavatory/toilet/w.c. top (car) roof/hood traffic circle roundabout/island trailer/camper/mobile home caravan tractor trailer truck/semi articulated lorry tramp/call girl/hooker/street walker prostitute/tart/whore truck lorry truck stop transport cafe trunk/rear deck (car) boot tube valve two weeks fortnight U undergraduates: freshman 1st year undergraduate sophomore 2nd year undergraduate junior 3rd year undergraduate senior 4th year undergraduate undershirt vest underwear (washing) smalls V vacation holiday vacuum (v.) hoover vacuum cleaner hoover valence pelmet VCR Video vest waistcoat W wall to wall fitted carpet/wall to wall wash cloth face flannel wash up wash your hands water heater (electric) immersion heater water heater (gas) geyser weather stripping draught excluder wharf/pier quay (pron. 'key') white lima been butter bean windbreaker windcheater windshield windscreen wire telegram with or without? (milk/cream in coffee) black or white? Y yard garden Z zero nought zip code postal code zucchini courgettes ENGLISH - AMERICAN ------------------ English American ------- -------- A aerial (radio/TV) antenna alsation German shepherd/police dog Anglepoise lamp Swing-arm/Architect's lamp anorak parka articulated lorry tractor trailor truck/semi athelete (a keen one) jock aubergine eggplant autumn fall B bank holiday legal holiday bank note bill bap hamburger bun bat (ping pong) paddle bath bathtub bath (v.) bathe beefburger hamburger bespoke/made to measure custom made big dipper roller coaster bill check (restaurant) bill/account account billion=million million billion=thousand million biscuit (sweet) cookie biscuit (unsweetened) cracker black or white? (milk/cream in coffee) with or without? black treacle molasses blackleg scab blind (window) shade block of flats apartment house/building bomb (success) bomb (disaster) bonnet (car) hood book (v.) make reservation boot (car) trunk/rear deck bootlace/shoelace shoestring bottom drawer hope chest bowler/hard hat derby box room lumber room braces suspenders break (school) recess bridge roll hotdog bun briefs shorts (jockey shorts) broad bean lima bean (similar) butter bean white lima bean butter muslin/cheese cloth cheese cloth English American ------- -------- C candy floss cotton candy car park parking lot caravan trailer caretaker/porter janitor catapult slingshot cattle grid Texas gate centre (city/business) downtown centre reservation median strip/divider chairman (business) president chemist druggist chemist's shop pharmacy/drug store chest of drawers dresser/bureau chicory endive chips french fries chocolate/sweets candy cinema movie house/theater class/form (school) grade cloakroom check room cloakroom attendant hat check girl clothes peg clothes pin collar stiffener collar stay collar stud collar button conscription draft condom rubber convoy caravan cooker stove corn flour corn starch corporation city/municipal government cot/crib baby bed/crib cotton thread cotton reel spool cotton wool cotton batting/absorbent cotton courgettes zucchini court shoe pump cow gum rubber cement cream cracker soda cracker crisps chips (potato) cul-de-sac dead end cupboard closet curtains drapes D desiccated (coconut) shredded diamante rhinestone directory enquiries directory assistance district precinct diversion detour drain (indoor) sewer pipe/soil pipe English American ------- -------- draper drygoods store draught excluder weather stripping draughts checkers drawing pin thumb tack dress circle mezzanine/loge dressing gown bathrobe driver (train) engineer dual carriageway divided highway dummy pacifier dungarees overalls dustbin/bin garbage can/ash can/trash can dynamo generator E earth wire/earth ground wire eiderdown comforter elastoplast band-aid endive chicory estate agent realtor estate car station wagon F face flannel wash cloth fag cigarette/private school gofer faggot (normally fried) pork and liver meatball fair (fun) carnival filling station gas station film movie first floor second floor fish slice pancake spatula/turner fitted carpet wall to wall flat apartment flex electric cord/wire flyover overpass football/soccer soccer fortnight two weeks foyer lobby/foyer full-stop (punc.) period funny bone crazy bone G gallery (theatre) balcony gangway aisle gaol jail garden yard gear lever gear shift geyser (gas) water heater goods truck (railway) freight truck English American ------- -------- goose pimples goose bumps gramophone/record player phonograph/record player green fingers green thumb green pepper/capsicum bell pepper/green pepper/sweet pepper grill (v.) broil guard (train) conductor gym shoes/plimsolls/tennis shoes sneakers/tennis shoes H haberdashery notions hair grip/kirby grip bobbie pin hair slide barrette handbag purse/pocket book hardware housewares headmaster/mistress principal hire purchase time payment/installment plan holiday vacation homely - pleasant homely - ugly homosexual fag/faggot/gay hoover (n.) vacuum cleaner hoover (v.) vacuum housing estate sub-division I ice/sorbet sherbet iced lolly popsicle icing sugar powdered sugar/confectioner's sugar identification parade line-up immersion heater (electric) water heater interval intermission ironmonger hardware store J jab (injection) shot jam jelly/jam jelly jello joint (meat) roast jug pitcher jumper/sweater/pullover sweater/pullover K kiosk (telephone/cigarette) booth (telephone) kipper smoked herring knock up to awaken someone knock up (tennis) warm up knuckle duster brass knuckles English American ------- -------- L label tag larder pantry laundrette laundromat lavatory/toilet/w.c. toilet/john/bathroom lay-by pull-off leader: 1. leading article in newspaper editorial 2. 