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Common American English words used in daily life vs British English equivalents
When I first moved to US, it was very hard for me to understand a friendly chat or conversation. There were a lot of words that were quite unfamiliar to me. They were just common words, but only difference is the actual words and their usage. We are used to different set of words in other parts of world due to British English influence. Though, this has been changing a lot in recent times, I would like to share with you all some of the common words used here and what I felt were different. It took me a while to catch up very basic words that Americans use in day to day conversations and I am still learning new words every day! The below list something good to start with.
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Common words in Daily routine/ activities |
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|
American English word |
British English equivalent |
Explanation and usage. |
| Gas | Petrol | In US, you would say, I need to fill gas in my car before it I run out of fuel. Gas means liquid petroleum and NOT natural LPG Gas |
| Trash, Garbage | Rubbish, dirt | Trash is used in different ways like:
Pick up the garbage and put it in the trash can. Do not trash the place. |
| Trash Can | Dustbin | No dustbin word used here…Just trash can or Shredder for disposing the paper |
| Rest room | Toilet | Instead of saying, I want to go to toilet, you would say: “I would like to use the rest room”. Bath room is also used, but means |
| Shower | Bath | Lets say if you want to take bath, people say: I need to shower. Also like, I was taking shower when you called me. ‘I need to quickly jump in the shower before I take off to meeting’. |
| Bag (plastic or paper) | Cover (plastic) | Usually in India, we say ‘can I get my stuff in a plastic cover’. Here in US, people say “Can I get a bag for the stuff?” . It is used for both plastic and paper.
When you do shopping, here the cashier would ask “Receipt with you or in the bag”. People say, ‘in the bag please J or no’ |
| Bike | Bicycle | We often get confused when Americans use bike. It means bicycle |
| Motorcycle | Motorbike or bike | The name says it. |
| Zip code | Pin code | Postal pin code in other countries vs Zip code in US for postal purposes. |
| Check | Bill | Typically in restaurant after you are done with meal, you ask for check in US from the waiter. |
| Elevator | Lift | No one uses lift, it is elevator in US |
| Football | American Foot ball | Americans consider football means by default as American football |
| Soccer | Football | People say Soccer when they refer to actual football. In Europe and everywhere we call football, but here in US they say it soccer. |
| Glasses | Specs or Spectacles | Eye glasses used for faulty vision |
| Cookies | Biscuits | Cookie means just biscuit and usually very sweet biscuit |
| Garage | Place where you park your car in apartment complex or your dedicated place to park car | |
| Store | Shop | Any shop is called store |
| Flashlight | Torch | Torch light that we use in darkness |
| Flat tire | Tire puncture | Usually when the tire gets puncture by any metal or thorns |
| Vacation | Holiday | When someone has taken a holiday, people usually say he is on vacation. |
| Bill | Note | 100 dollar bill vs 100 rupee notes when dealing with cash |
| Cheese Burger | It is understood that it is a Beef burger with cheese on it and not just Cheese between bun ! | |
| Cologne | It is Men’s fragrance. In India, people use Perfume for both male and female. When you say perfume, it is only for women in US or any part of the world. Just a common mistake in usage of words. | |
| Creamer | When mixing coffee, people in USA use creamer, which is equivalent of milk. | |
| Yogurt | Curd | We use the word Curd a lot. You have to specifically say Yogurt. Butter Milk is common though. It is same. |
| Flour is pronounced as Flower | One of my friends had a bad experience in Walmart and had to literally write it on paper. So make sure you pronounce it right, otherwise you get wrong product J . Listen to pronunciation to clarify. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/flour | |
| Meat or Red meat, Chicken | Non-Vegetarian | We are used to saying I am a non-vegetarian, in US people might get lost. You have to say, I eat meat or chicken. When you go to a restaurant, if you are a vegetarian, you should say “NO Meat or Chicken” otherwise, you may find interesting stuff as a vegetarian in your food J |
| Truck | Lorry | We use lorry a lot in daily life, but here in US, people call by truck. The trucks are huge here |
| Mailbox / Mail | Postbox / Post | In US, usage: “I have to mail this package today. Let me dropt it off at the nearest mailbox.” |
Check out the some more words in this article : Common American English Words in daily life vs British Words — Part II
I plan to write a post in future on American Slang words used in day-to-day conversations.
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{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m very grateful to you for such a great sharing. It is very useful keep uploading new words that helps a lot.
Great Thanks
hi .,,
..its wondrful. its beneficial for ud
Bill and check are both used in the USA.
Also, Australia calls it soccer too
Really usefull words
thanx
wrong!
Thank you
good words …..they are really usefulllll…..
ds is very awesome…
i like american english
I’m sorry but I’m British and I don’t say stuff like spectacles. You know there is more than one British accent. You a so dumb. British people do terrible american accents and vice versa, you don’t know anything about British accents. Leave it at that. Americans,If you go around in Britian saying words like that they will think you have problems. JS.
Very helpfull discourse.
