BRITISH
– AMERICAN ENGLISH
The main
difference between British English and American English is in pronunciation.
Some words are also different in each variety of English, and there are also a
few differences in the way they use grammar. Here we are going to see the most
common differences between British and American English.
1 If the letter
“U” comes after “O” in British English, remove the letter “u” to make an
American English word.
OUR -
OR
Behaviour – Behavior
Colour – Color
Favourite – Favorite
Harbour – Harbor
Honour – Honor
Humour – Humor
Labour – Labor
Neighbour – Neighbor
2 If the given British
English word ends with the letters “re”, interchange those letters to “er” to
make American word.
RE -
ER
Calibre – Caliber
Centre – Center
Fibre – Fiber
Litre – Liter
Metre – Meter
Theatre – Theater
3 If the given
British English word ends with the letters “gue”, remove “ue”
GUE -
G
Analogue – Analog
Catalogue – Catalog
Dialogue – Dialog
Monologue – Monolog
4 If the word
ends with “CE”, change the letter “C” to “S”
CE -
SE
Defence – Defense
Licence – License
Offence – Offense
Pretence – Pretense
Vice – Vise
5 If the word
ends with “SE” change into “ZE”
SE -
ZE
Analyse – Analyze
Fertiliser – Fertilizer
Organise – Organize
Realise – Realize
Here are some
other British English words which could be change into American by adding or
removing some letters
*Aeroplane –Airplane
* Aluminium – Aluminum
* Anaemia – Anemia
*Anaesthesia – anesthesia
* Byelaw – Bylaw
* Cheque – Check
*Diarrhoea – Diarrhea
* Enquiry – Inquiry
* Foetus – Fetus
* Hemorrhaged –
Hemorrhage
* Homely – Homey
* Jewellery - Jewelry
* Kerb - Curb
* Luggage – Baggage
* Mould - Mold
* Plough - Plow
* Programme – Program
* Skilfull – Skillful
* Sulphur - Sulfur
*Travelled – Traveled
* Tyre – Tire
* Zed – Zee
Apart from these
words we are going to see the words which are totally different from each other
BRITISH ENGLISH –
AMERICAN ENGLISH
* Accelerator – Gas pedal
* Advertisement – Notice
* Aerial – Antenna
* Alsatian – German shepherd
* Anorak – Parka
* Anti clockwise – Counter clockwise
* Aubergine -
Eggplant
* Autumn –
Fall
* Bank holiday – National holiday
* Bap hamburger - Bun
* Barrister – Lawyer
* Base rate – Prime rate
* Bathing
Costume – Swimsuit
* Beet root – Beet
* Big dipper - Roller coaster
* Bill – Checque
* Biro – Ball point pen
* Biscuit - cookie
* blind -
window shade
* Blue jeans -
Dungarees/jeans
* Bonnet – Hood
* Book –
Ticket Reservation
*Bootlace –
Shoestring
* Boot – Trunk
* Braces –
Suspenders
* Brackets –
Parenthesis
* Break - Recess
* Candy floss –
Cotton candy
* Car park –
Parking lot
* Caravan – Trailer
* Care taker –
Janitor
* Casualty -
emergency room
* Corpet – Rug
* Cat on hot
bricks - hot tin roof
* Chairman - President
* Chemist - Druggist
* Chemist's shop
- Drug store/Pharmacy
* Chest of
drawers - Dresser/Bureau
* Chips - French fries
* Cinema house - Theater
* City centre – Down town
* Cloak room -
Check room
* Coffin –
Casket
* Cooker - Oven/Stove
* Conscription – Draft
* Consultant –
Specialist
* Convoy - Caravan
* Cotton wool – Cotton ball
* Corridor –
Passage
* Cot – Crib
* Cotton –
Thread
* Crisps –
Potato chips
* Crocodile – Alligator
* Cross road -
Intersection
* Cupboard -
Closet/Ward robe
* Currency note – Bill
* Curriculum
vitae – Resume
* Cutting –
Clipping
* Deal in – Handle
* Diary –
Journal/Chronicle
* Dinner jacket
– Tuxedo
* District – Precinct
* Directory
enquiries –Directory assistant
* Divers ion – Detour
* Double cream – Heavy cream