1st violin in orchestra concert master left luggage office baggage room let lease/rent level crossing (railway) grade crossing lift elevator limited (company) incorporated liver sausage liverwurst lodger roomer lorry truck lost property lost and found lounge suite business suit M mackintosh raincoat Marathon (candy) Snickers marrow squash (similar) Mars Bar (candy) Milky Way Meccano (tradename) erector set Medium wave (radio) AM radio methylated spirits denatured alcohol mileometer odometer Milky Way (candy) Three Muskateers mince (meat) hamburger mincer meat grinder moped motorbike motorway freeway/throughway/super highway N nappy diaper neat (drink) straight net curtains sheers/under drapes newsagent news dealer/news stand nought zero noughts and crosses tic-tac-toe number plate license plate English American ------- -------- O off licence/wine merchant liquor store off-side lane right-hand land nearest center of road - in UK oven gloves/cloth pot holders/gloves overtake (vehicle) pass P pack (of cards) deck packed lunch sack lunch pantechnicon moving van pants shorts (underwear) paraffin kerosene parcel package pavement/footpath sidewalk pelican crossing cross-walk pelmet valence pen knife pocket knife personal call person-to-person perspex plexiglas petrol gas(oline) pillar box mail box/mail drop plaster band-aid plus-fours knickers point/power point outlet/socket Polos (candy - fruit version) Life Savers post mail postal code zip code postman mailman postponement raincheck pram baby carriage/baby buggy pregnant (to make) knock up press studs snaps prison penitentiary prostitute/tart/whore tramp/call girl/hooker/street walker public convenience restroom/toilet/comfort station public school/private school private school pudding dessert purse change purse/small wallet (womens) pushchair stroller put down/entered (goods bought) charged put through (telephone) connect Q quay wharf/pier queue (n.) line queue (v.) stand in line/line up English American ------- -------- R rasher (bacon) slice rawlplug mollybolt reception (hotel) front desk receptionist desk clerk return ticket round trip ticket reverse charges call collect reversing lights back up lights ring up call/phone road surface pavement robin (small red-breasted bird, robin (large red-breasted bird, symbol of Christmas) symbol - first sign of Spring) roof/hood (car) top roundabout traffic circle rubber eraser rubbish garbage/trash S saloon (car) sedan sausage roll pig in a blanket scribbling pad/block scratch pad sellotape scotch tape semi-detached duplex semolina cream of wheat service flats apartment hotel settee love seat shop assistant sales clerk/sales girl shop walker floor walker sideboard buffet sideboards (hair) sideburns silencer (car) muffler single ticket one way ticket sitting room/living room/ lounge/drawing room living room skipping rope jump rope skirting board baseboard/mopboard sledge/toboggan sled sleeping car pullman/sleeper smalls (washing) underwear Smarties (candy) M&Ms/Reeses Pieces sofa davenport/couch solicitor lawyer/attorney sorbet sherbet spanner monkey wrench spirits (drink) liquor spring onion scallion (similar) staff (academic) faculty stalls (theatre) orchestra seats stand (for public office) run English American ------- -------- standard lamp floor lamp state school public school sticking plaster adhesive tape stone (fruit) pit sultana raisin sump (car) oil pan surgery (doctor's/dentist's) office surgical spirit rubbing alcohol suspender belt garter belt suspenders garters swede turnip/rutabaga sweet shop/confectioner candy store sweets/chocolate candy Swiss roll jelly roll T tadpole pollywog/tadpole take-away take-out tap faucet tarmac black top tea trolley tea cart telegram wire term (academic - 3 in a year) semester (2 in a year) tights panty hose/nylons time-table schedule tin can tip (n. and v.) dump Topic (candy) Mars Bar torch flashlight traffic lights stop lights/traffic signals/ stop signals transport cafe truck stop trousers pants/slacks truncheon (police) night stick trunk call long distance tube/underground subway turn-ups (trousers) cuffs (pants) U Undergraduates: 1st year freshman 2nd year sophomore 3rd year junior 4th year senior unit trust mutual fund upper circle first balcony English American ------- -------- V valve (radio) tube van delivery truck van (car type) panel truck vest undershirt VHF (radio) FM radio Video VCR visually position eyeball (v.) W waistcoat vest wallet billfold wardrobe closet wash up do the dishes wash your hands wash up Welsh dresser hutch windcheater windbreaker windscreen windshield wing/mudguard (car) fender Woolworths dime store/five and ten Z zebra crossing pedestrian crossing Common Words in American and British English Here are a few of the more common words which are different in American and British English. This is only meant to highlight some of the variety which exists within English, and is not a complete list by any means. It also does not address different vocabulary which is used in Australia, Canada, South Africa and India as well as the Caribbean, Africa, and the many other places in the world which use English as the language of commerce or government. American - British apartment - flat argument - row baby carriage - pram band-aid - plaster bathroom - loo or WC can - tin chopped beef - mince cookie - biscuit corn - maize diaper - nappy elevator - lift eraser - rubber flashlight - torch fries - chips gas - petrol guy - bloke, chap highway - motorway hood (car) - bonnet jello - jelly jelly - jam kerosene - paraffin lawyer - solicitor license plate - number plate line - queue mail - post motor home - caravan movie theater - cinema muffler - silencer napkin - serviette nothing - nought overpass - flyover pacifier - dummy pants - trousers parking lot - car park period - full stop pharmacist - chemist potato chips - crisps rent - hire sausage -banger sidewalk - pavement soccer - football sweater - jumper trash can - bin truck - lorry trunk (car) - boot vacation - holiday vest - waistcoat windshield (car) - windscreen zip code - postal code