Hey very nice demonstration provided here……We Indians are using both American and British English most of the times(in India) and often overlook their origin and think the words as synonyms(eg. elevator/lift).Not only Vocabulary but also other aspects of language like grammar etc. differs.for difference between american and british english thekapils.com/2012/02/23/difference-bw-british-and-american-english/
i like American English Word…THS is Awesome blog truly…GUYS HAPPY HOLI TO ALL….
AMERICAN ENGLISH IS GREAT.
i love american english
Dude…wish u a very happy and a prosperous new year…Im a regular reader of your blog…
thanks
please give us price for the subscribtion and some examples
thanks
Are you referring to subscription to this blog? If yes, then that’s free. Anyone can follow this blog and post comments.
Hi Saurabh,
I have 2 H1B approved petitions. First one ends on 31st dec 2011. Second one starts from 1st jan 2012. While filling my DS-160, I just mentioned the latest one. Do I need to fill in my first one as well. Do I need to update my DS-160 with the first one as well.
Thanks!
You need to mention the one you will be using for visa stamping. But you should carry both of them. Check w/ others as well who have experienced this.
Dude….this is really very interesting blog…..from here i got many neww words which are very useful for me……sooooo thanxxxxxxx for ur help
So much of this list is incorrect for British English. A shower is standing under a stream of water, a bath is sitting or lying in a bath. If we want a bag for goods purchased we ask for a bag not a cover. A Bicycle in England is also called a Bike. A Pin code is what we use with a payment card. Post code is used for mail. England uses ‘glasses’ mostly for Spectacles. When a tyre gets a puncture it is flat, we use both. One word is a description of what has happened to the tyre. Men normally use after-shave, occasionally called cologne. We use yoghurt, not curd. We never say non-vegetarian, that is assumed. Vegetarian or vegan should be specified. Truck and lorry in England are different vehicles. A lorry is completely enclosed, a truck has an open top.
I know, the person who wrote this has obviously never heard English people speak.
Anyone else agree that maybe people this incompetent should actually live somewhere before assuming how to say something?
There were so many things incorrect in this..it’s not in the least bit hilarious.
If you have any familiarity with this site you would probably already be aware that the author is writing from the perspective of an Indian National who has acquired his English through his exposure to British influenced English.
Perhaps he might have explained his world view more clearly in the introduction, however, I don’t understand why you feel it’s necessary to chastise him so rudely and harshly. After all, any errors or confusion is unintentional and the man has given of himself to provide others with these tools that are of immense value to many people.
A few of these are wrong. Shower is standing under a stream of water, bath is sitting in a tub of water
Shut up, standing under a streem of water will also be a bath…..so try not to bulshit every time you open ur eyes.
No actually I am british and a bath is actually the tub whereas a shower is the stream of water, Learn something, yeah?
Chloe,
This article was written by an Indian who moved to US and was highlighting the differences b/w American English (in US) and British English (in India). And in India, even when standing under running water it means bath, specs/spectacles is used etc.
Thanks so much from who that he/she provide these words.
hi all, i appreciated learning such kind of words.
for best wishes
hello to all student in the world . Thanks
hello to all student in the world have a wonderfuland live it well
best wishes for everyone.
thanks so much m one of them.
Dude – This article is so much useful to adjust me to american slang and I refer this blog to my friends as well
hey………… this is very good site ………… thnks
this is best site for meaning ………..
hai priyanka you can fraiendship naw
it,s Great
hi priyanka how are you?
its realllllllly WONDERFUL WEB… I LIKE TO VISIT
i want to know about daily routine in canadian language
Vishu, I wish I lived in Canada to write about Canadian words.
its not avail here
hiiiiiiii…………… i also lyk dis web……..i learnt many new words from ur web
tell me ..railway ‘fatak ‘ ko kya bolte hai english me..eg.i was late to d office becuse railway fatak was closed.
literal translation is “Gate”. You can say, I was stuck at the railway crossing as the gate was closed. In future, please post your questions in FORUM.
ok…plzz suggests me which books i should read as well some sites olso from where i can learn new words…
heeyy kumar..howz u ……… m giving ma ielts on dis 5th june so i want sm more new words from ur blog to improve ma vocab.more ..so pllzzz help me out ..will b really thank ful to u …..
Well, I do not think the words I give here will be good enough for IELTS. You may want to read some books…I will see what I can do.
i want some more new words rather from this page ….how should i get?
Well, you may have to pick up an American Idioms book at the library. I will try to post another article related to this soon.
hii frnd
I want to speak english in fluancy can you help me to learn a english language..
we suppose to say the oter gate….
this is an awesome blog man…you rockkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Thanks !
hey…dis iz a really gud site to learn new words…d site 4 which i was luking for….thanxx dear ….
Welcome Kirat !
Dude…wish u a very happy and a prosperous new year…Im a regular reader of your blog…
Thanks Keerthi ! I wish you the same
I am glad you to know you read regularly. If you are looking for any specific article or info, feel free to ask it in Forum or use Contact me !
ok your contact with you
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