When acquaintances learn I am from England one of the first things they talk about are words. Everyone knows that the hood of a car is really a bonnet. Or that gas should be called petrol. But Rickety is Rickety the world over. Over the years I have compiled a list of American words and their counterparts in English. Some of the English words are really slang, for example an American who is sarcastic would still be sarcastic in England. Cheeky is merely slang for sarcastic. However, the table below for the most part represents some true differences in American and English word usage.
Before proceeding I must mention one short conversation I had with a lovely American lady. This illustrates that there are more differences than just a few words:
Are you from England?
Yes.
I could tell by your accent, it is really cute.
My wife thinks so too.
Where in England are you from?
From Crewe in Cheshire.
Do you have Thanksgiving in England?
No, but we do give thanks the pilgrims left.
| American | English |
| Apartment | Flat |
| Baby stroller | Pram |
| Bad guy | Rotter |
| Bar | Pub |
| Candy | Sweet |
| Cookie | Biscuit |
| Cop | Bobby |
| Crib | Cot |
| Diapers | Nappies |
| Elevator | Lift |
| Expensive | Dear |
| Extravagant | Posh |
| Flat | Puncture |
| Freeway | Motorway |
| French fries | Chips |
| Garbage can | Dustbin |
| Gas | Petrol |
| Good-bye | Cheerio |
| Grandma | Granny |
| Guy | Bloke |
| Hood | Bonnet |
| Line | Queue |
| Liquor store | Off-licence |
| Mom | Mum |
| Movie | Film |
| Overcoat | Mac |
| Pants | Trousers |
| Parking lot | Car park |
| Popsicles | Ice lollies |
| Potato chips | Crisps |
| Rest stop | Lay-by |
| Rest room | Toilet |
| Sarcastic | Cheeky |
| Senior citizens | Old age pensioners |
| Soccer | Football |
| Steal | Pinch |
| Subway | Underground |
| Television | Telly |
| Thanks | “Ta” |
| Truck | Lorry |
| Trunk | Boot |
| Underpass | Subway |
| Vacation | Holiday |
| Welfare | Dole |
| Yard | Garden |