* Drain - Sewer pipe
* Dressing gown – Bathrobe
* Drink driving –
Drunk driving
* Driving
lisence – Driver’s license
* Dustbin - Garbage cane/Trash cane
* Dynamo – Generator
* Earth wire – Ground wire
* Elasto plast - Band aid
* Engaged – Busy
* Excersise book
- Composition book
* Expiry date – Expiration date
* Fancy dress – Costume
* Fair – Carnival
* Father
Christmas – Santa Claus
* Fellow –
Guy
* Fever – Sick
* Flim – Movie
* Fill in –
Fill out
* Fire brigade - Fire department
* Fish fingers – Fish sticks
* Flannel – Face cloth/wash cloth
* Flat –
Apartment
* Fly over - Overpass
* Foot ball –
Soccer
* Foot path - Side walk
* Fringe – Bangs
* Full stop –
Period
* Gallery –
Balcony
* Garden – Yard
* Gear lever – Gear shift
* Gents –
Men’s room
* Goods train - Freight train
* Ground floor - First floor
* Guard –
Conductor
* Hand bag - Purse
* Hairslide –
Barrette
* Head master – Principal
* Hire – Rent
* Hire purchase – Installment plan
* Holiday -
Vacation
* Hoover - Vacuum cleaner
* Indicator –
Blinker
* Interval –
Intermission
* Jam – Jelly
* Jumper –
Sweater
* Jug –
Pitcher
* Junior school – Elementary school
* Kennel -
Dog house
* Label –
Tag
* Lady bird – Lady bug
* Level crossing
- Grade crossing
* Lift -
Elevator/escalator
* Lodger – Roomer
* Lolly – Lollipop
* Loo –
Restroom
* Lorry – Truck
* Mackintosh – Raincoat
* Mad –
Crazy
* Marrow - Squash
* Managing
director – General manager
* Match –
Game
* Median - Divider
* Mobile phone - Cell phone
* Motor car -
Auto mobile
* Motor way – Highway
* Nappy – Diaper
* News reader – News caster
* Nip -
Pen point
* Notice board – Bulletin board
* Number plate - License plate
* Overtake -
Vehicle pass
* Paraffin -
Kerosene
* Parce – Package
* Pavement –
Sidewalk
* Pedestrian
crossing - Cross walk
* Perambulator – Baby Carriage
* Petrol -
Gasoline/gas
* Phone box – Phone booth
*Physiotheraphy -Physical Therapy
* Pocket money – Allowance
* Porridge –
Oat meal
* Post box - Mail box
* Post card -
Zip card
* Post man - Mail man
* Primary school - Elementary school
* Public toilet - Rest room
* Pudding – Dessert
* Queue – Line
* Racing car – Race car
* Railway – Railroad
* Receptionist - Desk clerk
* Ring up – Call
* Rise – Raise
* Rubber - Eraser
* Rubbish - Garbage cane/Trash cane
* Rucksack – Backpack
* Sellotape - Scotch tape
* Share – Stock
* Shop – Store
* Shop assistant - Sales clerk
*Shopping
Trolley – Shopping cart
* Sick – Nauseated
* Silencer – Muffler
* Single
way -
one-way
* Skipping rope - Jump rope
* skirting board – Baseboard
* Sorry –
Excuse me
* Spanner –
Wrench
* Sportsman – Athlete
* Soliciter –
Attorney
* Stable –
Barn
* Staff - Faculty
* Stock –
Inventory
* Storm –
Tempest
* Stupid – Dump
* Subway –
Underpass
* Sultana –
Raisin
* Sweet – Candy
* Tap – Faucet
* Taxi – Cab
* Tea cup - Tea pot
* Telephone box - Phone booth
* Term –
Semester
* Terminus – Depot
* Tick – Check mark
* Tights –
Pantyhose
* Timber – Lumber
* Time table –
Schedule
* Tin -
Cane
* Toilet – Bathroom
* Torch -
Flashlight
* Trainers –
Sneakers
* Tram – Streetcar
* Trolley –
Cart
* Trousers –
Pants
* Trumpet - Horn
* Trunk call -
Long distance call
* Undertaker – Mortician
* Unit trust - Mutual fund
* Verandah –
Porch
* Vest –
Undershirt
* Waistcoat – Vest
* Wallet –
Billfold
* Wardrobe –
Closet
* Wash basin - Sink
* Washing –
Laundry
* Wind screne - Wind shield
* Wing – Fender
* Witness box - Witness stand
* Year –
Grade
*Undergraduates
First year – Freshman
* Second year - Sophomore
* Third year –
Junior
* Fourth year – Senior