List of American English words not used in British English
- See also main article: American and British English differences
American | British |
apartment | flat |
blinders | blinkers |
busy signal | engaged tone |
bullhorn | loudhailer |
canola, rapeseed, rape | oilseed rape |
carriage | pram |
checkers | draughts |
checking account | current account |
cotton candy | candy floss |
candy | sweets |
cookie | biscuit (not exact) |
diaper | nappy |
diner | café |
drapes | curtains |
dumpster | skip |
duplex (house) | semi-detached |
eggplant | aubergine |
elevator | lift |
fall | autumn |
fender | bumper |
fanny pack ( N.B. : Fanny is British slang for vagina.) | bum bag |
faucet | tap |
flashlight | torch |
garter belts | suspenders |
gasoline | petrol |
green thumb | green fingers |
math | maths |
named for | named after |
normalcy | normality |
of (as in "2 of 3 Americans believe...") | out of ("2 out of 3 British people believe...") |
pantyhose | tights |
pre-authorized payment/withdrawal | direct debit |
railroad | railway |
rappel | abseil (to descend on a rope) |
sedan (car) | saloon (car) |
sidewalk | pavement, footpath |
station wagon | estate car |
stage theater | theatre |
stick-shift | manual gearbox |
stroller | pushchair |
tic-tac-toe | noughts and crosses |
traffic circle | roundabout |
triplex (house) | no direct equivalent, more than two houses joined together "terraced" houses |
turn signal, directionals | indicators |
undershirt | vest, singlet |
ZIP code | postcode |
zucchini | courgette |